North American Festival of Wales 2015 Friday seminar.

1. Welsh Family History-Getting Started

2. Names
John Mary
David Margaret
Thomas Hannah
Evan Matilda
William Sarah
Edward Elizabeth

3. Patronymics
• Mab or ab or ap = son of
• Ferch or verch = daughter of
• In South Wales ab or ap was not always used

4. Examples
• Evan Rees ap John
• David Thomas Howell
• David Williams
• Matilda vch John

5. Naming Pattern

6. Second edition, Dec 2013
• Chapter four is all new &
explains the transition
from patronymics
• Shows the drop below
10% of the population
using patronymics

7. One chart is worth the cost of the book
The map on page 56 shows
when areas in Wales
dropped below 10% of the
population using
patronymics.
The study is based on
information in probate
records.

13. Jurisdictions
Diocese & Parish are critical

24. WELSH LANGUAGE

25. Records in Welsh
• Nonconformist records
• Chapel histories
• Monumental inscriptions
• Periodicals

27. NONCONFORMITY

32. PARISH REGISTERS

33. Key Dates in Welsh Family History
• 1538 christening, marriage and burial records
begin
• 1597 Bishop’s transcripts begin
• 1754 pre-printed forms for marriages
• 1813 pre-printed forms used for christenings &
burials
• 1837 civil registration begins

39. Pre 1813 burial (1750)

41. Post 1813 burial

42. Marriages

43. Marriages
• Marriages are indexed well and serve as a good
finding tool
• Get your bearings by using maps
– Map of the country
• https://www.familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Wales
– Map of the county showing all parishes
• The book Atlas and Index of Parish Registers
• Order one of the three maps for Wales at
http://www.ihgs.ac.uk/shop/contents/ihgsmaps/ihgsparis
hmaps/index.html?action=page&id=2

45. Start with a marriage index
• FindMyPast has many Welsh parish registers at
https://www.findmypast.com/ or use Findmypast
for free at a FamilySearch Center
• A list of county based indexes is at
https://www.familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Wal
es_Marriage_Indexes_Before_1837

47. Marriages pre 1754

48. Details to watch for 1754-1837

49. Post 1836 Parish Register

50. Some details are the same as before 1837

51. Some details are new

52. Christenings
Christenings often show:
• child’s given name
• Father’s name
• Mother’s name
Sometimes included:
• Family residence such
as the village, street or
farm name
• Father’s occupation

53. Post 1812 parish register christening

54. Bishop’s Transcript

57. CIVIL REGISTRATION

58. David Thomas Howell Death Notice
On the 11th inst., aged 75 years, Mr.
David Thomas Howell, landlord of the
Star Public house, Llanguicke. He was
for many years a consistent member of
the Independents, and was highly
esteemed and beloved by all who
knew him.

67. CENSUS RECORDS

71. PROBATE RECORDS

82. Monumental Inscriptions
Supplement other records

83. Strategies for Success
• Kill off your ancestor
• Find your ancestor in every census
• Always search both the Parish
Registers and Bishop’s Transcripts

84. Strategies for Success
• Use indexes
• Don’t trust indexes
• Watch for patronymics:
David Thomas Howell is a clue

85. Welsh Family History-Getting Started