Genealogy Chat

Sorry this is a bit long but please bear with me. I am trying to trace John & Margaret THOMAS on the 1851 census. I have found an entry but would appreciate if somebody could have a look at it for me and give their opinion as to whether it is the correct family. I will give the information that I have going backwards from the 1881 census. 1881 RG11/3785 Folio 38 Page 26 Edge Green Lane, Ashton in Makerfield, Lancashire John THOMAS (Head), age 53, Coal Miner, born Wales, Corwen Margaret THOMAS (Wife), age 55, born Wales, Llandrillo Peter THOMAS (Son), age 20, Coal Miner, born Wales, Coed Poeth Evan THOMAS (Son), age 18, Coal Miner, born Wales, Coed Poeth 1871 RG10/5655 Folio 78 Page 2 Nant, Bersham, Wales John THOMAS (Head), age 40, Miner, born Merionethshire, Corwen Margaret THOMAS (Wife), age 43, born Merionethshire, Llandrillo Peter THOMAS (Son), age 10, Scholar, born Denbigh, Bersham Evan THOMAS (Son), age 8, Scholar, born Denbigh, Bersham 1861 RG9/4294 Folio 78 Page 32 Bersham, Wales John THOMAS (Head), age 33, Leadminer, born Merionethshire, Corwen Margaret THOMAS (Wife), age 34, born Merionethshire, Blaupennant Peter THOMAS (Son), age 3 months, born Denbighshire, Bersham So far so good – I am happy with the above census returns that they are the correct family. I have the birth certificate for Evan THOMAS, born 8 April 1863, Nant, Bersham. This gives parents names as John THOMAS and Margaret THOMAS (formerly JONES). NOW THE PROBLEM. I had been looking for the marriage of John THOMAS and Margaret JONES around 1861 which is the time of the birth of their first (as I believed) son, Peter, without success. I have found the following census for 1851 which I would appreciate your views as to whether you think this is the same family. 1851 HO107/2496 Folio 91 Page 8 Llangurig, Montgomeryshire John THOMAS (Lodger), age 24, Copper Miner, born Merionethshire, Corwen Margaret THOMAS (Lodger), age 24, Copper Miners Wife, born Merionethshire, Llandrillo Ellen THOMAS (Lodger), age 2, Copper Miners Daughter, born Merionethshire, Llandrillo This seems to fit nicely with the parents details but raises more questions than it answers: If Ellen is their daughter – what happened to her between 1851 & 1861? Did she die? Can anyone find her on the 1861 census? Were there any more children born between Ellen in abt 1849 and Peter in 1861? It seems a long time for there not to be any more children. Did they have more children and they have all died? Was there some sort of epidemic? I suppose that I really need to find the marriage certificate of John THOMAS and Margaret JONES which may now be around 1849, but with such common names in Wales it is proving difficult. Once I have the marriage certificate I may then be able, with a bit of luck, to find them on the 1841 census with their parents. I also have the death certificates for John THOMAS and Margaret THOMAS and Evan THOMAS and the marriage certificate for Evan THOMAS but none of them give any more clues. Another clue that may help is that the daughter of Evan THOMAS had the middle name of Ellen – was she named after her fathers sister? Any thought or pointers that you can give me would be appreciated. Thank you.

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