Thank you Glen, The problem I have is not knowing exactly when or where Henry Zacariah Lewis was born. The dates I have on US Census schedules are birth from anywhere between 1840-1842 and it just gives Wales as the place of birth. Henry came to the US sometime around 1866-1869 (my guess based on US census information, he first appears in Pennsylvania in 1870 and he married in Pennsylvania in around 1878) and all I know is his mother was with him here and her name was Mary. He is listed as a coal miner. A sister named Hannah b. around 1853 was also listed, not sure if this was a real sister or not, her name was Hannah, (could be Ann, Susannah, etc, or someone traveling with them to the US.) I just can't seem to pin down the where or when of his birth, but feel it's in Carmarthenshire or Glamorgan counties. There are several possiblities in the UK census years 1841 and 1851 that might fit, but without a father's name it is very difficult. I had seen the Henry Z Lewis married in Neath, but am not sure if there is a link or how to follow the trail backwards to see if there is one. I have a lot to learn about Welsh geography, parishes, etc. I appreciate any help or information from the LIST members. Best regards, Tomi Larson Oswego, NY >From: Alayne and Glen Jenkins <jinxs104@yahoo.co.uk> >Reply-To: CARMARTHENSHIRE-L@rootsweb.com >To: CARMARTHENSHIRE-L@rootsweb.com >Subject: RE: [Cmn-L] Re Zachariah Lewis >Date: Sun, 11 Dec 2005 11:28:25 +0000 (GMT) > >Hi Tomi > >Because Wales had a patronymic naming system before >surnames a number of genealogical researchers have >looked at the distribution of surnames (arising from >first names) througout Wales. The only reference I >have that answers your question is that of Rowland , >John (1999) 'The homes of Surnames in Wales' in >Rowlands J. and Rowlands S. (Eds) Second stages in >Researching Welsh Ancestry, FFHS pubs. He refers to >'Names from the Old Testament' on pages 170-71. East >Carmarthenshire and South Montgomeryshire have the >highest incidence of these names but they are used >throughout Wales and more commonly in the South than >the North. According to Rowlands this is linked to the >growth of non-conformity in Wales where (ironically in >your case) old testament names where used in place of >names of Kings and Queens. Since your name has both I >suggest that the name Zachariah is probably derived >from the lineage e.g named after grandfather/father if >it is after 1800. > >However you do not give the birth date of Henry >Zachariah Lewis. Also following on from Pam's >suggestion there is another entry in FreeBMD for >Marriages Dec 1888 >LEWIS Zachariah Henry Neath 11a 1065 > >Is there a link with this area? > >Hope this helps > >Glen Jenkins > >--- Tomi Larson <tomil23@hotmail.com> wrote: > > > Pat, > > Thanks for the effort. Zacariah was the middle name > > though, so first name > > was Henry. I've heard there were certain areas in > > Wales where biblical names > > were prevelant. Any ideas on that? > > > > Tomi > > > > > > >From: Pat Powell <pat@pcubed.demon.co.uk> > > >Reply-To: CARMARTHENSHIRE-L@rootsweb.com > > >To: CARMARTHENSHIRE-L@rootsweb.com > > >Subject: [Cmn-L] Re Zachariah Lewis > > >Date: Sat, 10 Dec 2005 23:45:31 +0000 > > > > > >Hello Tomi > > > > > >Hoe about this entry in FreeBMD? > > > > > >Births Mar 1841 > > > >------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > > > > >Lewis Zachariah Abergavenny 26 16 > > > > > >Cheers > > > > > >Pat > > > > > > > > > > > >In message > > <BAY101-F17E36239520B7FA69E50C1BD440@phx.gbl>, Tomi > > Larson > > ><tomil23@hotmail.com> writes > > > >The full name is Henry Zacariah Lewis b. > > 1840-1842. > > > > > > > > > > >-- > > >Pat Powell > > > > > > > > >==== CARMARTHENSHIRE Mailing List ==== > > >Wales Genealogy CD's for Wales research > > >http://www.Wales-Genealogy.co.uk > > > > > > > > > > > ==== CARMARTHENSHIRE Mailing List ==== > > GenWeb & Genconnect pages for your genealogical web > > links and research questions & Quiries. > > http://www.carmarthenshirefhs.co.uk > > > > > > > > >___________________________________________________________ >Yahoo! Exclusive Xmas Game, help Santa with his celebrity party - >http://santas-christmas-party.yahoo.net/ > > >==== CARMARTHENSHIRE Mailing List ==== >I use Wales Genealogy CD's for my research >http://www.Wales-Genealogy.co.uk >