Hi all New to this list but subscribe to others. My cousins have asked for some help tracing their Paternal family roots. Their Paternal Grandmother was Caroline Charlotte HOPKINS born 1870, Ballarat, Australia. Her parents were Henry Taylor HOPKINS and Elizabeth JONES. They were married 18 June 1859 at the Ebenezer Chapel, Merthyr Tydfil. Henry T HOPKINS was the son of Thomas HOPKINS an Iron Borer and lived at Mill Street, Aberdare. And I can trace his line back. Elizabeth JONES was the daughter of John JONES deceased an iron Moulder of Plymouth Street, Merthyr Tydfil. The witnesses were James REES and Joannah Taylor EVANS (Henry's sister). Henry & Elizabeth emigrated to Australia. I can't find them in the 1861 census, so I am assuming they left before the census was taken. They had 4 children Joanna 1864 Ebenezer Owen 1866 Caroline Charlotte 1870 Mary Jane 1871 Henry Taylor HOPKINS died and Elizabeth and the children returned. In 1881 Elizabeth, Joannah and Caroline are at 20, Alexander Street, Neath. And Ebenezer and Mary are at Bryn Rose, Blaenhonddan. By the time we get to the 1911 census Elizabeth HOPKINS nee Jones now aged 75, and her daughter Mary who was born in Ballarat, are living at Bryncaws, Cilfrew, Neath. The head of the house is Mary REES aged 72 and the census states that they are sisters. Elizabeth and Mary put their place of birth as Bryncaws, Cilfrew, Neath. My problem is that I don't know when or where John Jones died. And I can't find Bryncaws, Cilfrew/Cilffriw in the 1841 census. In the 1841 and 1851 census I can find Bryncaws, Blaenhonddan with a JONES family and Mary and Elizabeth the right age, but the father is OWEN I've got no problem bringing the family forward, BUT I just can't trace the JONES family back. Can anybody help please? Many thanks Michael

Cilfrew/Cilffriw is a village near Aberdulais in the Blaenhonddan hamlet (= sub-division) of Cadoxton-juxta-Neath parish. Look at adjoining properties on successive censuses to work out whether it is likely that you are looking at the same building in each. Bryncaws farm may be found on Google maps with post code SA10 8NF . It is about 1 km north of the centre of Cilfrew. If you look at the coordinates 277500 200800 on www.old-maps.co.uk and look at the1884 1:10,560 map you will see Bryn-Caws Inn and Bryn-Rhos Cottage, both near Tabor chapel. Going back to Google maps and starting from Tabor Chapel (which you can recognise by its graveyard) I suspect that both premises are still in existence on a country road labelled as Oak View. There has been other research on this list about JONES of Cilfrew area of Cadoxton parish. This also involved Australia. Jeff ----- Original Message ----- From: "Michael" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, September 15, 2013 6:02 PM Subject: [GLA] New to the list - Jones & Hopkins help please > Hi all > > New to this list but subscribe to others. > > My cousins have asked for some help tracing their Paternal family roots. > > Their Paternal Grandmother was Caroline Charlotte HOPKINS born 1870, > Ballarat, Australia. > Her parents were Henry Taylor HOPKINS and Elizabeth JONES. > They were married 18 June 1859 at the Ebenezer Chapel, Merthyr Tydfil. > Henry T HOPKINS was the son of Thomas HOPKINS an Iron Borer and lived at > Mill Street, Aberdare. And I can trace his line back. > > Elizabeth JONES was the daughter of John JONES deceased an iron Moulder > of Plymouth Street, Merthyr Tydfil. > The witnesses were James REES and Joannah Taylor EVANS (Henry's sister). > > Henry & Elizabeth emigrated to Australia. I can't find them in the 1861 > census, so I am assuming they left before the census was taken. > > They had 4 children > Joanna 1864 > Ebenezer Owen 1866 > Caroline Charlotte 1870 > Mary Jane 1871 > > Henry Taylor HOPKINS died and Elizabeth and the children returned. In > 1881 Elizabeth, Joannah and Caroline are at 20, Alexander Street, Neath. > And Ebenezer and Mary are at Bryn Rose, Blaenhonddan. > > By the time we get to the 1911 census Elizabeth HOPKINS nee Jones now > aged 75, and her daughter Mary who was born in Ballarat, are living at > Bryncaws, Cilfrew, Neath. > > The head of the house is Mary REES aged 72 and the census states that > they are sisters. Elizabeth and Mary put their place of birth as > Bryncaws, Cilfrew, Neath. > > My problem is that I don't know when or where John Jones died. > And I can't find Bryncaws, Cilfrew/Cilffriw in the 1841 census. > In the 1841 and 1851 census I can find Bryncaws, Blaenhonddan with a > JONES family and Mary and Elizabeth the right age, but the father is OWEN > > I've got no problem bringing the family forward, BUT I just can't trace > the JONES family back. > > Can anybody help please? > > Many thanks > Michael