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Wales - Genealogy Help Pages

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This collection of genealogy help pages originally known as Gareth's Help Page (GHP) was developed over the period of peak list activity from 1998 onwards as an adjunct to both the Dyfed and Glamorgan mailing lists. It was latterly hosted on Rootsweb but their security problems  in early 2018, which removed these  hosted sites from the internet, prompted me to re-create GHP here on Genuki.


The content of these pages is now static and is representative of the status quo at the time of the original submissions but it must be emphasised  that some material may not be as accurate or complete now in 2018 as it appeared to be 'then'.
I regard those early years fondly as the 'Dark Ages'  -  the county based Family History Societies 'ruled the roost' and full blown commercialisation was yet to descend on us. Names such as Ancestry & FMP  were yet to come to the fore, the IGI was on fiche and censuses on film accessible at Records Offices. The indexing/transcription of the 1881 census by/for the LDS was a massive leap forward
It has been an interesting last 20+ years and the face of genealogy has changed completely.  [Gareth Hicks May 2018]  Catalogue of books I have owned

Abbreviations

Beginners start here

Census dates & Census returns

Crime and Punishment

Graveyard & History Book Welsh

Hicks names

History books  

Indexing Project

Lookup Exchange

 

Names

Not everyone knows this......

Occupations

Pot Pourri

Research Books

Timeline

Welsh Counties, then and now

Welsh language

Welsh nationality

Welsh proverbs

 

 

Beginners start here

Advice sites on how to start/carry out your research

Professional researchers.

Lookup Exchange

Here is the gateway page to the Wales Lookup Exchange which has separate sections for;

  • All Wales
  • Cardiganshire
  • Carmarthenshire
  • Glamorgan
  • Pembrokeshire
  • One Name Database
  • Mid Wales Lookup Exchange

Census Dates

To prevent  double counting, people were listed  at the addresses where they were on census night, or to which they intended to return the following day after a night's work or travel. It is simplest to refer to the separate censuses by the dates either side of the midnight of census night.

  • 6-7  June1841
  • 30-31 March 1851
  • 7-8 April 1861
  • 2-3 April 1871
  • 3-4 April 1881
  • 5-6 April 1891
  • 31 March -1 April 1901
  • 2 - 3 April 1911
  • 19-20th June 1921(delayed by strikes from April)
  • The 1931 returns were destroyed by fire in WWII. 
  • The 1941 census was not taken because of the war.

  Census Returns

Brief overview

A census of the population of England & Wales was first taken in 1801, followed by others every 10 years except for 1941 when the country was again at war.

When decennial census taking was first mooted in 1800, the country was at war with France and was suffering bad harvests and food shortages - it would not be surprising if government wished  to find out more about the makeup of the population at large.

The range of questions asked were added to as the century progressed and social and medical scientists came to the fore.

After each census an official  Census Report was issued including all manner of statistics and commentary.

Apart from 1841 the censuses were held in the spring to avoid distortions caused by seasonal movement of agricultural workers in the summer months - see Census dates above

 

1801-31

These were taken for statistical purposes and contained no individual names as such (with some local exceptions).
They were organised by one John Rickman who worked for the House of Commons,the parish based data collection  being  devolved to the officials of the Poor Law system and the established church.

Although there were differences between the 4 returns, the questions broadly revolved around ;

  • numbers of inhabited/uninhabited houses, occupied by how many families
  • numbers of persons  to be found in the parish, male/female
  • numbers of people employed in agriculture, manufacture, retail, mining, fishing, servants, retired/disabled/

The clergy were also required to provide data on baptisms, marriages and burials for a range of dates over the previous century.
An additional question in 1830 was the number of illegitimate children born in a parish.

 

1841      (The TNA reference is HO 107)

Following the establishment of a civil registration system, responsibility for census taking was taken over by the GRO in 1840. The census was also based on the new registration districts, themselves modelled on the older Poor Law unions which sometimes overlapped 2 or more counties - this latter fact should be kept in mind if having difficulty finding a particular place in what may seem to be the obvious enumeration district.

All that remained was for the registrars to divide their sub-districts into smaller enumeration districts (maximum 200 inhabited houses), and appoint an enumerator for each one.

Enumerators had to be able to read and write, be temperate, orderly and respectable - as an example, my gg grandfather, Benjamin Evans, schoolmaster, seems to have been the enumerator for Llanybyther in Carmarthenshire for the 1851 census.

See here for the detailed Instructions to the Enumerators from the 1841 Census

The census was held on a single night of the year (to avoid double counting), the idea being that they would include every person at a house "that night" - one apparent omission (in 1841 only) was not to give clear guidance to include night workers who would be returning to that residence next day, another was how to deal with lodgers and boarders.
Household schedules (with instructions) were to be issued to each household ahead of  census night, to be completed by the householder and collected by the enumerator the day after census night. A Welsh translation of the schedule was available from 1841 onwards but the data provided had to be written in English.
Should the householder have difficulties with completing the schedule the enumerator was required to assist and no doubt ended up completing some entirely - for example, it is recorded that in 1871, in Anglesey, the enumerator completed the majority.
The schedules were then to be copied into printed books - it is digital copies of these enumerators' books that are now used for searching/transcribing/indexing.

