I am trying to locate a birth record for a Thomas Davies, my Paternal Great Grandfather.

The 1891 Census shows that he was a Farm Servant living in Llangarren Herefordshire with his wife Elizabeth and two children Alice Maud aged 3 and Thomas Davies aged 2. He is shown as being born in Taynton 1857.

I have searched, without success, for further information from birth records 1857 +/- 1 , Parish Records of that period for Taynton and Census records for 1861.

Ideas of areas to further investigate would be gratefully received.
Is it possible that my ancestors were known as Davis and the name became Davies?

Thank you Bryan Davies

1901 Census, Herefordshire, Marstow
Pencraig

DAVIS

Thomas - 45 - Waggoner on (Horse) Farm - born Glos. Taynton
Elizabeth - 36 - born Worcs. St Clements
Alice Maud - 13 - born Her. Llangarrdon
Alfred Thomas - 12 - born ditto
Ellen Elizabeth - born ditto
Ernest Charles - 6 - born Herefordshire, Peterstow

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1881 Census, Herefordshire, Llangarrden

Tredunock Farm

James SMITH - HEAD - unmar - 53, Farmer of 250 acres employing 6 men 2 women - born Glos. Tibberton
Ellen SMITH - sister - unmar - 41 - born Gloucestershire, Taynton
Harriett CRAWLEY - visitor - W - 65 - born Glos. Upton St Leonar
Emma HATCHEHARD ? serv - unmar - 24 - General Servant, born Herefordshire, Sellectk
Thomas DAVIS - Serv - unmar - 25 - Farm Serv Indoor - born Glos. Taynton
Frederick W DAVIS - Serv - unmar - 23 - ditto **

** here is Frederick on the 1871 census in Taynton

Cottage

DAVIS -

Emanuel - 28/38 - Ag. Lab. born Newent (need to check ages on earlier census, bit difficult to make out)
Eliza - 27/37 - born Taynton - Bonnet Maker
Frederick - 13 - occasional Scholar (Gloucestershire bdm - mother's maiden name WHITE)
Mary Ann - 11
Charles - 6
Arthur - 4
Albert - 1
Ellen - 8

Thomas DAVIS (known by his middle name) is on the 1871 Census, Newent
working at Ploddy House Farm

Thomas DAVIS, age 15, Farm Servant Indoors - born Taynton

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1861 Census, Taynton
Cottage Nr Green

Emanuel DAVIS - 28 - labourer, born Newent
Eliza DAVIS - 27 - born Taynton
Emanual Thos. DAVIS - 5
Frederick Wm - 3
Mary Ann - 1
Mary WHITE - wife's mother - widow - 70 - born Newent

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FOD records

Baptism at Taynton - 22 January 1856

Emanual Thomas DAVIS, parents Emanuel (labourer) & Eliza

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FOD records - Marriage at Taynton - 2 September 1855

Emanuel DAVIS, age 23, Bachelor, labourer, residence : Taynton
father: Joseph DAVIS - labourer
married

Eliza WHITE, age 22, Spinster, residence: Taynton
father: Thomas WHITE, labourer

by banns

witnesses: Thomas & Mary GILLETT

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On the 1851 census - Emanual DAVIS, age 17 is working in Newent (New Town) as a Farm Servant to a John CADLE (farmer)

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here's his family on the 1851 census

DAVIS

Joseph - 45 - born Newent
Ann - 45 - born Worcester, Redmarley
Henry - 16 - all born Newent
Richard - 15
Fanny - 11

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? FOD records have a marriage at Redmarley of a Joseph DAVIS (of this Parish) to Anne ROBINSON (of this Parish) - 9 October 1926 - witnesses: Richard & Margaret HYETT

This would fit the time-frame - as Maria DAVIS (parents Joseph & Anne DAVIS, of brans Green, was christened in Newent - 23 November 1828.

Gloucestershire BDM - DAVIS - mother's name ROBINSON (Newent) have

Alfred - 1846
Anna Maria - 1839
Fanny - 1842
Female - 1840
Frederick - 1846
John - 1844
Richard - 1837
Solomon - 1841

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On the 1841 census, for Newent
Bran Green : - there are 4 DAVIS families living next door to each other

John - 50, Ester - 50, Sarah - 15, Hannah - 10, Thomas 8 - ? FOD records, married Esther STONE - 29 October 1810 - Newent, witnesses: John BOWKETT and Thomas DAVIES - memoranda: signed DAVIS

then

Miles - 35, Sarah - 35, Ann - 14, Harriet - 12, Joseph - 11, Elizabeth - 6 and David 4

then

Joseph - 30, Ann - 30, Maria - 12, Jonathan - 10, Emanual - 8, Henry - 5, Richard 3

then

Thomas - 50, Maria - 35, Kar? - 12, Bartholmew - 5, Louise - 2, and Martha 8 months (looking at Glos. BDM, mother's maiden name BOULTER)

