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  #1  
Old 25-04-20, 16:25
NickJarvis NickJarvis is offline
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Default Jones' of Rhos

Hi All

Thanks very much for the previous help. I learned a lot about research and about my family. I now have another quandary which I am hoping someone might be able to shed some light please?

My great grandfather was David Jones b. 1862. He married Mary Ann Potter (1866 to 1946) and they were both born in Ruabon/Rhos.According to what I have found, David had a few siblings; Absalom, Mary and William Thomas. I am struggling a little with Absalom due to it being an unusual name, but I don't want to make assumptions. It may have been a very popular welsh name back then. My query is with David's parents. The age difference keeps changing every 10 years between him and his wife, Sarah Bellis. I think he starts off 3 years older (1871), then 10 years older (1881) and then 6 years older (1891). I am obviousy doing something wrong, but surely even back then, people would know their exact age? Or do I have the wrong census's?

I am now a paid subscriber to both Ancestry and FMP, as I agree with someone who previously helped me; FMP is great for certain things whilst Ancestry is better for others. I am also subscribing to newspapers.com which I find very useful.

Many thanks
Nick
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Old 25-04-20, 16:40
ElizabethHerts ElizabethHerts is online now
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Which county is Rhos in, please?
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  #3  
Old 25-04-20, 16:41
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People may or may not have known their exact age, but if they did, they might not have wanted to admit it, especially women. Also, the person filling in the form might not have known all the correct info.

I will have a look at the censuses you mention and see if I have any suggestions.
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Old 25-04-20, 16:48
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Hi Nick.

We are governed by forms and dates, but our ancestors weren't. A friend has an ancestor who aged 20 years between each census. It would only ever be important if you were old enough to do something: start work, get married and possibly to receive a pension. Even if there were nice family bible, with all the details carefully written down, the chances were that it wouldn't be consulted when the enumerator came round.

How the form was filled in would depend on how the questions were asked. They were supposed to be put in a certain way, but probably weren't.

Google "filling in the census" Punch for some contemporary scenarios.
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Old 25-04-20, 16:49
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For reference, 1881 census:

https://www.ancestry.co.uk/interacti...=successSource

Hill Street, Rhos, Ruabon, Denbighshire
William Jones Head Mar 50 Coal Miner Ruabon, Denbigh
Sarah Jones Wife Mar 40 Do
David Jones Son Unm 19 Coal Miner Do
Absalom Jones Son Unm 16 Do Do
Mary Jones Daur Unm 15 Scholar Do
Wm Thos Jones Son Unm 4 Do Do.

The big age gap between Mary and Wm Thos suggests that Sarah could be a second wife, or that Wm Thos could be a grandson rather than a son. Or adopted / fostered? (I can't find an obvious birth reg for him with MMN Bellis at the moment.)
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Old 25-04-20, 16:55
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There is a William Thomas Jones birth registered Apr-Jun 1877 Wrexham district (which was the district for Ruabon), with mother's maiden name Leek, according to the online GRO birth index. Of course the trouble with the name Jones is it's always hard to know whether you have the right record or not.
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Old 25-04-20, 17:01
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1871 census:
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/interacti...=successSource

William Jones Head Mar 32 Coal Miner Flintshire Bagilt(?)
Sarah Do Wife Do 29 Denbigh Ruabon
David Do Son 8 Do Do
Absalom Do Do 6 Do Do
Mary Do Daur 5 Do Do

Thank goodness for Absalom so we know this is the right family!
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Old 25-04-20, 17:08
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The mother's maiden name on Absalom's birth registration (Jan-Mar 1864 Wrexham) is indeed Bellis. And there is a birth reg for David in 1862 with MMN Bellis. So it looks as though you have that right, since there is a likely William Jones / Sarah Bellis marriage Oct-Dec 1861 Wrexham district.
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Old 25-04-20, 17:14
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And the 1891 census:
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/interacti...cklabel=Return

William Jones Head M 56 Coal Miner Bagillt Flintshire
Sarah Do Wife M 50 Rhos Denbighshire
William T Do Son S 13 Do Do.

Sarah's year of birth is actually pretty consistent across those three censuses - ages 29, 40, 50 - it is William's which changes a lot. Since his birthplace on the 1881 census is given as Ruabon, it could be that that one was filled in by someone who didn't know much about him.
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Old 25-04-20, 17:21
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Their ages are 26 and 20 on their marriage record, which is on Findmypast:

https://search.findmypast.co.uk/reco...F880065032%2F1

And Sarah's father's name was Absalom.
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