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I've been struggling with this gentleman for years, gave up for a long while and have now decided to look for him again and I'm getting nowhere - again! He was my husband's great-grandfather.

He's Richard Miles, born in 1850, not sure where but it may be Wiltshire, possibly Sherston.
His father was Edward Miles. This I have from his marriage cert. He married Mary Ann Davies in Victoria, Ebbw Vale in 1874.

Mary Ann died in 1880, I have her death cert.

Richard died in 1889 in Ebbw Vale. He committed suicide by hanging. I have the death cert and the inquest report. His age is given as thirty-nine. He is not buried in any of the local cemeteries.

They had one child, Adeline Ann Miles, born on 22 June 1874.

I have failed to find him on any census or anywhere else for that matter! I would be very grateful if anyone can shed some light on this before I confine Richard to the family research recycling bin.

Annie

Name: Richard Miles
Sex: Male
Wife: Mary Anne
Daughter: Mary Nelly Miles
Other information in the record of Mary Nelly Miles
from England Births and Christenings

Name: Mary Nelly Miles
Residence Place: Meon-Stoke, Hampshire, England
Gender: Female
Christening Date: 24 May 1874
Christening Date (Original): 24 May 1874
Christening Place: Meon-Stoke, Hampshire, England
Father's Name: Richard Miles
Mother's Name: Mary Anne

Adeline Ann Miles
England and Wales Birth Registration Index
Name Adeline Ann Miles
Event Type Birth Registration
Registration Quarter Jul-Aug-Sep
Registration Year 1874
Registration District Bedwellty
County Monmouthshire
Event Place Bedwellty, Monmouthshire, England
Volume 11A
Page 109
Line Number 47

Adeline Miles
England, Bristol Parish Registers, 1538-1900
Name: Thomas Dando
Event Type: Marriage
Event Date: 25 Mar 1886
Event Place: Bedminster, St John, Somersetshire, England
Gender: Male
Marital Status: Single
Father's Name: John Dando
Spouse's Name: Adeline Miles
Spouse's Residence Place: Bedminster, St John, Somersetshire
Spouse's Gender: Female
Spouse's Marital Status: Single
Spouse's Father's Name: Richard Miles

Thanks, Malyon, the Bedwellty birth reg is correct. Adeline was born on June 22nd. She married Thomas Casker Williams in Ebbw Vale.

Annie

his marraige

Marriages Mar 1874 (>99%)
Davies Mary Bedwelty 11a 159 Scan available - click to view
MILES Richard Bedwelty 11a 159

That's the one. It was 14 February 1874.

Annie

could this be adeline's marriage


Marriages Jun 1919 (>99%)
Miles Adeline Bird Warminster 5a 413

she has no middle name not sure thats her i looked for adeline with middle name ann but not finding a marriage

For our info -

Adeline's birth

Name: Mother's Maiden Surname: Order:
MILES, ADELINE ANN DAVIES Order
GRO Reference: 1874 S Quarter in BEDWELLTY Volume 11A Page 109 Order

and Mary Ann's death for an idea of area and age

Name: Age at Death (in years): Order:
MILES, MARY ANN 28 Order
GRO Reference: 1880 M Quarter in BEDWELLTY Volume 11A Page 66

and Richard's death
MILES, RICHARD 39 Order
GRO Reference: 1889 S Quarter in BEDWELLTY Volume 11A Page 54

As she died before Richard, I thought it probable that he was buried in the same grave as Mary Ann but I've failed to find her burial place too. Adeline is in Ebw Vale cemetery next to Thomas but Mary Ann and Richard died not long after it opened and there are no surviving records for this time.

Annie

What were the occupations of Richard and his Father on the marriage certificate.

Who were the witnesses

The age given on the marriage certificate is what was given by Richard and age at death would be given by someone who thought that was his age - likewise, his Father's details

could adeline been adopted having her mother died and then her father in 1889
i cant see adeline on census

Richard was an engine foreman and his father was a contractor in the mine works. Witnesses were Samuel Jones and John Lewis.
Adeline may have been taken in by relatives but she was fifteen years old when Richard died so may not have had her name changed at that age. I can't find her or Richard in 1881 and by 1891 she had married Thomas so was Williams.


Annie

This is the family- Adelaide and Richard are under surname Rees in 1881:

1871
Name: Richard Miles
Age: 23
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1848
Relation: Step Son
Mother's name: Hannah Rees
Where born: Ebbw Vale, Monmouthshire, Wales
Civil Parish: Aberystruth
Ecclesiastical parish: Beaufort
County/Island: Monmouthshire
Registration district: Bedwellty
Sub-registration district: Aberystruth
ED, institution, or vessel: 2a
Household schedule number: 213
Piece: 5315 Folio: 48 Page Number: 49
Household Members:
Name Age
Richard Rees 43 Brecon
Hannah Rees 43 Ebbw Vale
Richard Miles 23 Ebbw Vale
Catherine Rees 8 Ebbw Vale
Gwenlian Rees 3 Months
John Delward 42 Ebbw Vale
----------------------------

This is the same family in 1881- note the son Richard Rees (previously listed as Miles) is now a widower:

1881
Name: Richard Rees
Age: 33
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1848
Relation: Son
Father's name: Richard Rees
Mother's name: Hannah Rees
Gender: Male
Where born: Ebbw Vale, Monmouth, Wales
Civil Parish: Aberystruth
County/Island: Monmouthshire
Street address: 2nd Row New Town
Condition as to marriage: Widow
Occupation: Labourer
Registration district: Bedwellty
Sub registration district: Aberystruth
ED, institution, or vessel: 2a
Piece: 5239 Folio: 34 Page Number: 39
Household Members:
Name Age
Richard Rees 53
Hannah Rees 53
Richard Rees 33 son Widower
Catherine Rees 18
Gwenllian Rees 13
Adelaide Rees 6 Grand daughter
John Dilworth 53