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FOD records Marriage at Glouceter St Michael - 26 October 1833, Thomas DAVIS of this parish, married Maria BOULTER of this Parish: witnesses: Anthony BRETHERTON and Ann BOULTER + Thomas MANSELL

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This needs some work, but as Miles DAVIS, was christened in Newent - 10 April 1803 - parents John & Elizabeth, it would 'seem' Joseph DAVIS, christened - 10 February 1805 - John & Elizabeth ( would be brothers)

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Using the Advance Search for children of John & Elizabeth DAVIS in Newent

Thomas 1791 (married Maria BOULTER)
Elizabeth 1793 -? Elizabeth DAVIS married William COLEMAN, 13 September 1816 Newent- witness was Chas DAVIS
Charles 1795 (couple of options for a Charles DAVIS born Newent, on later census' inc Upleadon)
George 1797 - again on later census (one in Upleadon)
Comfort 1800 (marriage at Newent of a Comfort DAVIS 7 May 1822, to Thomas BOWKETT BOULTER)
Miles 1803 - married Sarah ROBINSON at Redmarley 26.9.1825 (any relation to Ann ROBINSON?)
Joseph 1805 - married Ann ROBINSON

Thank you for so much detailed information. It has opened up many more chapters in my family history. I am now trying to find out when Emanuel Thomas Davis b Taynton 1857 changed his name to Thomas Davies. I am having difficulty in finding details of his marriage to Elizabeth Rowden (?)which will show his name at that time.

Elizabeth RODEN - age 16 Servant born Worcester St Clements, is on the 1881 census again in Llangarren, Herefordshire, - address Middle Cabbage, working as a Servant.

FreeBDM

Marriage A/M/J Qtr 1883 - Ross District

Elizabeth RODEN
Thomas DAVIS

Worcester St Clement

http://www.worcesterbmsgh.co.uk/WorcesterStClement.html

There is a marriage between Thomas Davies and Elizabeth Roden
on 7th April at Ross Register Office. Register No 4 Entry No 135.
Hope this is helpful.

England Births and Christenings (CLDS)

Elizabeth RODEN
4 September 1864
St Clement, Worcester, Worcester, England

parents: Joseph & Matilda RODEN

?

FreeBDM

Marriage A/M/J Qtr 1864 - Upton

Joseph RODEN/Matilda GOULD

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1861 Census, Alfrick, Worcestershire

School House

Joseph ASPREY - 52, born Alfrick, Worcestershire
Eliza ASPREY - 45, School Mistress, born Worcestershire
Matilda GOULD unmarried age 30 , Niece, born St Clement, Worcestershire

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1851 Census, Worcester All Saints
22 Broad Street

Matilda GOLD, age 20 - Servant, born St Clements
working for Elizabeth NEWTON, Tallow Chandler

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1841 Census, St Clements

Matilda GOULD age 10 (Ancestry says 16)

living with a John & Susannah MUNN, both aged 60

CLDS: Christening at St Clements: 22 August 1830 - Matilda GOULD, parents Richard & Ann + their marriage at Worcester, 11 April 1830 - Richard GOULD and Ann MUNN

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Freebdm do have a death of a Matilda RODEN age 38 O/N/D Qtr Ross District 1868 - which covers Llangarren?

and the CLDS don't appear to have any more siblings for Elizabeth.

Assume you have access to ancestry - the family appear to be there in 1911

1911 Census, Herefordshire, Bridstow, District 3 - Schedule No. 65

Cotteralls

Thomas DAVIES, 55 - married 27 years, 9 children born alive, 6 living - 3 died, born Taynton, Glos (farm labourer)
Elizabeth DAVIES, 47 - born St Clements, Worcestershire
Hannah GOMERY - visitor, 20 Help mothers - single, born Coppet Hill, Herefordshire **
Harry DOBBS, Boarder, 23, Groom Domestic - born St. Leonards

Freebdm : birth Hannah Mary GOMERY - O/N/D Qtr 1891 Ross District

1891 Census, Coppett Hill, Herefordshire

William GOMERY, 30 Farm Labourer and his wife Rachel- 31 - both born Whitchurch

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and the son Ernest Charles DAVIES' war records are on Ancestry.

Kings Shropshire Light Infantry Depot - and served in Salanica - Private Service No. 12812

Enlisted - at Hereford - 7 September 1914

father: Thomas DAVIES - Cotteralls Farm, Bridstow, Herefordshire.

Discharged 21 December 1817 - Pension Date 11 June 1817

Gold Hill Farm, Eastnor, Nr Redbury, Hertford

8/3d a week pension to be reviewed in 52 weeks

Malaria & etc etc,

5. 3 and three quarters tall, fresh complex. grey eyes, auburn hair - honest and steady etc.etc.