Replied using the 'envelope' as Admin advises against email addresses on the forum (my husband's GRIFFITHS is from Cirencester, Glos- late 17thC) -

Copy out all the GRIFFITHS' in the St Mary's Prior Register - try and form family groups from the records, advice I was given and did help.

The Story of the Welsh Surname : this will explain why so many JONES/GRIFFITHS etc

previous thread

http://www.forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?id=25297

I'm working Elizabeth Griffiths, married to Richard Kerwood, at St Mary's Priori in Monmouth in 1769. They had 6 kids, on baptised in Monmouth, 5 in Chapel Hill. Richard's parents were Ann and William Kirwood, buried in Ganarew cemetary. Richard and Elizabeth went to the US in 1784, and died on the crossing.

Any ideas on how I can get information on Elizabeth's family? I KNOW there are about 100 Elizabeth Griffiths in the area throughout the years.

Any information or ideas would be GREATLY appreciated. I visited Monmouth this month. However, the Gwent County Clerk's office was/is closed, so I couldn't get in to look at any records. The records I did get were from the Hereford Office.

Thanks for any leads you can provide -- or ideas of where to look.

Please feel free to e-mail me at sbnet1@comcast.net.

Thanks a million!!!
Sue (Kerwood) Burnette

Thanks for the tip re William Jenkins (family Ganarew) they could be connected.

Interestingly William Jenkins (Ganarew) is living two houses away from the Dance family.

The connection may be through quarry work (similar trade)

Any further help would be appreciated.

Kind Regards

Tony

Interesting site..... - DANCE family from the FOD - Stonemason from Newland/Coleford/and grave in Ganarew

http://www.dance-family.com/picture_gallery.htm

On the 1851 census, there is one JENKINS family in Ganarew, Herefordshire

Elshoan House

William JENKINS - age 67 Ag. Lab, born Ganarew
Ann JENKINS - age 56 - born Welsh Newton
William JENKINS, nephew - age 9 - born Tregare

and just the same family in 1841 - Ganarew

John's Well

William JENKINS - 55 - Ag. Lab. born in County
Ann JENKINS - 48 - not born in County
Caroline RUDGE - 10 - F/S - born in County
Mary CHARLES - 80 - born in County

1841 Census, Newland, Glos. Clearwell (District 16)

Peter JENKINS - 60, Stonecutter - born in County (1851 census, born Newland)
Esther JENKINS - 55 - born in County
Esther JENKINS - 15 - born in County ( assume this is Esther who married Thomas WILLIAMS in Ganarew 1837 )

FOD records, Peter JENKINS, (Hundred of St Briavels) - married Esther WOOD, (Hundred of St Briavels) - 27 May 1802 - Newland, witnesses John JENKINS and Thos. BOND

1841 Census, Newland, Glos. Clearwell (District 16)

Richard JENKINS - 32 Stonecutter, born in County (assume this is Richard who married Susan - widow of Richard's brother - again in Ganarew - 1844)
Susan JENKINS - 33 - not born in County
Esther JENKINS - 3, Peter JENKINS 3, Wood JENKINS - months

Regards

Tony

Both Richard and Esther married at Ganarew, Richard to Susannah (wife of the deceased brother of Richard) and Esther to Thomas Williams. Thomas williams died about 1854. On the 1861 census Esther is living with Henry as husband and wife (I cannot find a marriage to Henry) Richard was a widower, first wife Mary Birt died in childbirth.

I have found a record on the Hereford landowners site which may indicate that Richard held some land in the Whitchurch/Ganarew but cannot put any logical reason to why both Richard and Esther chose to marry at St Swithins Ganarew.

The parish record for the marriage of Richard and Susannah correctly states his father as Peter (Stonemason) but Susannah declares her father as Timothy.Neither Richard or Susannah declares themselves as widowed.

Susannah's father is Walter, a Farmer from Cwmcarvan (Trealy Farm) The children from Susannah's marriage to James (The brother of Richard) are with their grandfather at Trealy farm on the 1841 census.

Thomas and Esther Williams have a daughter Elizabeth abt 1844.Elizabeth died within one month of her birth. Our transcripts of the parish records indicate the chapel as Newland, IGI as St Pauls (Parkend) yet they appear to be living at Berry Hill.

Can anyone suggest why the marriages between Richard Jenkins and Susannah Jenkins plus the marriage between Esther Jenkins and Thomas Williams took place outside of their home parish?

Also can anyone suggest why Elizabeth the daughter of Esther (nee Jenkins) and Thomas Williams was buried at St Pauls/Newland when they apparently were living at Berry Hill.

Any suggestions or help would be appreciated.

As an aside both Richard Jenkins and his father Peter are recorded as insolvent debtors in 1841

Kind Regards

Tony Jenkins