This first  'named' census could be seen as something of a 'suck it and see' affair, it was designed to be as simple as possible -  the principal difference between it and those that followed is the absence of relationships shown between the residents; the requirement that ages were rounded down to the nearest multiple of 5, unless under 15; and that the place of birth question was only to say whether born in "the same county or not" (also whether born in Scotland, Ireland or Foreign parts).
All factors which we genealogists now gripe about !

No named account was made of the crews/passengers of merchant vessels for this census, unless they were ashore of course. A head count was carried out.
Neither was any count  taken of those aboard fishing vessels in this census, likewise itinerants/travellers which was unfortunate given the census was taken in June when annual movements were well under way.

Royal Navy personnel ashore on census night were fully enumerated as households or institutions. The position with those on board ship isn't  clear, a head count was carried out - if they existed no named returns seem to survive for 1841/51.

Soldiers serving abroad were never fully enumerated until 1911, those living in barracks within the UK were.

On this page on Ancestry.com (scroll down, down) there are details of 'known problems with the 1841 census'  for Wales (work back to find the England page)

Searchable indexes on Find my past

 

1851     (HO 107)

This census was a considerable improvement on 1841 - "relation to head" being introduced, also  marital status, and "where born" to include county and parish/town in that order.  A straight forward "Age" question replaced the convoluted rounding down  of 1841. The number of a house in a street was now to be included although that assumed that 'proper addresses' existed at all at this time in most places.

The first medical question appeared - householders were now asked to indicate if anyone was deaf, dumb or blind.

The position with the merchant marine, fishing vessels, inland navigation vessels, itinerants & travellers from 1851 onwards is too complex to describe here -  the book mentioned above has chapter and verse.

See here for Census instructions for 1851

Searchable indexes on Find my past

 

1861    (RG 9)

The storage of the 1861 returns in particular could be described as haphazard in the extreme and they didn't get into the safe hands of the PRO until the 1960s, unfortunately sections are permanently missing.

From 1861 commanding officers of Royal Navy ships, either in home of foreign waters, were required to fully enumerate their officers and crews.

On this page on Ancestry.com (scroll down, down) there are details of 'known problems with 1861 piece numbers' for Wales (work back to find the England page)

Searchable indexes on Find my past

 

1871    (RG 10)

The medical question was  expanded to include those who were 'imbeciles, idiots or lunatics'

Searchable indexes on Find my past

 

1881     (RG 11)

This return has been indexed/transcribed for the whole of the UK, a combined undertaking by the Genealogical Society of Utah [Mormons] and the FFHS, it is searchable online on their own site or Find my past

See 1881 census place name index for details of 1881 census Registration District overlaps  for All Wales/Mon and a place name index for the Dyfed and Glamorgan counties only. 

 

1891     (RG 12)

In 1891 & 1901 an extra question was introduced in Wales only to ascertain whether people spoke only Welsh, only English, or both.

Additional questions were introduced, namely boxes headed Employer/Employed/Neither

Searchable indexes on Find my past

 

1901      (RG 13)

See Find my past for a fully searchable index online .

See the Genuki pages;  Directions to Enumerators on the completion of 1901 Census Enumeration Books, and here for other census related odds and ends

 

1911 (RG14)

The surviving 1911 census pages consist of the original household pages and the enumerators' summary books.

See https://search.findmypast.co.uk/search-world-records/census-land-and-surveys  for a fully searchable index online

On 1911 census co uk is a guidance section 

 

1921 census

The Census Returns become available for public inspection after 100 years, or 2022 in this case.

See Find my past for a fully searchable index online .

 

1931 census

The 1931 returns were destroyed by fire in WWII. 

 

1941 census

Not taken because of WWII

 

General notes and guidance

  • See  Abbreviations for Relationships to heads of household on census returns
  • There is an extensive list of places and parishes within the Dyfed counties with their respective hundreds  and census registration  districts on  the Dyfed FHS website.
  • For Glamorgan, there is a  Class List produced by the PRO of places included in each part of each census - on this site under Class Lists for Glamorgan Censuses 1841/91  
  • See also here for general information
  • The National Archives have an online research guide
  • There are a number of commercial organisations, as well as Family History Societies such as Glamorgan FHS, who sell Cds, or online access, of/to various UK censuses.
    Some are name-indexed with transcriptions, others are only the digital images of the enumerators' books, mostly with some sort of street index etc.

Reading list;

  • Making Sense of the Census Revisited  by Edward Higgs. University of London School of Advance Study/Inst. of Historical Research/TNA, 2005. 232p.   ISBN 1 905165 00 5. Available from TNA   (The National Archives)
  • Census: The expert guide  by Peter Christian and David Annal, (The National Archives, 2008)     Available from TNA   (The National Archives)
  • Local census listings 1522-1930, Holdings in the British Isles by Jeremy Gibson and Mervyn Medlycott, (Federation of Family History Societies, third edition, 1997, reprinted 2001)

 

Welsh Counties, then and now

The boundaries and names of many counties in England and Wales changed both in 1974 and again in 1996. This can make it difficult to locate parishes and records.

This is an outline summary of the boundary and name changes in Wales in 1974 and 1996. In 1996 some new County Boroughs were also formed in some urban areas. However be aware that those counties which reverted to their pre-1974 name in 1996 may not have reverted to exactly the same geographical boundaries.

