Five Basic Records for Welsh Genealogy

Key Dates in Welsh Genealogy• 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 began

Key Dates in Welsh Genealogy

• 1841 census records begin, done every ten years

• 1851 census records give exact age and birth place

• 1858 civil authorities assume control of probate

• 1911 census includes number of children a mother had

• 1939 national registration for rationing & welfare system

CENSUS RECORDS

CHURCH & CHAPEL RECORDS

PARISH REGISTERS

Pre 1813 burial (1750)

Post 1813 burial

Marriages

Start with a marriage index

• Marriages indexes serve as a good finding tool

• FindMyPast has many Welsh parish registers at https://www.findmypast.com/

• Use FindMyPast for free at a FamilySearch Center

Marriages pre 1754

Details to watch for 1754-1837

Post 1836 Parish Register

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

Post 1812 parish register christening

Bishop’s Transcript

CHAPEL

Nonconformity

• Nonconformity had the greatest influence on the spiritual and social life of Wales

• By the mid nineteenth century 80% of the population were nonconformists

• Before 1689 and the Toleration Act nonconformity was illegal so few records were kept

• The church was unable to cater to the spiritual needs and growth of the population

• Nonconformity offered religion in the Welsh language

Growth of NonconformityYear 1716 1742 1775 1816 1861

Chapels 110 105 171 993 2927

Nonconformity

High incidence of nonconformity

Many records have not been deposited. About 5,500chapels existed in Wales but less than thirty per centof the registers have been deposited at a record office The records may still be with the chapel

Nonconformity

No record made Records may have been lost

Families may have traveled a considerabledistance to worship

Nonconformity

Types of chapel records1. Birth/baptismal register2. Marriage register3. Burial register4. Membership lists5. Accounts6. Minute books

Nonconformity

More chapel records1. Transfer registers2. Pew rent books3. Sunday school records4. Lists of society members, Band of Hope &

Temperance League5. Monumental inscriptions

Nonconformity

More chapel records1. Chapel histories2. Personal accounts of the chapel’s early

history

Each county page has a link to chapel records

Each county page has a link to chapel records

Use the control-f feature on your computer to search for a chapel

CIVIL REGISTRATION

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.

Learn which registration district your family lived in.

PROBATE RECORDS

Strategies for using probate records

• Start by searching for a known ancestor near the time of the known or supposed death.

• Always search a broad range of years.

• People you may not expect to have left a will or other probate document may have done so.

Strategies for using probate records

• About 10% of the people left a will but 40 – 50% of the people were mentioned in a will so search the wills in a parish for the years when your ancestor lived there.

Strategies for using probate records

• Our ancestors moved around much more than we give them credit for. Search probate documents for at least the adjoining parishes to where your ancestor lived.

Monumental Inscriptions

Use with other records

Monumental Inscriptions

• Monumental inscriptions fill some gaps in the missing records.

• About three people named per stone

71. In Memory of/ Rachel/ Daughter of John Jones/ Ynisderw In This Parish/ Who Died October 9, 1837/ Aged 26 Years/ Also the Above Named/ John Jones/ Who Died June 26, 1851/ Aged 76 Years/ Also Hannah Wife Of/ The Above John Jones/ Who Died February 14, 1860/ Aged 82 Years/

Also of John Williams Grandson of The Above/ John & Hannah Jones/ Who Died June 5, 1892 Aged 59 Years/ Also in Memory of Lewis Williams/ His Brother/ Who died At/ Carbondale U.S.A./ June 25, 1892/ Aged 57 Years/ Interred At/ Carbondale/ Cemetery

Baran Chapel Monumental Inscriptions

Strategies for Success

• Use indexes

• Don’t trust indexes

• Watch for patronymics:David Thomas Howell is a clue

Strategies for Success• Kill off your ancestor

• Find your ancestor in every census

• Always search both the Parish Registers and Bishop’s Transcripts