There'a a plot complication on the horizon. And here it is . . .

The witness to Elizabeth CLARK(E)nee GRIFFITHS death is Eliza WINDO.

Eliza was born Eliza JONES in Blakeney/Awre in 1811. Her mother was Hannah JONES, formerly LEWIS, nee GRIFFITHS.

Hannah married William LEWIS 12 Dec 1803 in Newland. Both bride and groom are listed as residents of the Hundred of Saint Briavels. They proceed to have two children together, William, christened 17 Feb 1805 at Blakeney Chapel, and Hannah, 26 April 1807, also Blakeney Chapel.

Presumably, William LEWIS dies, because on 20 June, 1808 Hannah, a widow, marries Henry JONES, a widower, at Newland. Again, both bride and groom are residents of the Hundred of St. Briavels. They proceed to have four children, all baptised at Blakeney Chapel, Anne, 28 May 1809, Eliza, 14 April, 1811, Charlotte, 18 Dec 1812, and James, 5 Jan 1818.

A Henry JONES is buried at Awre, a resident of "Woodside", 29 September 1818, aged 39.

In 1861 there is a Hannah JONES, a 73 year old widowed shopkeeper living on Blakeney Hill. This would put her birth around 1788 in Coleford, Newland -- same year as Elizabeth CLARKE'S. There is no 1788 birth for a Hannah GRIFFTHS, but there is a 1786 birth of Hannah GRIFFITHS to John GRIFFITHS and Sarah HARRISON 12 Nov 1786 at Ruardean. I'm pretty sure the Hannah living on Blakeney Hill is the one born in Ruardean. I can't seem to link John GRIFFITHS back to Valentine . . .
And in the census there's another Hannah JONES living in the area who is not terribly different in age . . . and there were six Hannah GRIFFITHS baptised in the Forest from 1777 to 1794 . . . And Elizabeth's 1788 birth christening was recorded at Lydney, but in the census she lists her birthplace as Awre.

So, I don't know if I went wrong in tracing James, or if I'm barking up the wrong (family) tree with Hannah. Or maybe there's no link to be made between Elizabeth and Hannah.I have made eleven pages of notes trying to untangle this since Friday, and now I am more confused than I was when I started. Eliza and Hannah's lines must cross somewhere, but Elizabeth only had two sisters, Mary and Sarah, no Hannah. I think Elizabeth's father, James, was an only child of Valentine GRIFFITHS and Elizabeth POWELL, but Valentine dies shortly after James' birth, so, not first cousins at any rate.

The 1851 census shows that Hannah to be married to someone named John Jones, which is major complication. Additionally, there is someone named Amelia Powell, age 37, living with them. Elizabeth CLARKE'S grandmother was Elizabeth POWELL. Next door are Morses (Elizabeth CLARKE'S sister in law Ann nee CLARKE married George MORSE, and to the other side are Henry and Mary GRIFFITHS.

And where does John JONES fit in to this whole thing? Goodness knows the enumerators aren't always competely accurate. Then there's always the possibility that this isn't my Elizabeth CLARK(E) after all.

I know there's a common thread in here somewhere, I just can't seem to find it.