The changes may also be seen in map format here

Pre 1974

1974 -1996

1996 -

Anglesey / Ynys Mon

Gwynedd

Anglesey

Breconshire/Brecknock

Powys

Powys

Caernarfonshire

Gwynedd

Gwynedd

Cardiganshire

Dyfed

Ceredigion

Carmarthenshire

Dyfed

Carmarthenshire

Denbighshire

Clwyd

Denbighshire

Wrexham County Borough

Flintshire

Clwyd

Flintshire

Conwy County Borough

Glamorgan

South Glamorgan

Mid Glamorgan

West Glamorgan

Bridgend

Caerphilly

Cardiff

Merthyr Tydfil

Neath Port Talbot

Rhondda Cynon Taff

Vale of Glamorgan

County of Swansea

Merionethshire/Merionydd

Gwynedd

Gwynedd

Monmouthshire

Gwent (included a small part of Glamorgan)

Monmouthshire, Newport, Blaenau Gwent,Torfaen

Montgomeryshire

Powys

Powys

Pembrokeshire

Dyfed

Pembrokeshire

Radnorshire

Powys

Powys

 



The recent changes in the county boundaries and names mean that some records have also been moved causing problems for Family Historians, therefore recommended reading for anyone researching in Wales is:

" RESEARCHING FAMILY HISTORY IN WALES" by Jean Istance and E.E.Cann., Federation of Family History Societies (Publications) Ltd. 1996. ISBN 1-86006-030-7.

This book provides the following information:

  • 1) A brief history of the pre 1974 counties and details of the changes made in 1974 and 1996.
  • 2) Addresses, phone nos., opening times and holdings of all Record Offices.
  • 3) Addresses, phone nos., and holdings of all libraries and museums.
  • 4) Addresses and phone nos., of all LDS Family History Centres.
  • 5) Addresses and phone nos., of all Register Offices.
  • 6) Addresses and phones nos. of all Tourist Information Offices.
  • 7) Details of local attractions of interest to local historians.

 

Research books

 

These are mainly books I have personally, there are many others available.

Listed in no particular order

  • 1. Welsh Family History: A Guide to Research, 2nd ed, chapters by various authors. Edited by John & Sheila Rowlands.  Published by the Assoc. of Family History Societies of Wales and the FFHS.[ISBN 1-86006-065-X] 1998, 325 p. The chapter titles are: Introduction, Archive Repositories in Wales, Family History Societies of Wales, Parish Registers and, Bishop's Transcripts, Civil Registration and the Census, Nonconformity, The Surnames of Wales, Place Names, Some Basic Welsh for Family Historians, The IGI for Wales, Estate Records, Maritime Records, Wills and Other Records of Inheritance, Education Records, Parochial Records, The Welsh at Law, The Records of the Courts of Great Sessions for Wales, Printed and Manuscript Pedigrees, Migration
  • 2. Researching Family History in Wales by Jean Istance and E Cann 1996. Detailed information about the Record Offices and Libraries of Wales. [ISBN 1-86006-030-7]
  • 3. The Surnames of Wales for family historians and others, by John & Sheila Rowlands 1996   A description / analysis of the development of surnames within Wales down to modern times. ISBN 1-86006-025-0.  
    "The dominance of a small number of common surnames in Wales can be a major stumbling block for those researching their Welsh ancestry or those wishing to distinguish between individuals within a given community as part of a local history study. This book attempts to dispel the myths that surround the subject of surnames in Wales - such as the widely-held belief (outside Wales) that nearly everyone is called Jones - by describing the development of surnames within Wales down to modern times. Equal emphasis has been given within the text to common names found throughout Wales and to rarer ones found only in specific localities. [The survey given] of surnames in Wales in the period 1813-1837 can be used to suggest a place of origin within Wales for groups of people (a minimum of two) about whom all that is known is that 'they came from Wales'. For many people whose ancestors left Wales for other parts of Britain or the New World this predictive method could offer the first real opportunity for making progress in tracing those elusive (and often seemingly anonymous) Welsh ancestors by narrowing down the potential search area."
  • 4. The Family Tree Detective  3rd ed, by Colin Rogers 1997. Tracing your Ancestors in England and Wales. ISBN 0-7190-5213-0
  • 5. Basic Sources for Family History. 1: back to the early 1800s, by A.Todd 1989. 2nd ed.[Allen & Todd]
  • 6. Ancestral Trails . The Complete Guide to British Genealogy and Family History. by Mark D. Herber 1997.                  [ISBN 0-7509-1418-1] Published  by Sutton Publishing/S.O.G. 674 pages.
    There is a revised and updated 2nd edition published in 2004. (CN 120647)
  • 7. Second Stages in Researching Welsh Ancestry,  1999, edited by John and Sheila Rowlands. ISBN 1-86006-066-8.   'Success in researching our Welsh ancestry requires some understanding of the social, cultural , religious and economic background  to the communities in which our ancestors lived, this book aims to broaden that understanding,  especially for the period before 1800......'
  • 8. Tracing the History of Your House, a guide to sources. By Nick Barratt. PRO, 2001. ISBN 1-903365-22-8
  • 9. Tracing your Ancestors in the PRO. By Amanda Bevan.  ISBN 1-903365-34-1. 6th ed, PRO, 2002. 524 pages.
  • 10. The Local History Companion. By Stephen Friar.  ISBN 0-7509-2722-4. Sutton Publishing, 2001. 506 pages.
  • 11. The Welsh Almanac. By T D Breverton. 2002. ISBN 1-903529-107. Crammed with facts about Wales and Welsh events, a most informative book
  • 12. Making Sense of the Census Revisited by Edward Higgs. University of London School of Advance Study/Inst. of Historical Research/TNA, 2005. 232p.   ISBN 1 905165 00 5

