Jones Placeline

Like the Hansens, I do have a handful of Jones lines, so I will clarify that this is my grandmother's father's line. Unfortunately, it doesn't go back far because it is not as well traced as the Howells line is, and tracing Jones family is like looking for a needle in the famed haystack. I will say here that I am amused that both of my grandfathers had super uncommon surnames, and both of my grandmothers have two of the most common European surnames. It's almost like someone did that on purpose...

As usual, Bold is Birth, Marriage, and Death locations, and italicized is any other locations they lived in for around a year or more.

1. Merle Tydfil Jones

A. Bellevue, Washington. My mother's family moved down to the Seattle area in 1960, and my grandmother lived in the Bellevue area until her death in 2012. So much of our family history was in the house they moved into shortly after moving to the area, including my parent's wedding party, my great-grandmother living with them for a time, and so much of my mom and her younger brother's childhood, as well as mine and my sister's.

B. Vancouver, BC. After Grandpa went to war, Grandma returned to Vancouver and lived with her parents there while he served. My uncle was born here. They moved to a suburb of Vancouver after grandpa returned to Vancouver, and all three of their other children were born there. They lived there until they moved to the US in 1960.

C. Truro, Nova Scotia. For a time, Grandma lived with Grandpa here while he trained to go overseas for the war. I am not sure how long they were here together, but I feel the need to include it because it was the beginning of their marriage to each other.

D. Vancouver, BC. Grandma and her three siblings were all born here, and lived here their whole childhood and young adult lives. None of them moved away from the area until after they were married, but they generally stayed near the Vancouver area even after they moved.

2. Daniel Thomas Jones

A. Vancouver, BC. I don't know exactly when Daniel arrived in Vancouver, but shortly after, he met my great-grandmother, Bessie. They married in 1911, and so he never went back home to Wales except to visit. They raised all four of their children here in the city. They celebrated their 50th anniversary with three of their four children and all their grandchildren in 1961, just three years before his death in 1964. 

B. Merthyr Tydfil, Wales. Daniel was born here in 1882, the fourth of eight children. His parents ran the local post office, and he stayed here with his family until he and his friends decided to take a working trip to Canada, where they worked at farms to make money to travel across the country. When he reached Vancouver, he met and fell in love with Bessie, my great-grandmother.

3. Benjamin Jones

Here's where my knowledge fades. I have a picture of Benjamin and his wife with their daughters, but until I found some census records, I didn't even have all their childrens' names. I do have one story about one of their sons dying from pneumonia, but otherwise, my information is very minimal.

A. Merthyr Tydfil, Wales. Benjamin lived here with his wife and children until his death sometime between 1901, where I have him in the census and before 1920, which is when my grandmother and her family came to visit the family. I have all their children having been born here, including my great-grandfather, and I believe I have a census record showing him with his mother and a brother, but I have almost nothing else about how he came here, or who he came with.

B. Caio, Wales. This is the place I have recorded as Benjamin's birthplace. I looked it up, and it appears to be a mining area as well, so it's possible the family moved to Merthyr Tydfil because they were already part of the mining life. But I don't know why they moved, or when. Or even if his father came with them. All I know is that this is where he was born.

I do have a father for Benjamin, but at this time, I have nothing more than a name, David, and that not proven, so he will have to wait until I can prove more. So just five places for this one. Hopefully someday I'll be able to learn more about Benjamin's early life and his parents. 

If you have any more information about this family, I would love to know more about them. Feel free to leave a message, or even email me at elfflame at hotmail dot com.

Brick Wall People Redux – Part 5 – Benjamin Jones

Benjamin with his wife (standing) and daughters May and Sophia

Name: Benjamin Jones
Birth: December 24, 1836 in Caio, Wales.
Death: before 1915, Merthyr Tydfil, Wales
Marriage: before 1882, in Wales
Location(s): Caio, Wales; Merthyr Tydfil, Wales
Relation to me: Benjamin Jones is my maternal grandmother's paternal grandfather, which makes him 5th generation before me.
Alias(es): None known at this time.
Parents: David Jones & Mary, whose surname is unknown at this time.

