Hi. I'm researching my Grandfather Jonathan Henry Thomas but it could be (Johnathan) born 1866 in Gloustershire and died in 1941. His mother's name is Elizabeth Thomas. I think he was illegitimate. His wife's name was Sarah Rudge. My Father told us Thomas's lived on a Hill in the Forest of Dean. Would anyone know where it is? Also would he be burried at the Forest Church in Drybrook or Westbury on Serven. I'm from Australia and hope to visit England in August this year and would like to find him if I can. Any help would be most appreciated.

Thank you, Jean

Record_ID: 19766
Entry_Number: 59
Year: 1902
Month: Oct
Day: 23
Grooms_Surname: THOMAS
Grooms_Forenames: Jonathan Henry
Grooms_Age: 36
Groom_Condition: Bachelor
Grooms_Occupation: Collier
Grooms_Residence: Wigpool
Grooms_Fathers_Surname: not stated
Grooms_Fathers_Forenames: [not stated]
Grooms_Fathers_Occupation: [not stated]
Brides_Surname: RUDGE
Brides_Forenames: Sarah Ann
Brides_Age: 24
Brides_Condition: Spinster
Brides_Occupation: [not stated]
Brides_Residence: Wigpool
Brides_Fathers_Surname: Rudge
Brides_Fathers_Forenames: Jonathan
Brides_Fathers_Occupation: Collier
Licence_or_Banns: Banns
Date_of_Banns: [not stated]
Signature_or_Mark: He marks she signs
Witness_1: William George Sparrow
Witness_2: Sophia Rudge
Other_Witnesses:
Officiating_Minister: James Lawton Vicar
Event: Marriage
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P109 IN 1/9
Page_Number: 30
Parish_Chapel: Drybrook
Soundex_Groom: T520
Soundex_Bride: R320

Record_ID: 15638
Entry_Number: 692
Year: 1878
Month: Feb
Day: 17
Parents_Surname: RUDGE
Child_Forenames: Sarah Anne
Fathers_Forenames: Jonathan
Mothers_Forenames: Jane
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: Lea Bailey
Occupation: Coal Miner
Officiating_Minister: Wm. Barker Vicar
Event: Baptism
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: PFC109 IN 1/4
Page_Number: 87
Parish_Chapel: Drybrook

Record_ID: 14963
Entry_Number: 17
Year: 1872
Month: Mar
Day: 10
Parents_Surname: THOMAS
Child_Forenames: Jonathan Henry
Fathers_Forenames: [not stated]
Mothers_Forenames: Elizabeth
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: Longhope
Occupation: [not stated]
Officiating_Minister: William Barker Vicar
Event: Baptism
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: PFC109 IN 1/4
Page_Number: 3
Parish_Chapel: Drybrook
Soundex: T520

Death Registration - Jonathan H. THOMAS 1941 Quarter 1 (Jan-Feb-Mar) Age 73 Forest of Dean District vol.6A page 001
I walked down to Holy Trinity Churchyard, Drybrook this afternoon to see if I could locate his grave (I live only two hundred yards away). Sadly I could not see a marked grave. In the row of early 1941 burials I found a very badly weathered grave marker partly buried in turf to ? MORRIS who died Jan 6th? 1941, then an unmarked grave before the rest of the row which contained continuous and clearly marked graves with dates to the end of the first quarter of 1941 and after. Before the MORRIS grave marker there are depressions in the ground which appear to be a further three unmarked graves prior to which there is a grave marked JEYNES, ? December 1940. So he was possibly buried there, or, if his wife predeceased him he would probably be buried with her elsewhere in the churchyard, but I could see no such grave on this visit. Needs a check in the burials register to confirm.

I have checked the MIs list and there is no inscription recorded for Jonathan Henry THOMAS, so if it is confirmed that he is buried at Holy Trinity, Drybrook it would appear that the grave is not marked.