Jane EVANS

Hello Terence. Porth-y-waen is an area in what was the township of Llynclys, parish of Llanyblodwel; and a few miles south-west of the centre of Oswestry. I cannot recall if baps for L-Y-B are in IGI after 1812; next-door Llanymynech are. You could experiment in IGI by a two-year either side of 1818 for a common fore and surname. It is possible, once in the IGI, to search for coverage by LDS films under, I think, a Library icon; but even if shown for a required period that does not nec mean that the film has been transcribed and entered.

You might try for that father Edward Evans in early Censuses in the parish.

Have you noted in IGI the following:

Castle Lane Calvinsitic Methodist chapel, Oswestry;

Jane Evans d of Edward Evans and Mary Jones born 18.3.1821 bap 16.4.1821. (Note that it was common practice in some non-conf registers to quote mother's maiden surname - not m,eaning illegitimacy).

The reg might give an adress or area. Held at Shr Archives. They can look up for you for small fee archives@shropshire.gov.uk

I should have commented that chapels for demoninations such as CM (most often associated with Wales) would have a wide catchment area. For example the Arthur Street chapel in Oswestry had a strong following from families in Kinnerley and nearby.

A Google maps search throws up a Sunny Bank on western side of Llanyblodwell (they use that spelling) and in Llynclys, but neither is close to Porth-y-waen.

Bit more. Using a name already known to me as born in Llanyblodwel (John Hamer bap 1824, a real entry) I can see that those registers are in IGI for your required period.

I was interested to see the name Jane Evans.

My great-great grandmother was a Jane Evans, of a similar age and from a similar area.  I should imagine there could be a number of women with this name.

Mine was born in Melverley according to most census. She had three daughters Martha, Elizabeth and Emma, all born in Atcham Workhouse.  She spent her life either there or in service or living with her daughter and on one census she is living in a shed!     I have not found a marriage for her or an exact death date, she was still alive in Kinnerley in 1891.  My great grandmother stated on her marrige certificate that her father was a Richard Evans, master mariner, but I have never found him and there is no father named on her birth certificate. 

The only note I have for a possible birth is a baptism 4th Feb 1819 in the House of Industry, Oswestry. Father Thomas and Mother Martha Rogers.

I just wondered if on your research you had come across anything that might be my Jane rather than yours.

Terence, I was able to ask an Oswestry-based land agent friend this morning: there is indeed an area of Porth-y-waen known as Sunny Bank, after a house of same name.

Thanks for that Martyn. There is a place called Sunny Bank north of Oswestry which I couldnt make much sense of--I couldnt see why she should state a complicated name such as Porth-y waen ,which is to the sw side of Oswestry if it wasnt where she was born so the news that there is an area of Porth-y-waen called Sunny Bank is great news. It broadly fits all descriptions on the censuses ,so hopefully it should help me find her baptism.Have you any idea how I could acquire a copy of an old map that might show it?

best wishes Terence

Fine,Terence. Shr Archives has a full set of old, large scale OS maps from early 20th cent. That apart Michael Hulme often replies to this type of query.

If you have not yet requested Archives for a look-up of that 1821 bap I MIGHT try for you in next few days - canna always offer this to everyone. In view of fact that the likely Anglican parishes are covered by IGI one has to place hope on this one. But if we are out of luck there is still the poss of, say, Llansilin over the border, as being the earlier and traditional famiy place.

Hello Terence

I have looked at old and modern maps that I have at home and one old (1890) map on the Internet but none of them show Sunny Bank in the Porth-y-waen area.

When you visit Shropshire Archives you should ask to see some Ordnance Survey maps of the area at 6 inch to 1 mile (1:1,250) and 25 inches to 1 mile (1:2,500) from about 1880 to 1920 in the hope that at least one might show something.

If that fails ask to see Field Name Maps from the 1830/40's and the Tithe Apportionment that goes with them if they exist for that area.

Mike

First, Terence, in view of Michael's comments I have asked foir confirmation from my source about a Sunny Bank being in Porth-y-Waen, rather than nearby such as alongside A483.  Foxall's Gazetteer - a well-known and respected typescript source kept at the counter - has merely Sunny Bank Oswestry.

Otherwise, nothing settled.