The following have been recommended by other researchers;

  • 1. The Family Historian's Enquire Within by Pauline Saul & F.C Markwell (FFHS 1991)
  • 2a   The Oxford Guide to family History
    2b The Oxford Companion to Local and Family History

 

  Welsh language

Some sites with links to many other Welsh language sites;

Welsh/English and English /Welsh online dictionary (Univ of Wales, Lampeter)

 http://www.cymraeg.org.uk/   "apertium-cy, the first free automatic translator for Welsh"

 

Catalogue of books I have owned (Collection deposited with Glamorgan FHS in April 2022)

 

Glamorgan
 

  1. Annibynwyr Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen by L C Huws 1942. Translated/indexed by Gareth Hicks.

  2. Around Pontardawe by the Pontardawe Historians 1996. Indexed by Gareth Hicks.

  3. Around Pontardawe, second selection, 1999, indexed by Gareth Hicks

  4. Cwm Tawe. Hywel Teifi Edwards 1993

  5. Eglwys Gibea, Brynaman 1842-1992. Softback

  6. Gareth. Autobiography of Gareth Edwards. Reprint 1978

  7. Glamorgan; Its History and Topography. C J O Evans 1938

  8. Hanes Eglwys Cwmllynfell by J Dyfnallt Owen , J D Jones, Ben Davies. Indexed by Gareth Hicks

  9. Hen Gymeriadau--Cwmgors a'r Waun o'r Flwyddyn 1840. [Old Characters of  Cwmgors and Gwauncaegurwen   from the year 1840] Photocopy of original with translation by Jenni Hyatt

  10. History of y Gwrhyd by Joshua Lewis. This is a translation by Gwyn Davies Indexed by Gareth Hicks.

  11. Man of the Valleys. Ed. Mary Paget 1985 Softback

  12. Monks to Millennium, the Story of the Village of Cilffriw. By the Cilffriw Millennium Book Group, December 2000. Indexed by Gareth Hicks

  13. Old Characters of Gellinudd. Indexed by Gareth Hicks.

  14. Swansea. Alderman Edward Harris 1935

  15. The Anthracite Coal Industry of the Swansea District. A E C Hare. UCS Pamphlet no 5 1940

  16. The Economic Development of Swansea and of the Swansea District. D Trevor Williams, UCS Pamphlet no 4 1940

  17. The History of Brynteg, Gorseinon [Independent chapel]. By John Ceri Williams and D. Tom Davies.This is the translation by Ivor Griffiths 2000 . Indexed by Gareth Hicks

  18. The History of Pontardawe and District by John Henry Davies . Indexed by Gareth Hicks

  19. The History of Pontardawe  (& Old Characters of Gellinudd by J E Morgan.) This is the Translation by Ivor Griffiths. Indexed by Gareth Hicks.

  20. Twenty 20 Memories. Hywel Gwyn Evans 2006 Softback


 

Carmarthenshire

  1. Betws Mâs o'r Byd  (Betws Beyond the World).  Compiled and edited by Carol Murphy and Chris Dixon & published by The Betws History Group, 2000. Indexed by Gareth Hicks

  2. Canu'r Pwll a'r Pulpud; Portread o'r Diwylliant Barddol Cymraeg yn Nyffryn Aman. Huw Walters 1987

  3. Coal Dust and Dogma. Glyn Anthony 1987

  4. Cofiant Dafi Dafis, Rhydcymerau (A Biography of David Davies, Rhydcymerau).Gan y Parch James Morris, Dolgellau, 1898. Indexed by Gareth Hicks

  5. Cwm Aman [Amman Valley] Edited by Hywel Teifi Edwards, Gomer 1996. List of chapter headings/photographs, completed by Gareth Hicks

  6. Dafydd Jones o Gaeo . By Gomer Roberts, Gwasg Aberystwyth 1948. Indexed by Gareth Hicks

  7. Hanes Eglwys Aberduar [Llanybydder] By W Hugh Davies, Gomer 1962. Index completed by Gareth Hicks

  8. Hanes Eglwys Annibynnol Esgairdawe . Mary E Williams, 1992. Index completed by Gareth Hicks

  9. Hen Dy Ffarm. D J Williams 1953 (Llansawel/Caio/Pencarreg/Llanybydder)

  10. History of Coal Mining in the Amman Valley.Ifor Davies 2001

  11. History of Llansawel by Fred S Price 1898. Photocopy of original part extract on https://www.genuki.org.uk/big/wal/CMN/Llansawel/History

  12. Llandilo Present and Past. W Samuel. 1868

  13. Man of Amman; The Life of Dai Davies Phil Melling 1994

  14. Myddfai: Its Land and Peoples, by David B James, 1991. Indexed by Gareth Hicks.

  15. Old Characters of Bettws.  Indexed by Gareth Hicks.

  16. Pit Memories [ Up and Under] By William John Evans 1989. Index completed by Gareth Hicks

  17. Roll Along; Amman United 1903-2003. Ed. Howard Davies 2003

  18. Secret Sins [Sex,Violence & Society in Carmarthenshire 1870-1920] by Russell Davies 1996.

  19. The Amman Valley & District, a Photographic portrait, Brian Lewis 1996.Indexed by Gareth Hicks.

  20. The Amman Valley Long Ago [Dyffryn Aman 'Slawer Dydd] Compiled by David A Evans & Huw Walters ; Gomer 1987. Indexed by Gareth Hicks

