Researching My Welsh Heritage

Paimaopi

It was nice to read your post. What part of Wales are you interested in? I married a man from Anglesey (which is North Wales) and ever since the first moment I stepped across the Menai Bridge, I fell in love with the place. This part of North Wales has got to be one of the most beautiful places in the world, and I wish I could send pictures and memories over to you via mind-waves!!! As I lived in Beaumaris (which has a great castle) for a while with my ex-husband and his family, I learned at lot about the people and the history and even learned to speak a little Welsh too.

Although we have been divorced for 6 years, I love Anglesey so much, I still go visit his mum and his sister with my son, and every time I want to stay for ever!! There is a distinct pride in the Welsh language in North Wales. The people there ensure that they keep it alive and although all the children speak English, most schools teach in Welsh and have English as a second language. They are a very proud people and have a love of their landscape and environment. Even though my son is half English and lives here with me in England, I make sure he learns a little bit of Welsh language to make sure he knows his roots.

I really hope you get chance to visit one day. I can almost guarantee that you'll never want to leave.

I visited Wales once, and couldn't understand anyone! All the signs I saw hanging up were like "Hywyyyddmmmp" which left me wondering why they couldn't afford to buy a couple of vowels...lol....

Seriously tho, it was beautiful country there. And you know, even though I couldn't understand a word they said, the people sure seemed friendly.

i spent a week in connahs quay one night.

I have Welsh heritage too...my maiden name was Jones. I wonder if I'm related to Catherine Zeta???

Unfortunately, I've never been there nor have I tried to trace the Joneses in Wales. I'm thinking there might be a few of them!

Did you get to the Boathouse or the Wepre, Dr? Fine public houses....

I think I spent 4 months in Connahs Quay once, but can't be too sure

Paimaopi, you're a Sweetie!
I'd be happy to help anyone who is interested in getting in touch with their roots!
I live in Mid Wales, which is stunningly beautiful.
I also married a Welshman, Sam, and my daughter speeks fluent Welsh, she's in the Welsh stream in school.
I can pronounce anything (LOL Heidi- you are sooo right, it's a strange language!) but understanding Welsh is another story!
I agree with your description of the people, they are fiercely proud of their heritage and seem to be magnetically attached to the country!
Well, I say that, but I think there are the adventurous kind, and then there are many that will never leave the area, it almost seems like you are either one or the other..does that make sense?
Well, I love to look into mysteries and know of many sources to do research, I've actually driven to very remote places and photographed ancestral homes for folks from the US.
I'm planning an exhibition of panoramic photographs taken in remote areas here and will post a link to my new website when things are up and running, just in case anyone's interested.

Tina,

Yes! That makes a lot of sense. I always remember my ex husband saying that if he hadn't have moved away from North Wales when he did, he would have stayed in the same town until the day he died!! He always said that a Welsh person was one or the other: a 'stay put' or a 'move away' but even thought he said this a long time ago, he was only telling me the other day that he is desperate to move back to his home town one day!! I guess his country is calling him home...

I still enjoy learning a few Welsh words, and apparently I have a good pronunciation. Tina, I think it's great that your daughter is able to speak fluent Welsh. As far as I'm concerned, there is a little too much blurring of regional boundaries, and I think it's a good thing for languages and accents to remain independent.

I'd be happy to send you something, Paimaopi, next time I go to Beaumaris with my son to visit his grandmother, I'll pick up something native, if you like? Just send address to PM and wait for the mail!!!

Peace

How wonderful to read all of your posts! Thank you for responding.

That's funny, Sam and Tina, that you mention the stay-at-home feeling relative to folks from Wales. Perhaps that's why I've always been such a home-body. It took a big deal of negotiating for me to leave my childhood home for good, and since I have I've often noticed a strong pull to stay in the immediate area of whatever new home I've set up. Perhaps I come by that honestly!

Sam, thanks for your offer to send me something... I will PM you about that. I've been telling Tina a bit about my reseach on Wales and my desire to feel the earth there.