The entry in Castle Street Calvinistic Methodist regs - in fact it is the very first entry in the transcript (no fiches; originals were requisitioned by the GRO for all such chapels in 1837):

Jane d of Edward and Mary Evans; mother's name before marriage Mary Jones; father's occupatyion stone mason; residence Porkington Lodge [ which was in Selattyn ] ; father's parish Llanrhaiadr, Monts [ in fact that parish is split between Monts and Denbs ] ; mother's parish before marriage Meifod [ Monts ] ; parish of birth Selattyn; born 18.3.1821; bap 16.4.1821 at Oswestry; lawfully begotten.

I scanned also other Osw n/c transcripts in same folder; some such as Pant start too late; others finish too early.

Then I went through fiche 127 of the 1851 Census covering Llanyblodwel. No Edward Evans of anything like right age, and only one other - too young. No sight of Sunny Bank among addresses - but all such were basically broad-brush by area.

You might now want to try for an EE in 1841 Census - though you already know that Jane was already away from home. Hard going via Ancestry. Perhaps this might wait until your visit when you can go through fiches. A Will is a possibilty, if slim. Up to end 1857 such would be proved at St Asaph (for Blodwel, Mynech, Oswestry. Index and images available at www.llgc.org.uk . You need to get parish spelling dead right - AND by their usage which can differ from common usage. Experiment if unsure or no result. Selattyn however might be within Lichfield.

In response to parallet JANE EVANS query by Kathleen:

Regarding Jane Evans’ death, per FreeBMD, out of 34 D for "Oswestry", post-1891, it looks like you have have three possibilities, viz. D3Q1892 or D3Q1898 or D3Q1910.

The first two are more precise, that is, to within 1 year of assumed YoB = 1821, per 1881 Census).
The last one is to within 3 years.  If she was b. "1821", therefore, she could have been marrying RICHARD EVANS aged, say, 16 at earliest, = 1837.

However IGI does not look reasonable:

(1)  two -m- (at St Chad, for 1828 and 1834) (she would be too young).
(2)  Perhaps check wider IGI therefore... (including Wales)
(3) Note that FreeBMD has several possibilities for -m- betw a "R.E." and - a "Jane ?" (but too many for the moment...).
Regarding her possible birth / christening, also checked IGI for "Jane", "1821 +/- 5", "Melverley", scanning 2300+ entries (-:
There are four possiblities:
1366. JANE EVANS - IGI    Gender: Female Christening: 22 NOV 1818 Melverley, Shropshire, England // Wm Evans & Mary
1367. JANE EVANS - Gender: Female Christening: 01 JUN 1823 Melverley, Shropshire, England Joseph Evans & Margaret
1368. JANE EVANS - Gender: Female Christening: 30 JAN 1825 Melverley, Shropshire, England Wm Evans & Ann
1371. JANE PUGH - Gender: Female Christening: 08 MAY 1825 Melverley, Shropshire, EnglandeWARD Pugh & Ann

Going back to FreeBMD for her marriage, therefore, and ignoring Miss Pugh, your hypothetic Jane Evans marrying Richard Evans, Oswestry, post-1837: gives the following  single possibility :
Marriages Mar 1848   (>99%)
EVANS     Richard          Oswestry     18    182    :

Hope this helps a bit !

morrisonman

Thank you very much for all that information! I will take note of it all and investigate.   I think I really need to come to Shrewsbury and look at the workhouse archives to get some more clues.  She seems to be a rather unfortunate person, common in those days, I suppose.  I also need to get the birth certificates of the other two of Jane's children to see if Richard appears.

Thanks again   K.

"Sunny Bank" rings no bells with a former Chief Planning Officer for Oswestry District, who was born at Llynclys. Have still to ask again from my earlier source, possibly today.

Hello Martyn    I am sorry if you think I am ungrateful for your efforts on my behalf re Jane Evans. I can assure you that this is not so and I am very grateful to you and anyone else who has helped me out . I did actually thank you on 21st July. Terence

Fine, Terence. My "Sunny Bank" source is on holiday. More anon.

Hello Michael   A belated thanks for the info on old maps for Porth-y- Waen .I am visiting the archives in October so I hope to sort something out then. Again thanks