  21. The Black Book of Carmarthen. Translated by Meirion Pennar 1989

  22. The History of Brynamman by Enoch Rees 1883 & Old Characters of Bettws by D Trumor Thomas 1894, This is a translation by Ivor Griffiths. Indexed

  23. The History of the Parish of Llandybie  (Hanes Plwyf Llandybie gan Gomer Roberts 1939) This is the Translation by Ivor Griffiths Indexed by Gareth Hicks.

  24. The History of the Parish of Llannon. (Hanes Plwyf Llan-non by Noel Gibbard 1984) This is the translation by Ivor Griffiths. Indexed by P Jones

  25. The Physicians of Myddfai. Facsmile reprint 1993. Softback

  26. The Story of Carmarthen Malcom & Edith Lodwick 1953?

  27. The Story of Carmarthenshire. Vol 2. A G Prys-Jones. 1972

  28. The Welsh Cattle Drovers by Richard Colyer. Indexed

  29. The Centenary History of Amman United Rugby Football Club, 1903-2003. Edited by Howard Gabe Davies, 2003. Contents and photographs listings by Gareth Hicks

  30. Twenty 20 Memories  by Evans, Hywel Gwyn.  Carmarthenshire County Council, 2006            Indexed by Gareth Hicks

 

Pembrokeshire

  1.  Great Grandfather's Little World. Old Pembrokeshire Photographs 1873-1934. By B S John.1975, Durham.  Descriptions listed by Gareth Hicks

  2. Pembrokeshire. R M Lockley Reprint 1958

  3. Pembrokeshire. Brian John 1976

 

Cardiganshire

  1. A History of Cardigan , the Locality and its People  [Those were the Days] Vol 1, 1991.Index by Gareth Hicks

  2. A History of the Parish of Llandyssul by Rev W J Davies, 1896.Translated by Ivor Griffiths. Indexed by Gareth Hicks

  3. Aberaeron : The Community and Seafaring 1800-1900 . By David Lewis Jones.Ceredigion, Journal of the Cardiganshire Antiquarian Society Vol VI/2 1969. Index by Gareth Hicks

  4. An Illustrated History of Cardiganshire  By W J Lewis, 1970. Cymdeithas Lyfrau, Ceredigion.Index by Gareth Hicks

  5. Ceredigion. Journals of the Cardiganshire Antiquarian Society. Vols for 1962, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1994, 1997, 1999

  6. Ceredigion; A Wealth of History. Gerald Morgan @nd Imp 2006

  7. Estates of Sir John Lewes and James Lewes settled in 1650 Based on "The Lewes Family of Abernantbychan " by Daniel Huws; in Ceredigion,Vol V1/2 1969. Completed by Gareth Hicks

  8. Llandysul Ddoe [Llandysul Yesterday] Gwasg Gomer 1992. Indexed by Gareth Hicks

  9. Melindwr township in Llanbadarn fawr parish. A list of about 160 property names, districts, hamlets and villages noted in the 1841-1871 censuses for this township and extracted from the article by E Alwyn Benjamin called   Melindwr, Cardiganshire...The Censuses of 1841-71  which appeared in the Ceredigion, Journal of the Cardiganshire Antiquarian Society. Vol. IX, No. 4 (1983).Extracted  by Gareth Hicks

  10. The History of Cardiganshire. Samuel Meyrick. Reprinted by S Collard 2000

  11. The Politics of Rural Wales; A study of Cardiganshire. P J Madgewick/Non Griffiths/Valerie Walker 1973

  12. The Trail of the Black Ox. (Cardiganshire & Carmarthenshire Black Cattle trade) Booklet Date?

  13. Those were the Days; A History of Cardigan Locality and People. Vol 1 & 2 1991/1992

 

Other Counties/All Wales

  1. A - Z of Wales and the Welsh. Terry Breverton 2000 Softback

  2. A Book of Wales. An Anthology. Meic Stephens. 1987

  3. A Century of Welsh Rugby Players 1880-1980 By Wayne Thomas, 1980. Indexed by Gareth Hicks

  4. A Mirror of Medieval Wales; Gerald of Wales and his Journey of 1188. Charles Kightly 1988

  5. A Prospect of Wales. Kenneth Rowntree & Gwyn Jones 1948

  6. A Topographical Dictionary of Wales . Samuel Lewis. Vols 1 & 2. 1833

  7. Accounting, Costing & Cost Estimation; Welsh Industry 1700-1830. Haydn Jones 1985

  8. Arthur. Book III of the Pendragon Cycle. Stephen Lawhead Reprint 1991

  9. Before Rebecca; Popular Protests in Wales 1793-1835. David Jones 1973

  10. Bonser, K J.The Drovers: Who they were and How they went: an Epic of the English Countryside. Readers Union, 1972. Here is a contents/photographs listing by Gareth Hicks