Spouse(s): Hannah Griffith

Children: John, Joseph, David, Daniel, William, May, Sophia
Other Family: Joseph Jones, brother

Details: Ben is the first of the people on my original list that I've gotten another generation back on his tree. Unfortunately, I haven't gotten far back enough to really call this a complete success. I know his parents' names, but nothing more about them, and in his mother's case, I don't have a maiden name. The majority of information I had on Benjamin before came from my grandmother, only knew of him from her father, as he died before she was born. I do know that he and his wife apparently ran the post office in Merthyr Tydfil, and that Hannah continued to run it even after his death. I have now found several Census records for he and his family, which helped a lot in sorting out the family members, but still left a lot of questions.

Aside from what I already knew, and what I've found in the census records, I really know nothing about this man. I don't know how he moved from Caio to Merthyr Tydfil, or when and where he married his wife, or if he always worked in the post office, or anything else.

Proof:
1) All my details on Benjamin in my family tree came from my grandmother, and through her father. Beyond that, I had no specific proof for many years.
2) My first actual proof came from the record of my great-grandfather's death on Family Search, which lists Benjamin as his father. I assume this came from my grandmother or one of her siblings, but it at least is a more concrete proof of Benjamin's existence than the family tree I had.
3) The last piece of proof I have is from family photos dating to around the turn of the century, one of which shows Benjamin with his wife and daughters. I do not believe we have any other shots of him, but it is lovely to have the one we do have.

New Proofs I have found of Benjamin:
4) I found a baptism record for him with his parents' names, which confirms his birthdate as December 24th 1836.
5) I also have several Census forms listing him. The first is the 1871 Census, where he is shown with his wife and their eldest two sons, John and Joseph. This one was taken in Merthyr Tydfil, so I know he was there by then, at the very latest.
6) I have a second 1871 record that if it correct, shows him in the household of a Joseph Jones. Given he had a son named Joseph, and this record also lists a mother for both named Mary. It's possible with the commonness of the names, this is not a correct record, but until I know for certain otherwise, I will assume he was visiting the day the Census taker came to his brother's house.
7) The 1881 Census lists him as a Grocer, and their family has grown to three sons: David James, Joseph, and John Joseph. They also have a servant living with them.
8) The 1891 Census they have six children listed: David J, John J, Daniel T (my great-grandfather), William N, Mary A, and Sarah S.
9) The same six children are listed in the 1901 Census, with no further additions.
10) I also found that he is listed on the wedding record for his son Daniel.
11) He is also listed on Daniel's death record.

Needed:
The censuses tell me there were seven children, if I understand them correctly. And the second 1871 Census is less certain, but with the names, I have to believe that is also him.

I have an exact birth record for Benjamin, but I don't have his marriage or death information as of yet. I know I could pay for it, as it should be available on the UK BMD records website, along with marriage information for he and Hannah. This is obviously my next step for this branch, but given how much I've found on Ancestry, I will continue to look there first. I'd love to know more about his life, especially life before Merthyr Tydfil, and about his parents, how many siblings he might have had, and how he met Hannah.


At that's what I have on Benjamin. Though I've found his parents' names, I still don't have his mother's maiden name, so until I do, I'm not going to consider this brick wall solved. If you're a member of the Jones family who knows more about him, I'd love to hear the stories you have, and I'd love to share what I have as well. Please feel free to contact me.

Original Post
Other Posts about Benjamin Jones:

• Brick Wall Update
• Brick Walls--A Different Listing
• Advent Calendar: Benjamin Jones and Hannah Griffith
• Brick Wall Update
• Brick Wall Update 2012
• Visual Family Tree IV - The Jones and Howells Family

Brick Wall People – Part 5 – Benjamin Jones

Benjamin Jones with his wife & daughters

Name: Benjamin Jones

Birth: my records read "Before December 24, 1865." I have him listed as being born in Caio, Wales.

