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Welsh wills

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maxiMary

maxiMary Report 4 Oct 2009 03:22

I wonder if anyone can help with a new idea of how to approach this brick wall which is mine - my grandfather was given his mothers birth surname at his birth, as were two younger brothers. (The surname was changed later) Apparently the 3 boys were all illegitimate. The story goes that my g'fa's birth father was a wealthy landowner in Llangollen district, possibly in Trefor or Froncysyllte, Cefn Mawr area. His mother 's father was a tenant farmer in Trefor. Family notes suggest that his brothers were fathered by someone else.
The story continues that the 'wealthy landowner" in question left a bequest to my g'fa , which his 'uncle drank away'. Were we able to find that will, the identity of his father may be revealed. Is it possible to search wills for specific bits of information?
My g'fa was born in 1863, presumably his uncle would have represented him if he was under 18y/o? This would suggest that his birth father died prior to 1881.
Does anyone have any ideas as to how to approach this problem? I entitled this request "Welsh wills" but a 'wealthy landowner could have also had land in England. The only landowner name I have found thus far was the Hon Frederick West.
Thanks for any input.
Mary

Researching:
Davies/Morris/Rogers/Jasper/Roberts - N Wales; Ogilvie - Scotland & Eire; Bowden/Beer - England; Dobbin - Ireland; Cochrane/ Sword/Craig - Scotland.

Susan10146857

Susan10146857 Report 4 Oct 2009 03:30

Hi Maxi

Have you looked at baptismal records? ( the full parish registers ) Sometimes they have the father's name....even if they are not married and even if they are gentry/land owners.

Researching:
Member since 2003

Sallie

Sallie Report 4 Oct 2009 21:33

Hi maxiMary,

It's a shame that I didn't know before I went over to Cefn Mawr a few weeks ago.My husband and myself joined the Clwyd Family History Society, because all my father's family came from around that area. We found quite a bit of information on the family, but will need to go back over there sometime. But not sure when that will be.

If you haven't found anything by the time we go next, I will gladly see if I can find anything for you when we go.
My parernal grandfather was from Cefn Mawr and my paternal grandmother was from the Ruabon area.

Good luck with your search.

Best Regards

Sallie.