  11. Chapels in the Valley. D Ben Rees 1975

  12. Coal Society: A History of the South Wales Mining Valleys 1840-1980. By David Egan, 1987/92.  A listing of sources inc photographs, completed by Gareth Hicks

  13. Collieries of Wales [Engineering and Architecture] Edited for the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales by Stephen Hughes, Brian Malaws, Medwyn Parry and Peter Wakelin. Published 1994? Index by Gareth Hicks

  14. Davies, Henry. Coal Mining, A Reader for Primary Schools and Evening Continuation Classes ; The Welsh Educational Publishing Co, Merthyr Tydfil, 1904. Here is a substantial extraction

  15. Crime and Punishment in England and Wales. Eldon Smith. 1986

  16. Davies, John.   History of Wales    London, 1993

  17. Diary of a Welsh Swagman 1869-1894. An Australian Classic. William Evans, reprint 195 Softback

  18. Dylan Thomas, Selected Works 1976

  19. Egan, David.  People, Protest and Politics Case studies in C19 Wales. Gomer 1987. )0 86383 350 0)

  20. Evans, D Gareth.     A history of Wales 1815-1906        UWP 1989/1993  320p       Here is a contents listing and introduction

  21. Evans, Gwynfor . Land of my Fathers; 2000 years of Welsh history. Y Lolfa, paperback 1992.

  22. Famous Welshmen. 1944

  23. Favourite Welsh Recipes. Sheila Howells. Date ?

  24. 400 Great Welshmen. Terry Breverton 2001

  25. George Thomas; Mr Speaker. Memoirs. 1985 edition

  26. Giraldus Cambrensis. The Itinerary of Archbishop Baldwin through Wales   and   The Description of  Wales. Everyman reprint 1919 (1st Everyman ed. 1908) 210 pp inc. index. Here is a list of the contents of both books plus two brief extracts from the Introduction.

  27. Growing up in Wales, 1895-1939. Ed. Jeffrey Grenfell-Hill. 1996 Softback

  28. Gwanwyn Duw: Diwygwyr a Diwygiadau: Cyfrol Deynrged i Gomer Morgan Roberts. Golygwyd gan J E Wynne Davies 1982

  29. Hanes Eglwys Radnor Walk 1859-1959 1959

  30. Jones, Mary Eirwen. Welsh Crafts. 1978

  31. Journal of the Historical Society of the Church in Wales. Vol X Ed. Rev Canon E T Davies 1960

  32. Land and People in Nineteenth Century Wales. David H Howell. 1977

  33. Land of My Fathers; 2000 years of Welsh history. Gwynfor Evans. 5th Imp 1984

  34. Life in Wales. A H Dodd 1972

  35. Llafur. Journal of Welsh Labour History. Vol 5 No 1

  36. Llewellyn, Richard. How Green was My Valley. 1997

  37. Llewellyn, Sian.  The Welsh Kitchen: Recipes from Wales. Celtic Ed. Services, Swansea. 1972. Here is a list of recipes (Welsh/English names only) by Gareth Hicks

  38. Llewelyn Pritchard, T J. Twm Shon Catty. The Welsh Robin Hood. Reprint 1991 Softback

  39. Lloyd, D M & E M(ed)   A Book of Wales. First published 1953. Collins, London. Here is a listing of Contents and Illustrations.

  40. Lluniau Llafar; Idioms for Welsh Learners. Cennard Davies 1996

  41. Men in the Pits. F. Zweig. 1948

  42. Mining Reader. Henry Davies 1904

  43. Museum of Welsh Life. Eurwyn,Wiliam Ed. Visitor Guide Reprint 1995. Softback

  44. People, Protest and Politics; Case Studies in Nineteenth Century Wales. By David Egan, Gomer Press 1987. A listing of sources inc photographs, completed by Gareth Hicks

  45. Rebirth of a Nation; Wales 1880-1980. Kenneth O Morgan Reprint 1990 Softback

  46. Romilly's Visits to Wales 1827-1854. M G R Morris 1998 Softback

  47. Rugby; Body and Soul. Bill Samuel 1998 Softback

  48. Sarn Helen; Walking a Roman Road through Wales. John Cantrell & Arthur Rylance. 1992

  49. Seebohm, Frederic. The Tribal System in Wales. Longman, 1904. 2nd print, 238 pp & 127 appendices.

  50. Songs of Wales, Illustrated. ED. A W Tomlyn & D Emlyn Evans 2nd ed. Date ?

  51. South Wales & the Marches. (About Britain no 6) Ed Geoffrey Grigson 1951

  52. Street Atlas. Cardiff, Swansea & Glamorgan. Reprint 2000. Softback

  53. Taliesin. Book I of the Pendragon Cycle. Stephen Lawhead. Reprint 1992

  54. The Brecon Forest Tramroads by Stephen Hughes. 1990 Softback

  55. The Cambrian, And General Weekly Advertiser For the Principality of Wales 1804 - 1930. Edited by Glynden Trollope. Indexed by Gareth Hicks

  56. The Cambrian Journal; Vol 1 1854

  57. The Companion Guide to South Wales. Peter Howell & Elizabeth Beazley 1977

  58. The Customs and Traditions of Wales. Trefor Owen 1991 Softback

  59. The Diaries of Lady Charlotte Guest. Ed. Earl of Bessborough. 1950

  60. The Drovers' Roads of Wales.  by Godwin, Fay/Toulson, Shirley. Wildwood House, London, 1977. Listing of Contents/Illustrations only by Gareth Hicks