Death: before 1915, Merthyr Tydfil, Wales

Marriage: before 1882, in Wales

Location(s): Caio, Wales; Merthyr Tydfil, Wales

Relation to me: Benjamin Jones is my maternal grandmother's paternal grandfather, which makes him 5^th generation before me.

Alias(es): None known at this time.

Parents: unknown

Spouse(s): Hannah Griffith

Children: Daniel, David, Joseph, Jack, William, May, Sophia

Other Family: No other direct family known.

Details: The majority of information I have on Benjamin comes from my grandmother, his granddaughter, who only knew of him from her father, as he died before she was born. I do know that he and his wife apparently ran the post office in Merthyr Tydfil, and that Hannah continued to run it even after his death.

Beyond that, I really know nothing about this man. I don't know how he moved from Caio to Merthyr Tydfil, or when and where he married his wife, or if he always worked in the post office, or anything.

Proof:

1)      All my details on Benjamin in my family tree came from my grandmother, and through her father. Beyond that, I had no specific proof for many years.

2)      My first actual proof came from the record of my great-grandfather's death on Family Search, which lists Benjamin as his father. I assume this came from my grandmother or one of her siblings, but it at least is a more concrete proof of Benjamin's existence than the family tree I had.

3)      The last piece of proof I have is from family photos dating to around the turn of the century, one of which shows Benjamin with his wife and daughters. I do not believe we have any other shots of him, but it is lovely to have the one we do have.

Needed:

I have no exact BMD information for Benjamin, though I know if I want to pay for it, it should be available on the UK BMD records website, along with marriage information for he and Hannah. This is obviously my next step, but I worry that I will pay for something and find nothing, which is why I have continued to put off paying for any services that offer it.

I'd love to know more about his life, especially life before Merthyr Tydfil, and who his parents were, how many siblings he might have had, and how he met Hannah.

And really, that's all I have on Benjamin. If you're a member of the Jones family who knows more about him, I'd love to hear the stories you have, and I'd love to share what I have as well. Please feel free to contact me.

Surname Saturday 2.0: The Joneses

The Jones Family

Like the Hillinger line, my Jones line is one of the shortest in my current family tree. I can trace back to my great grandfather's parents, but no further. I know their full names, and when and where they were born in Wales, but nothing else. Unfortunately, the commonness of their names, and the fact that the records are over in Wales makes this wall expensive to overcome, if it's even possible at all.

The line as I know it starts with a man named Benjamin Jones. He was born near an old Roman gold mine in Wales, in a town named Caio. I have no idea who his parents were or if he had any siblings, nor do I have any confirmed record of him until his marriage to my great-great grandmother. I know the two lived or settled in Merthyr Tydful, Wales, and their children were likely all born there.

According to my grandmother, they ran the post office there, and my great-great grandmother ran it even after her husband's death.

My true knowledge starts with my great grandfather, Daniel Jones. He was born in Merthyr Tydful, and lived there until he and several friends took a trip to Canada. They wandered across the provinces, and got to about the halfway point, then realized they would have to start back to the East coast or stay another year. They ended up flipping a coin to decide, and in the end, continued on their route, ending up in Vancouver, where he met a lovely young Welsh girl named Eliza Howells.

Daniel ended up marrying her. The two settled in Vancouver, and he only ever returned to Wales for a visit. He and my great-grandmother had a good long life, celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary before his death in the 60s. Their descendants are all over Western Canada and the United States today.

My Jones line, for those interested:

