Common Surnames

[Old_Geezer]

Hi. Thought I'd try my luck here at a couple of genealogy questions in case anyone can help.

First off I have a request for general hints & tips & suchlike for when one's investigation suddenly finds an individual with a fairly common surname. It happened to me and suddenly that part of the tree ground to a halt. Apologies to those who have a common surname but you may well be the folk who have the best advice ?

Also, although it is a long shot, I thought I'd give specific details of where I'm stuck to see if anyone recognises or finds anything.

It concerns my one of my great grandmothers, Eliza Ellen Davies ~1866-1926. I know she married George Frederick Devey in 1886 because I have the certificate, and it is from the marriage certificate, and the stated age of Eliza on that, that I believe she was born around 1866.

But looking for a particular Davies in mid-Wales has proved difficult.

I did find in the 1871 Wales census a reference to a family that includes an Eliza Davies, but it is just faith that allows me to think this is the same individual.

And a while ago I spend a fair amount of money with the GRO having sent them a long list of possible Eliza Ellen Davies births, but the certificate they returned as being most likely didn't "feel" right at all. Eliza's second name was not even shown.

Any ideas of how to progress from there ?

Thanks

[craft1948]

What was her father's name and occupation on the marriage certificate?

[Old_Geezer]

Would you believe, John ?

[craft1948]

occupation?

[craft1948]

hmm...it doesn't help much that on the 1891 and 1901 censuses she gives her birth place as Bedminster, Bristol, the same as her husband.

[Old_Geezer]

The father's ?
On Eliza's marriage certificate it says Rope Maker.

[Old_Geezer]

I think some are rather lackadaisical about census info. Considering it an intrusion.

I'm fairly certain she came from mid-Wales somewhere. I have one aunt still living who recalls relations (would have been her grandparents) living there for a short while, and has a "toby jug" (of all things) that was passed down from that relationship. I can't recall what is written on it at the moment but I do recall it refers to Wales.

[craft1948]

You see here they all are in 1911 and they have moved to 22 Kennard Street, Gellipentre, Rhondda, District of Pontypridd but it still says Eliza was born in Bristol

DEVEY, GEORGE F HEAD MARRIED M 45 COAL MINER HEWER GLOS BRISTOL
DEVEY, ELIZA E WIFE MARRIED 24 F 45 GLOS BRISTOL
DEVEY, WILLIAM J SON SINGLE M 22 COLLIERY LABOURER BELOW GROUND GLOS BRISTOL
DEVEY, HENRY E SON SINGLE M 21 GLOS BRISTOL
DEVEY, JOHN H SON SINGLE M 18 COAL HEWER HELPER TO MINER BELOW GROUND GLOS BRISTOL
DEVEY, HERBERT E SON M 12 SCHOOL GLOS BRISTOL
DEVEY, THOMAS A SON M 8 SCHOOL GLOS BRISTOL
DEVEY, HENRY F SON M 3 GLOS BRISTOL
DEVEY, ELIZABETH A DAUGHTER SINGLE F 17 GLOS BRISTOL
DEVEY, ALICE S DAUGHTER F 11 MONTHS GLOS BRISTOL
DEVEY, EMILY L DAUGHTER F 3 GLOS BRISTOL
DEVEY, ROSINA M DAUGHTER F 10 SCHOOL GLOS BRISTOL

[Old_Geezer]

That is them.
Would you suggest that it might be true then ? It goes against what folk in the family have said, and seems strange to have been born in Bristol, yet gone to live in Wales, and then moved back. Not impossible I suppose but, well makes one wonder.

Thanks for your efforts. Don't think I've seen the 1911 census yet. (Always been a bit miffed my late grandmother hasn't appeared on a census I've seen yet. Feel the government are being a bit too cautious about id theft.)

[craft1948]

I'm still looking............I'll let you know when I give up.......the problem is if she was a ropemaker's daughter from Wales how did she get to Bristol in those days....

[Old_Geezer]

This is much better than I expected when I posted this. Thanks. You've even found an unknown Alice for me :-D I do recall an Alice that used to visit my grandmother sometimes, I wonder ..... But I have a suspicion that was from my step grandfather's side of the familiy. Lots to think about.

[craft1948]

Whereabouts did they get married (full church name) and what were the names of the witnesses?

[Old_Geezer]

Parish Church, Bedminster
Emily Devey
John Parker Tennear (Tramiear ?)

(John's surname is difficult to read on the certificate).

[craft1948]

oooh he's a lovely name but unfortunately doesn't help as he's a Bristol born tailor........John Parker Champion Tennear.

[craft1948]

I must admit I'm getting a bit stuck and we may have to wait for advice from dothawkes who is the expert. I've done a search on the genealogist looking for all John Davies who gave Rope Maker as their job in the whole of England and Wales, there weren't that many, but none of them had a daughter called Eliza Ellen in 1871 or 1881.

[dothawkes31]

the facts you have that her father was recorded on her marriage certificate as a rope maker and that the census gives her place of birth as Bristol do actually make perfect sense. Bristol was a very busy shipping port and rope makers would be in demand, if you also look at old maps of Bristol docks and around that area you wioll see lots of very long straight streets, that is because rope makers workshops had to be on long straight streets to stretch out the rope as it dried, so, I would cerainly say that her father lived in Bristol as a rope maker and probably very near to his place of work.

[dothawkes31]

craft look at (1881) RG11 2465 F4 page 2
John Davies aged 60 born Carmarthen living Bath St Bristol with wife Eliza aged 49 born haverfordwest, several kids all born Bristol and one called Lizzie born Bristol 1870 .

[craft1948]

What does she give as her address on the wedding certificate.....is it different to the groom's?

[dothawkes31]

In 1871 John Davis (SIC) is a brewers labourer born carmarthen and Lizzie is Elizabeth aged 2.

[Old_Geezer]

This is great information, thanks all.

Yes the 2 addresses differ on the certificate.
He was at 30, Cabot Street, she was at 17, Hereford Street.

[craft1948]

Sorry dot it's a no go......Lizzy is till single and living with her mother in 1891......OG's Eliza was married in 1886.