Find Ancestors

I would be most grateful for help in tracing the parents of Thomas WILLIAMS, born c. 1809 at Llanwnda, near Fishguard, West Wales.

Thomas worked as a Tidewaiter for H.M. Customs (operating out of Milford Haven) for most of his life.

He married Elizabeth DAVIES in Steynton on 31st October 1833, - witnessed by James WILLIAMS and William LEWIS (are they the respective fathers?).

He is mentioned in the census records of 1871 and 1881 for Milford, but appears to have been at sea when earlier records were taken.

Thomas died at the Old Dockyard, Milford, on 26th June 1883, and was buried at Steynton Parish Church.

Any information on his early life would be very welcome.

Many thanks.

Victor

Have you found his wife and family in earlier censuses?

Ozi

So does that mean you have his wife on the earlier census ?

Could this be him in 1851?

1851 Wales Census about Thomas Williams
Name: Thomas Williams
Age: 45
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1806
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Catherine Williams
Gender: Male
Where born: Llanwnda, Caernarvonshire, Wales
Civil Parish or Township: Llanbeblig
Ecclesiastical parish: West Ward
Town: Caernarvon
County/Island: Caernarvonshire
Country: Wales
Registration District: Carnarvon
Sub-registration District: Carnarvon
ED, institution, or vessel: 1g
Piece: 2516
Folio: 131
Page Number: 16
Household Schedule Number: 41
Household Members:
Name Age
Thomas Williams 45
Catherine Williams 50
William Williams 16
Catherine Williams 13
John Williams 10
Thomas Williams 7

Have you found any possible baptism on IGI ?

or this one?

1861 Wales Census about Thomas Williams
Name: Thomas Williams
Age: 55
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1806
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Ellin Williams
Gender: Male
Where born: Llanwnda, Caernarvonshire, Wales
Civil Parish or Township: Llanwnda
County/Island: Caernarvonshire
Country: Wales
Street Address: View Image
Condition as to marriage: View Image
Education: View Image
Employment status: View Image
Occupation: View Image
Registration District: Carnarvon
Sub-registration District: Llandwrog
ED, institution, or vessel: 23
Household Schedule Number: 21
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 4338
Folio: 50
Page Number: 8
Household Members:
Name Age
Thomas Williams 55
Ellin Williams 42
Jane Williams 15
William G Williams 14
Elizabeth Williams 12
Catherine Williams 9
Roberts Williams 7
Thomas Williams 6/12
Mary Parry 21
Owen Hughes 38
David Roberts 22
Robert Roberts 54

.............No this one is farmer!

1861 is a farmer so unlikely to be her man.

For reference:

1871 Wales Census
Name: Thomas Williams
Age: 62
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1809
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Elizabeth Williams
Gender: Male
Where born: Leanunda, Pembrokeshire, Wales
Civil Parish: Steynton
Ecclesiastical parish: Haverfordwest
Town: Milford
County/Island: Pembrokeshire
Country: Wales
Registration District: Haverfordwest
Sub-registration District: Milford
Piece: 5522
Folio: 10
Page Number: 13
Household Members: Name Age
Thomas Williams 62 - Pensioner from H.M. Customs
Elizabeth Williams 53 - born Roch, Pembrokeshire
Clara Morgan 11 - grand daughter

Yes, Ozibird. Thomas' wife (Elizabeth) and eight children (Henry, Priscilla Jane, John Howard, William Owen, Thomas, David, Mary Ann, and Emily Elizabeth WILLIAMS) can be found in the 1841, 1851 and/or 1861 records.

Thanks for your interest.

Victor

1861 just for info

Name: Elizabeth Williams
Age: 42
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1819
Relation: Head
Gender: Female
Where born: Hasguard, Pembrokeshire, Wales

Civil Parish or Township: Steynton
Town: Milford
County/Island: Pembrokeshire
Country: Wales

Street Address: View Image
Condition as to marriage: View Image
Education: View Image
Employment status: View Image
Occupation: View Image

Registration District: Haverfordwest
Sub-registration District: Milford
ED, institution, or vessel: 8
Household Schedule Number: 124
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 4160
Folio: 69
Page Number: 21
Household Members: Name Age
Elizabeth Williams 42
William Williams 14
Thomas Williams 11
James Williams 4

Class: RG9; Piece: 4160; Folio: 69; Page: 21; GSU roll: 543243.

Wow!, I cannot keep up with you all! Thank you so much.

Following Thomas' death in 1883 his widow, Elizabeth Williams, moved to the Wirral Peninsula to spend the rest of her life with the family of her son, William Owen WILLIAMS. I have details of her gravestone in Bebington Cemetery, Wirral.

Regards
Victor

Hi Ozibird,

My 1871 record suggests Thomas WILLIAMS (62), Elizabeth Williams (58) and their granddaughter Clara MORGANS (11) living in Marine Gardens, Milford.

Kind regards
Victor

Yes, and they are in Marine Gardens in 1861 also (as per GlitterBaby):

Elizabeth Williams abt 1811 Rock, Pembrokeshire, Wales - Tidewaiters Wife (H.M. Customs)
Thomas Williams abt 1843 Milford, Pembrokeshire, Wales Son - Carpenters App
David Williams abt 1846 Milford, Pembrokeshire, Wales Son - Carpenters App
Mary Ann Williams abt 1848 Milford, Pembrokeshire, Wales Daughter - Dressmakers App
Elizabeth Williams abt 1851 Milford, Pembrokeshire, Wales Daughter - Scholar

Separate household at same address:
Prisella Jane Morgans abt 1837 Milford, Pembrokeshire, Wales - Seamans Wife R.N.
Clara Augusta Morgans Prisella Jane abt 1860 Milford, Pembrokeshire, Wales Daughter


But what surprises me is that we can't find Thomas. As he is in government employ you'd think he would be on the census even if he was checking ships.

Hi GlitterBaby,
No, I have not yet found a baptism of Thomas in Llanwnda, near Fishguard. Several boys with the name Thomas WILLIAMS were born in the area around 1809, but I have been unsuccessful in identifying my G-G-Grandfather's parents.

Kind regards
Victor

Hi Ozibird,
It appears that the census recorders only recorded those who were at a particular address on census day. Seamen at sea were probably recorded on board, but I have yet to find a record for Thomas WILLIAMS in 1841, 1851 or 1861. Strange!

Kind regards
Victor