● Benjamin Jones was born about 1865 in Caio, Wales. He married Hannah Griffiths sometime before 1882. They had 7 children.
o Daniel Thomas
o David "Davey"
o Joseph
o Jack
o William
o May
o Sophia
● Daniel Thomas was born 1882 in Merthyr Tydful, Wales. He Immigrated to Canada sometime before 1911. He married Eliza "Bessie" Howells 1911 in Vancouver, BC, Canada. They had 4 children.
o Marjorie Grace, born 1912, married Herbert Robinson. They had 3 daughters, and those three daughters had 13 children between them. Those children have had 32 children between them. They have even started on a fourth generation, with her first great-great grandchild born this year.
o Edwina Hanna, born 1913, married Kenneth Merilees. He had two sons already, whom she helped raise, and together they had a third son. Between the three, they had 4 children, and one of the four had 3 children in the next generation.
o Merle Tydfil (named for her father's hometown), born 1915, married George Bordewick. They had 4 children, and between them, there were 2 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren.
o Ivor Howell (named for his mother's family), born 1920, married Marjorie Carnahan, and they had 2 daughters. He then married Mary Nixon. Ivor's two daughters had 4 children between them, and between them, they have had 9 children.
● Of his siblings, I know very little. One brother died of pneumonia after jumping into a lake to retrieve a hat while still recovering from a bout of flu. Both sisters married, but I have only scattered records and photos of their families, so I am uncertain at this time of their lines.

What I don't know:

* I need to find more Welsh records on this family. Particularly Benjamin's birth record, any Census records with him, and a wedding record for he and Hannah.

* I also need to find an actual birth record for my great-grandfather, Daniel. While I know he was born in Merthyr Tydful, I only have his death record and word of mouth to confirm it. I'd love a better record before his immigration.

* I would also love to know more about his siblings. I have pictures of them and his mother, but I know very little about them.

Other information about this branch of the family:
Brick Wall Posts -
● Brick Wall Update
● Brick Walls: a Different Listing
● Brick Wall Update
● Brick Wall Update 2012
Old Surname Posts –
● Jones
Where We're From Posts –
● Where We're From – Canada
● Where We're From – Wales
Other -
● The Bordewick Family

Womens History Month -- Week 1

In honor of National Women’s History Month, Lisa Alzo of The Accidental Genealogist presents Fearless Females: 31 Blogging Prompts to Celebrate Women’s History Month, and I'm going to play with her prompts weekly, just to keep myself sane, as I don't think I could manage daily.

March 1 — Do you have a favorite female ancestor? One you are drawn to or want to learn more about? Write down some key facts you have already learned or what you would... like to learn and outline your goals and potential sources you plan to check.

This one's hard for me, but I think if I were to answer without thinking on it too hard, I'd have to say Dora Hillinger nee Kresch, my paternal grandfather's mother. I know quite a bit about her later life, but almost nothing about her life before she came to Frankfurt in the late nineteen-teens. I have a guess at a town, but I have yet to find anything that has made the name of the town definite for me yet. I know her parent's names (Benzion, possibly Benno, and Feige Golde (Reich) Kresch), and that she had at least one sibling, whom she named her first daughter for. Unfortunately, with her, I have my work cut out for me, but my plans are to write to/talk to two of my grandfather's sisters (soon) and see what they know about their mother, particularly when she was young.

March 2 — Post a photo of one of your female ancestors. Who is in the photo? When was it taken? Why did you select this photo?

This is a picture of my great-grandfather's grandmother Ivare Larsen nee Christensen and her sister Katrine. We've got a number of similar shots, and I love them all—focusing on a pair of sisters, but this one is a special favorite of mine for a few reasons. Because it's a new shot I'd not seen before this past year, and also because it's so old. Ivare lived until 1932, but even so, having a photograph of someone six generations removed from me is just incredibly special to me, and I treasure every one of them I do have.

March 3 — Do you share a first name with one of your female ancestors? Perhaps you were named for your great-grandmother, or your name follows a particular naming pattern. If not, then list the most unique or unusual female first name you’ve come across in your family tree.

I don't. I have a very unique first name, but it's not a family name. We do have a number of odd/unique names in my family, depending on your point of view. The Welsh and Irish sides are all fairly common names, but the Norwegian, Dutch, and Jewish sides all have some interesting names, if more common within those communities.

I think I'll go with my great-grandmother, Oline, pronounced Ol-ee-nah. I'd never so much heard the name before starting to research her. It was actually her middle name, but it was the name she used every day. Looking up the name, I don't find an exact match, but it seems to be a form of the name Olin, which means "ancestor's heir," which I find even more interesting.