As for my family, I can't tell you where they came from or what kind of work they did, because I don't even know when they came over. According to my great, great, great Grandpa, my family came to America when four Thomas brothers emigrated from Wales. Now, since I don't know when they came over, so I'm not sure how to find out where they came over from.

Does anyone know where I might start my research on that? I know there were different ports of entry used for folks from different at different times into the US. I'm hoping that if I can narrow down which ports to contact (i.e, what route immigrants from Wales might have taken and what ports those routes went through), I may be able to find out where they came from (this is the moment when I pick up the family geneology torch from my grandmother Mary). Has anyone done this kind of research? I'm most grateful for any guidance at this point!

Alison - was it you who sent me all the pictures of Neil? Good to hear from you again!

Tina, I'm looking forward to seeing more of your photography on any subject - you have a wonderful eye!

Thanks again,
~ Colleen

Hi Colleen: Researching your ancestry is wonderful stuff! My mom researched our Scottish roots on my granddad's side of the family back in the mid-80's. She used the Mormon's amazing geneological library. We aren't Mormon, but I believe they allow outsiders to use the library info. I don't recall if she had to pay for acsess to certain files or not, but if so it was a nominal fee. She was able to trace back to a distant ancestress hailing from 1535, only got stuck because there were four Mary Teals in the same village. You should be able to find a research center easily if you give a local Mormon church a call. Wales has always seemed so much more "mysterious" than the rest of the UK. I'd love to go there too! Good luck in your search! Shelli

I have lived in North Wales since I was 4. Although I was born in Lancashire, I consider myself to be Welsh and not English. My Mother tongue is welsh and I live, what I believe to be a welsh way of life.In my belief it is not just being born in a country that makes you that nationality, but also living the life.If you know what I mean?
And then again,there are different ways of life,North Mid and South Wales are different again. The language the habits, the beliefs. I believe they are different more so these days than long ago.
I have to disagree with those beofre who state that Wales has this pull. Everywhere has that pull.It's the pull of your roots whether it's England, Wales, US, NZ wherever, it all ahs the same effect on one.
Religion has always played a strong role within a Welsh person's life, it was the heart of the community at one point, but sadly these days with so many non welsh moving into the towns and villages and not attending chapel or church the welsh community itself is being affected.
Yes, the Welsh are proud of their language and also proud of their heritage, ours is one of the oldest languages still in existence. But the Welsh as a race are quite and unfortuneatly submissive in nature, which is why the English walked over them so often in the past.
And for anyone who disagrees, they should experience it. Violence is not as high in Wales. Agression amongst the Mentally Ill in Wales is not as prevalent as in other countries.
I could go on, but I won't.
I have family in the U.S. and ahve been trying to trace them for the last 12 months with not much joy,(and that's through the Baptist Church!!!).
Perhaps it would be easier for you to start at the family you know of and work your way back that way.My Mam always says start by talking to the oldest memeber of the family and see what they can tell you of different memebers of the family. If you were living here and trying to trace family you'd actually be advised to look for the family Bible (the aged Unle in our family gave it away without anyone knowing, scuppering that plan!!!).
Good luck with your search Paimaopi.If you need help with anything and I can help, let us know.

Mocker is right about starting with family you know of & working back. You must always be sure of the connection. You can't assume that someone with the same name is your relative! Here in Australia, we have parents names & date of marriage on birth certs. Not sure what you have in the US but if you start with, say, your parents birth certs that should give you your grandparents names at the very least.

The Mormons have an on-line database here: Family Search page but unless you're 100% sure about your rels, again you can't assume anything. Unless of course your name is something like "Gkylowith"! Us Joneses are a bit harder!

quote:

Originally posted by Sam Bax:
[qb]Did you get to the Boathouse or the Wepre, Dr? Fine public houses....

[/qb]

my god sam how can you expect me to remember that? i was out drinking with a welshman and a liverpudlian and i'm a geordie. need i say more?

that was 10 years or so ago mind. i am now a reformed character

Thanks everyone. I do know several generations back, just not how we got to the US. I'll use your good suggestions and encouragement to keep looking!

Thanks!

- Colleen