  61. The Dragon Entertains;100 Welsh Stars. Alan Roderick 2000

  62. The Fed; a history of the South Wales Miners in the twentieth century. Francis, Hywel & David Smith.1980. Contents listing and name index by Gareth Hicks

  63. The Growth of the Welsh City System. Harold Carter 1969

  64. The Heart of Wales; an Anthology. Ed James Davies 1994

  65. The Itinerary through Wales and the Description of Wales. Geraldus Cambrensis. Reprint 1919

  66. The Old Series Ordnance Survey maps of E & Wales; scale 1 inch to 1 mile Vol 6 Wales 1992

  67. The Oxford Book of Welsh Verse. Ed. Thomas Parry 1962

  68. The People of Wales. Ed Gareth Elwyn Jones & Dai Smith 1999 Softback

  69. The Rebecca riots. David Williams. 1998 Reprint Softback

  70. The Revolt of Owain Glyn Dwr, R R Davies. 1994

  71. The Welsh Almanac. T D Breverton 2002

  72. The Welsh Cattle Drovers. Richard Colyer. 1976

  73. The Welsh House . A Study in Folk Culture.By Iorwerth C Peate, Honourable Society of Cymrodorion, 1940. A listing of Contents, Illustrations and Figures by Gareth Hicks

  74. The Welsh in London 1500-2000. Ed. Emrys Jones 2001

  75. The Welsh Princes 1063-1283. Roger Turvey.2002 Softback

  76. The Welsh Revival of 1904. Eifion Evans 3rd ed 1987

  77. They Look at Wales; An Anthology of Prose and Verse 1941

  78. Transactions of the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion. Session 1904/5

  79. Turner in Wales by  Andrew Wilton - published by the Mostyn Art Gallery in 1984 as an essay and catalogue relating to the 'Turner in Wales' Project,  Index by Gareth Hicks

  80. Victorian and Edwardian Wales from old photographsIntroduction and commentary by E D Jones. Batsford 1972. Index by Gareth Hicks

  81. Wales in Industrial Britain 1760-1914 David Evans 1996

  82. Wales. Ed. L Russell Muirhead. 1953

  83. Wales. R M Lockley 2nd ed 1967

  84. Wales. Wynford Vaughan Thomas. 1981

  85. Wales before 1066, a Guide. Donald Gregory 1989 Softback

  86. Wales before 1536, a Guide. Donald Gregory 1993 Softback

  87. Wales and the Drovers; the historical background of an epoch. By P G Hughes, 1944. Indexed by Gareth Hicks

  88. Wales in Maps. Margaret Davies 1951

  89. Ward Lock's; North Wales (Northern Section) 14th ed No date?

  90. Ward Lock's; North Wales (Southern Section) No date?

  91. Ward Lock's; Cardiff & South Wales 4th ed rev No date ?

  92. Welsh Crafts;an account of the historic Welsh crafts and as they exist today . By Mary Eirwen Jones. Published by B T Batsford Ltd, London 1978. Listing of Contents/Illustrations only by Gareth Hicks

  93. Welsh is Funtastic. Y Lolfa 1975

  94. Welsh Murders Volume 1: 1770-1918. By Peter Fuller and Brian Knapp. Published by Christopher Davies 1986 . Contents and names listing by Gareth Hicks

  95. Wales; Nation & Region. Mervyn Phillips 1997 Softback

  96. Welsh Proverbs with English Translations. Henry Halford Vaughan. Reprint 1993 Softback

  97. When was Wales ? Gwyn A Williams Reprint 1991

  98. Wild Wales. George Borrow 2nd Imp 1980

 

General Reference Books

Booklets (Genealogy)

Marriage Licences:Abstracts and Indexes in the Library of the SOG 1991

A List of Parishes in Boyds Marriage Index SOG 1994

World War 1 Army Ancestry Norman Holding 1st Ed 1991 & More Sources 1991

Index to Census Registration Districts 1841 – 1891 M E Briant Rosier 5th Ed 1995 * 2

Local Census Listings 1522 – 1930 Holdings in British Isles. J Gibson & M Medlicott 2 Ed. 1994

Quarter Sessions Records Select List 3rd Ed J Gibson 1992

The Hearth Tax & Later Stuart Tax Lists & the Association Oath Rills J Gibson 1985

Marriage, Census & Other Indexes. 5th Ed. J Gibson & E Hampson 1994

Local Newspapers 1750 – 1920 Eng & Wales J Gibson Reprint 1991

Probate Jurisdictions 4th Ed. J Gibson 1994

Index to Parishes in Phillimore's Marriages M E Bryant Rosier 2nd Ed 1991
 

Religion

Clifford, D.J.H. My Ancestors were Congregationalists [In England & Wales, with a list of extant Registers and their whereabouts]. SoG, 1992. Softback

Ifans, Dafydd [ed]. Cofrestri Anghydfurol Cymru/ Nonconformist Registers of Wales. Aberystwyth, 1994.

Jones, I.G. & Williams, D. The Religious census of 1851 : A Calendar of the returns relating to Wales, Vol 1South Wales.    UWP,   Cardiff, 1976.