March 4 — Do you have marriage records for your grandparents or great-grandparents? Write a post about where they were married and when. Any family stories about the wedding day? Post a photo too if you have one.

I know where both my grandparents and all four sets of great-grandparents were married, and when, and I have wedding photos for all but two pairs, though I do have a shot of the wedding invitation for one of them:


Alex Hillinger and Dora Kresch were married in Frankfurt, Germany on October 31, 1919. Unfortunately, I don't know much about Alex and Dora, given what they went through with the Nazi rise and leaving the country to escape what would eventually happen there. (the invitation translates roughly to: "We hereby have the honor to announce, on Friday 31 October, at 1 O'clock, The Wedding of our children Dora and Alex. We respectfully invite you. Mrs Kresch, Leon Seneft, Frankfurt a.M. in October 1919." and location and contact information.)


Holger and Oline Hansen were married September 14, 1918, in Cleveland, Ohio. The two settled there together and raised three children together before my great-grandmother's death in 1929.


Bjarne Bordewick and Mary (May) Park (pictured here with his brother and her sister on the left of the photo) married on June 14, 1917, in Vancouver, BC, Canada. The two had both been born outside of Canada, and only fate had brought them both to the West-coast city, where they met, married, and raised two boys.

Daniel Jones and Eliza (Bessie) Howells were married on May 23, 1911 in Vancouver, BC, Canada. They met there, despite having both been born in Wales, only because my great-grandfather tossed a coin and decided to come west.


George Bordewick and Merle Jones, my maternal grandparents, were married November 10, 1939, in Vancouver, BC, Canada, right before my grandfather was sent to the east coast to finish his training before being sent to the war. The two met as teenagers, and aside from the war, spent the rest of their lives together until my grandfather's death in 1991.


Sam Hillinger and Margaret (Maggie) Hansen, my paternal grandparents, married in Frankfurt, Germany on June 12, 1948.

March 5 — How did they meet? You’ve documented marriages, now, go back a bit. Do you know the story of how your parents met? Your grandparents?

My parents met at the University of Washington in an English class, and began to talk. They fell in love and ended up marrying March 29, 1969 in Bellevue, Washington.

As I said, my grandparents, George and Merle, met as teenagers when my grandfather joined a youth group that my grandmother was already part of. The two began to date, and never dated anyone else, marrying in 1939.

Sam and Maggie met when they both decided to take the USO up on a trip to Switzerland. The two met on the train there, and spent most of the trip together, where they learned to ski, a love which followed them through their married life together until Sam's death in 2000.

Advent Calendar: Benjamin Jones and Hannah Griffith

Benjamin Jones

Born 1865, Died before 1915
Lived in: Caio, Wales; Merthyr Tydil, Wales
Married: Hannah Griffiths
Children:
Daniel Jones
David Jones
Joseph Jones
Jack Jones
William Jones
May Jones
Sophia Jones

Benjamin Jones was born in the small town of Caio, Wales, which is situated near the Dolaucothi Gold Mines, an old Roman mine over 2000 years old. He married Hannah Griffiths, and the two eventually settled on a farm in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, where they raised their children. Aside from their eldest son, the entire family stayed in the area well into adulthood, and Benjamin and Hannah lived in Merthyr Tydful until their deaths.

Hannah Jones nee Griffiths, aka Gu (pronounced Gee)
(Gu is the Southern Welsh word for "Grandma")

Born 1863, died 1933, aged 69
Lived in: Newcastle Emlyn, Wales; Merthyr Tydful, Wales
Married: Benjamin Jones
Children:
Daniel Jones
David Jones
Joseph Jones
Jack Jones
William Jones
May Jones
Sophia Jones

Hannah was born near the West coast of Wales in a small town called Newcastle Emlyn. After marrying Benjamin Jones, the two settled on a farm in the town of Merthyr Tydfil, where they raised seven children together. Aside from their eldest son Daniel, the entire family stayed in the area well into adulthood. Hannah did get to meet Daniel's children when his family came to Wales to visit in the twenties.