James SMITH of Garndiffaith, Mon (s/o Seth GRIFFITHS) (General)

by Todd07064 , New Jersey, USA, Wednesday, March 28, 2012, 18:54 (4628 days ago) @ slowhands

I've been trying to research for the parents of James SMITH who was born on 3 July 1851 in Garndiffaith, Monmouthshire, Wales. Here is what I have come up with so far:

In the Wales census for 1871 it appears that he is living as a boarder in Trevethin, Monmouthshire, Wales.

The 1872 marriage document between James SMITH and Mary Ann MORGAN states his father as Seth SMITH (deceased).

In the England census for 1881 and 1891 his birth is stated in Monmouthshire, Wales.

In the United States census for 1900 his birth is stated as July 1851 in England.

As per his Naturalization documents from 1905 & 1912 he states his birth as 3 July 1851 in Garndiffaith, England (actually a part of Trevethin, Monmouthshire, Wales).

The death certificate for James SMITH also states his birth as 3 July (year illegible), father as Seth SMITH and mother unknown.

Please also refer to these posts:
http://www.forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?mode=thread&id=10981

Some time ago I decided to try for a birth record for him using the names, dates and places listed above. The reply that I received was that no record could be found and that the search was made for 1850, 1851, and 1852. Recently, however, I decided to try again using the exact volume and page number I suspected to be correct. There was only one James SMITH born for July of 1851 in Monmouthshire, Wales.

I received the following:
Birth: 4 July 1851, Garndiffaith Trevethin, Monmouthshire, Wales.
Father: not listed
Mother: Elizabeth SMITH
Informant: Gwenllian SMITH

I further decided to look into these names and found the following from the 1851 Wales census:

Residence: Garndiffaith Trevethin, Monmouthshire, Wales
John SMITH 57 Head Gloucester, English Bicknor
Gwenllian SMITH 45 Wife Breconshire
Elizabeth SMITH 17 Daughter Monmouth, Trevethin
Mary SMITH 10 Daughter Monmouth, Trevethin
Jane GRIFFITHS 3 Grand Daughter Monmouth, Trevethin
Seth GRIFFITHS 28 Lodger Monmouth, Shirenewton

So now it would seem that James SMITH is the illegitamate son of Seth GRIFFITHS.

Also of interesting note is that John and Gwenllian SMITH had another daughter Ann who married a Charles GRIFFITHS. They later would have a son Thomas Seth GRIFFITHS.

I am currently unable to locate this family (other that Ann who is living in East Dean) in 1861. I have had some success for 1841, 1871 & 1881 but can't seem to find marriages or deaths that make sense. For example a found a married Seth and Elizabeth GRIFFITHS that are the correct ages but the names don't match up in the Marriage Index.

Any guidance as to how to proceed from this point forward would be much appreciated.