Jones, I.G.   The Religious Census of 1851: A Calendar of the Returns Relating to Wales: Vol II North Wales.  UWP, 1980.

Salter, Mike. The Old Parish Churches of South-West Wales. 1994. Softback

The Parish Churches and Nonconformist Chapels of Wales. Their Records and Where to Find Them. Vol 1; Cardigan, Carmarthen, Pembroke. Bert Rawlins 2nd Print 1989. (Poor condition but rare)

The Religious Census of 1851; A Calendar of the Returns relating to Wales. Vol I South Wales Ed. I G Jones & D Williams. 1976

The Religious Census of 1851; A Calendar of the Returns relating to Wales. Vol II North Wales. Ed. I G Jones 1981

Tracing Nonconformist Ancestors. PRO. Ed. Michael Gandy 2001 Softback

Williams, C.J. and Watts-Williams, J. Cofrestri Plwyf Cymru: Parish Registers of Wales. National Index of Parish Registers, Aberystwyth: National Library of Wales, Second edition, 2000.

 

General

A Guide to Collections. West Glamorgan Archive Service. 1998. Softback

Barratt, Nick. Tracing the History of your House. 2001. Softback

Bevan, Amanda. Tracing your Ancestors in the PRO. 2002 Softback

British Government & Administration. Studies presented to S B Chrimes. Ed. H Hearder & H R Loyn 1974

Davies, Elwyn [ed]. A Gazetteer of Welsh Place Names. Cardiff, 1967. Softback

Ellis, Mary. Using Manorial Records. 1997. Softback

Evans, Eric. Tithes. Maps & Apportionments and the 1836 Act. Revised 1993

Family & Local History Handbook. The Genealogical Services Directory. Ed. Robert Blatchford. 5th Ed. 2000. Softback

Foster, Michael. The Marriage Records of England & Wales 1837-1899. 1998. Softback- & Act 2 2000

Friar, Stephen. The Local History Companion. 2001

Guide to Dept of Manuscripts & Records. National Library of Wales.1994

Hamilton-Edwards, Gerald. In Search of Welsh Ancestry. 1986

Herber, Mark. Ancestral Trails. 1997

Herber, Mark. Ancestral Trails. 2nd Ed. 2004 Soft back

Hey, David. Family Names and Family History. 2000

Higgs, Edward. Making Sense of the Census. 2005. Softback

Instance, Jean & Cann, E. Researching Family History in Wales. 1996. Softback

Johnson, James. Place Names of England & Wales 1994 Softback

Jones, W J. A Helping Hand. 1996. Softback

McGregor, Tom. The People Detective. 2001

Morgan, T J/Morgan, Prys.  Welsh Surnames. UWP, 1985.

Rogers. Colin. The Family Tree Detective. Reprints 1989 & 3rd Ed 1997. Softback

Rowlands, J & S, (Eds.). Welsh Family History: A guide to research, 2nd edition, The Federation of Family History Societies and the authors, 1993. Softback & 2nd Ed. 1993

Rowlands, J & S, (Eds.). Second Stages in Researching Welsh Ancestry. FFHS/UWA, 1999. Softback

Rowlands, J & S. The Surnames of Wales, for family historians and others. FFHS, 1996. Softback

Owen, Hywel W. A Pocket Guide to the Place Names of Wales.1998

The Beginners Guide to Genealogy. Date ? Softback

The Dictionary of Welsh Biography; Down to 1940. Hon Soc of Cymmrodorion. 1959

The Dictionary of Welsh Biography; 1941-1970. Hon Soc of Cymmrodorion. 2001

Todd, Andrew. Basic Sources for Family History. 1. Back to the Early 1800s. 3rd Ed. 1994. Softback

Walters, Huw. Llyfryddiaeth Cylchgronau Cymreig [A Bibliography of Welsh Periodicals 1851-1900]. NLW, 2004.  ISBN 1862250405. Hardback

Who's Who in British History. Ed. Juliet Gardiner. 2000 Softback

 

England/ other

Army & Navy Stores General Price List 1939-40. Reprint 1999

Ashby, Margaret. Stevenage. History & Guide. 1994. Softback

Childhood Transformed; Working Class Children in C19th England. Eric Hopkins 194 Softback

Friedrich Engels; The Condition of the Working Class in England Ed. V Kiernan 1987 ed Softback

Jarvis, S.M & Harrison, C.T. In Search of Essex. Date ?

Greenwood, Douglas. Who's Buried Where in England. 3rd Ed. 1999. Softback

Of Plymouth Plantation. William Bradford. Ed. S E Morison 4th Print 1966

Story of a Year; 1798. Raymond Postgate 1969

The Great Iron Ship. James Dugan 2003 Softback (Brunel)

The Parish Church of St Nicholas, Stevenage, Herts. Monumental Inscriptions. 1986

Tompkins, Herbert W. Hertfordshire. 1903

What Life Was Like At The Turn Of The First Millennium; the Year 1000. Robert Lacey & Danny Danziger Reprint 1999

Yesterday's Shopping. Gamages General Catalogue 1914. Reprint 1994

 

Booklets

London Middx & Surrey Workhouse Records. Cliff Webb Reprint 1992

Local People in London from 1891 Census . Vol 2 East End/Herts 1994

Finding Essex Monumental Inscriptions.Clayton Lewis 1975

Herts Militia Lists; Stevenage. 1988