???
I keep coming back to this one - note Edward Miles and Hannah Richards both b Aberystruth

1851 England, Wales & Scotland Census
Aberystruth, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, Wales

First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Age Birth year Occupation Birth place
Ann Richards Head Widow Female 56 1795 - Cardiganshire, Wales
Hannah Richards Daughter Unmarried Female 22 1829 - Monmouthshire, Wales
John Richards Son Unmarried Male 20 1831 Coal & Coke Weigher Monmouthshire, Wales
Anne Richards Daughter - Female 17 1834 Road Cleaner Monmouthshire, Wales
Richard Miles Grand Son - Male 3 1848 - Monmouthshire, Wales
James Wait Lodger Unmarried Male 29 1822 Black Smith Bristol, Gloucestershire, England
Charles Beaver Lodger Married Male 51 1800 Mine Burner Pembrokeshire


--------------------------------
In the same village is an Edward Miles born Aberystruth (has a brother Richard)

1851 England, Wales & Scotland Census
Aberystruth, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, Wales

First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Age Birth year Occupation Birth place
David Jones Head Married Male 37 1814 Refiner Troedyraur, Cardiganshire, Wales
Elizabeth Jones Wife Married Female 29 1822 - Monmouthshire, Wales
Edward Miles Brother-In-Law - Male 24 1827 - Monmouthshire, Wales
Mary Miles Sister-In-Law Unmarried Female 21 1830 Mine Filler Monmouthshire, Wales
Richard Miles Brother-In-Law Unmarried Male 18 1833 Haulier Monmouthshire, Wales
William Miles Brother-In-Law Unmarried Male 12 1839 Haulier Monmouthshire, Wales
Jane Miles Sister-In-Law - Female 9 1842 Scholar Monmouthshire, Wales
John Williams Head Married Male 36 1815 Haulier Monmouthshire, Wales
Mary Williams Wife Married Female 35 1816 - Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorgan, Wales
Margaret Williams Daughter Unmarried Female 13 1838 - Monmouthshire, Wales
Thomas Williams Son - Male 11 1840 Haulier Monmouthshire, Wales
David Williams Son - Male 9 1842 - Monmouthshire, Wales
Joanna Williams Daughter - Female 8 1843 - Monmouthshire, Wales
John Williams Son - Male 4 1847 - Monmouthshire, Wales
Miles Evans Boarder - Male 0 1851 - Monmouthshire, Wales
George Shepherd Lodger - Male 22 1829 Filler Monmouthshire, Wales
Rebecca Shepherd Lodger - Female 21 1830 - Brecknockshire, Wales
Samuel Shepherd Lodger - Male 0 1851 - Monmouthshire, Wales

If Edward and Hannah didn't marry, but Richard took the name Miles

Crickhowell and Aberystruth both part of the general Ebbw Vale area

Surname First name(s) District Vol Page
Marriages Dec 1860 (>99%)
Andrew Margaret Crickhowell 11b 263
Price James Crickhowell 11b 263
REES Richard Crickhowell 11b 263 <<<<<
Richards Hannah Crickhowell <<<<<

Catherine and Gwenllian are born Rees mmn Richards

Name: Mother's Maiden Surname: Order:
REES, CATHERINE ANN RICHARDS Order
GRO Reference: 1862 S Quarter in BEDWELLTY Volume 11A Page 76

REES, GWENLLIAN RICHARDS Order
GRO Reference: 1867 D Quarter in BEDWELLTY Volume 11A Page 76

and here the 1881 from FMP showing Richard born c 1847/8

1881 England, Wales & Scotland Census
New Town, 2nd Row, Aberystruth, Bedwelty, Monmouthshire, Wales

First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Age Birth year Occupation Birth place
Richard Rees Head Married Male 53 1828 Collier Breconshire, Wales
Hannah Rees Wife Married Female 53 1828 - Ebbw Vale, Monmouthshire, Wales
Richard Rees Son Widower Male 33 1848 Labourer Ebbw Vale, Monmouthshire, Wales
Catherine Rees Daughter Single Female 18 1863 - Ebbw Vale, Monmouthshire, Wales
Gwenllian Rees Daughter Single Female 13 1868 Scholar Ebbw Vale, Monmouthshire, Wales
Adelaide Rees Grand Daughter Single Female 6 1875 Scholar Ebbw Vale, Monmouthshire, Wales
John Dilworth Boarder - Male 53 1828 Mason Victoria, Monmouthshire, Wales

Wow! While I was out shopping you've cracked it! Thank you all so much. I'm going to go through all this now in detail. I don't know how you all managed it but I'm very grateful - and so is my husband.

Annie

Back then suicides were treated with disdain and wasnt buried in concecreated ground and were put on the very outer edge of most graveyards and cemetries.also they were not given a christian service or buriel,so may not be named in a register,only as a male and buried at night.

It was against the law to attempt suicide and carried a jail sentence.!

His burial would more than likely be in unconsecrated ground in a municipal cemetery because there are not many churches here, mostly non-conformist chapels and they did not usually have graveyards. The newspaper report was interesting. He sent Adeline to chapel on a Sunday evening and she couldn't get in when she got back so the neighbours took her in for the night and found Richard hanged the next morning. It was said he had "pecuniary difficulties". So, his wife had died and he was left with a teenage daughter and had money problems. Poor man must have been desperate. Things didn't get much better for Adeline. Her husband, Thomas, was killed in the pit when a block of stone weighing a hundredweight fell on his head.

Annie