What’s so Different About Welsh Genealogy

Similarities1. Talk to relatives2. Work back in time3. Kill off your ancestors4. Keep track of searches5. More than one piece of evidence6. Record what you learn7. Share the stories8. Use indexes9. Don’t trust indexes10.Same key records

Differences

1. Common names

2. Patronymics

3. Nonconformists

4. Language

5. Place names

6. Key records online

COMMON NAMES

• Based on a study of marriages in Wales 1813-1837

• Insight for success

NamesJohn MaryDavid MargaretThomas HannahEvan MatildaWilliam SarahEdward Elizabeth

PATRONYMICS

Patronymics

• Mab or ab or ap = son of

• Ferch or verch = daughter of

• In South Wales ab or ap was not always used

Examples

• Jenkin Morgan

• David William Gibbs

• William Morgan John

• Evan Rees ap John

• David Williams

Pre 1813 burial (1750)

Naming Pattern

PLACE-NAMES

Jurisdictions

Diocese & Parish are critical

Find & Use Detailed Maps

WELSH LANGUAGE

What does an American do with this?

Records in Welsh

• Nonconformist records

• Chapel histories

• Monumental inscriptions

• Periodicals

NONCONFORMITY

KEY RECORDS ONLINE

Findmypast.com

Basic Records for Starting

• Census

• Civil registration (birth, marriage, death)

• Church records

• Probate

• Cemetery (tombstone transcriptions etc.)

Top Websites

• FamilySearch.org: more than 1 billion free records

• Findmypast: best online Welsh collection

• National Library of Wales: the nation’s archive

• FamilySearch Wiki: help & how to research info

• Vision of Britain: maps

PARISH REGISTERS

Pre 1813 burial (1750)

Post 1813 burial

Marriages

Marriages• Marriages are indexed well and serve as a good finding

tool

• Get your bearings by using maps

– Map of the country• https://www.familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Wales

– Map of the county showing all parishes• The book Atlas and Index of Parish Registers • Order one of the three maps for Wales at http://

www.ihgs.ac.uk/shop/contents/ihgsmaps/ihgsparishmaps/index.html?action=page&id=2

Start with a marriage index

• FindMyPast has many Welsh parish registers at https://www.findmypast.com/ or use FindMyPast for free at a FamilySearch Center

• A list of county based indexes is at https://www.familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Wales_Marriage_Indexes_Before_1837

Marriages pre 1754

Details to watch for 1754-1837

Post 1836 Parish Register

Some details are the same as before 1837

Some details are new

Christenings

Christenings often show:• child’s given name• Father’s name• Mother’s name

Sometimes included:• Family residence such

as the village, street or farm name

• Father’s occupation

Post 1812 parish register christening

Bishop’s Transcript

CIVIL REGISTRATION

David Thomas Howell Death Notice

On the 11th inst., aged 75 years, Mr. David Thomas Howell, landlord of the Star Public house, Llanguicke. He was for many years a consistent member of the Independents, and was highly esteemed and beloved by all who knew him.

CENSUS RECORDS

PROBATE RECORDS

RECORD SUPPLEMENTS / SUBSTITUTES

Monumental Inscriptions

Supplement other records

Strategies for Success• Kill off your ancestor

• Find your ancestor in every census

• Always search both the Parish Registers and Bishop’s Transcripts

Strategies for Success

• Use indexes

• Don’t trust indexes

• Watch for patronymics:David Thomas Howell is a clue

What’s so Different About Welsh Genealogy

Basics of Welsh Research

Begin Tracing Your Family History

Gellilwca Fawr Old Farmhouse

Gellilwca Fawr New Farm House

Pre 1858 Wills

Probate Inventory of Thomas Howell

Probate Inventory of Thomas Howell

Local Histories

There was another poet living in the district known as Howell Gellilwca, who was grandfather to Evan Evans, superindendent of police in Neath at this time, but who was born and brought up in Betting Ganol. I remember many of Howell’s sayings…

Indexes First

NBI Coverage for Wales

• Breconshire 5,000

• Cardiganshire 108,000

• Glamorganshire 361,000

• Monmouthshire 9,000

• Montgomeryshire less than 1,000

• Radnorshire 11,000

Something to Remember

• The National Burial Index does not include information from monumental inscriptions

CHURCH RECORDS

Death Certificate

Death Certificate

Records in Welsh

Pay close attention to all names

Typical 1754-1837 marriage register

Marriage by license

Strategies for Success

• Kill off your ancestor

• Find your ancestor in every census

• Always search both the PRs and BTs

Strategies for Success

• Use indexes

• Don’t trust indexes

• Watch for patronymics: David Thomas Howell is a clue