Catherine Arthur

[garlands]

I've been trying to find Catherine's mother, and the only marriage of an Arthur JONES and a Catherine I've come across is:-

27 Apr 1736   Arthur JONES of Llanaber m Catherine ROBERTS of Llanaber  in  Dolgellau

Surely, this is the correct couple? However, if so, why do they appear to have had no children until 11 years later (a son, Robert, in 1747)?

[DCB]

It may depend on where the baptisms took place.

There are no parish records for Llanaber before 1750, when the the reverend Willima Wynne took over.

There some BTs, but only for a few years before 1750.

Two of Catherines's brothers were church wardens, as were some of my relatives.

Churchwardens of Llanaber 1769-84
1782    Watkin Owen, Gent of Barmouth.
        Robert Arthur, Yeoman of Goed-tre'-uchaf.
1783    David Lewis, Innkeeper of Barmouth.
        Rice Arthur, Yeoman of Bwlch-goch-canol.

I have some notes by William Wynne whilst he was the rector. I will have a look through, to see if there is anything of interest.

David

[garlands]

David,

The absence of Llanaber records will certainly explain the 'missing' children and, I think, allows me to accept the 1736 marriage as the one I seek. OK?

George

[DCB]

It seems likely and there are other Arthur marriages in Llanaber who could be their children, but nothing certain.

David

[garlands]

Other children would be of interest, but only that. Fortunately, you found Catherine for me and she, plus her parents, are the ones who matter.
In the light of what you said about the absence of pre-1750 records for Llanaber, I guess that this is where I hit the buffers on this line.
As the family seemed to vacillate between Llanaber and Dolgellau, I might be lucky and find someone at the latter.

George

[DCB]

These are the other marriages and I am certain that one is a sibling. Dorothy Jones, daughter of Arthur Jones of Derwas, the same as Robert and Rice, but a different mother, Jane (error in the record?), on 24th January 1745 in Dolgellau. Dorothy was a witness to Anne Arthur's marriage, so probably a sister, but I can't find a baptism for Anne or Elizabeth.

Elizabeth Arthur to Richard Jones of Tywyn on 6th July 1757
Witnesses: Griffith Morgan and Edward Richard

Elizabeth Arthur, widow of Tywyn, to Richard Edward on 4th June 1763
Witnesses: William Hugh and Hugh Watkin

Anne Arthur to Evan Rhees on 11 May 1767 (bond available)
Witnesses: Dorothy Arthur and Rowland John

Dorothy (Dorty) Arthur to Robert Jones on 17th June 1777
Witnesses: Griffith Anne Pryse (probably my relatives)

David

[garlands]

I cannot imagine that there were two Dorothys with father Arthur JONES but different mothers. I guess that the officiating minister wrote-up the register later and mis-remembered the name of the mother. We shall never know, but I think you can safely link Dorothy to Catherine.

George