Seasons greetings everyone. Have come to a full stop with my family researches- I live in Kent! My Gr/Grandfather was Richard M b.1817 Wiston. m. Elizabeth Jones 1836, Martletwy. 2xGr /Grandfather was Henry M b.1875 St, Petrox. m.1812 Elizabeth Francis of Slebech.. His father was Richard M m. 1772 St Petrox to Mary Watkins b. Stackpole Elidir c 1749.Any twigs or leaves you can put on my tree, gratefully received.

Dear William, I gathered much Merchant/Marchant material when I had a quick look at some of the records I hold...I'll try and sort some which might interest you. First ...my own peripheral interest, not a direct interest....Robert Griffiths of Penybenglog had three sisters, incl. Anne who married Thomas Merchant, Gent of Manorbier-Newton. She died in 1761 and was aged 74 according to Major Jones' Historic Houses of Pembs. book, i.e. her birth year would be c.1687. I suspect she was the Ann Marchant whose Will was proved at Lamphey in 1762 and her husband may be the Thomas Marchant whose Will was proved at Lamphey in 1763, but I have no proof. My interest is in Ann's sisters. The earliest family members you gave were Richard Merchant/Marchant and Mary Watkins...married at St. Petrox 1772 (Mary, born Stackpole Elidor about 1749). I understand St. Petrox is quite close to Manorbier, so there may be some connection between your interest and mine. The Castlemartin Hundred pre-1813 marriage index is a pain.....one section for males, one for females...but the dates do match for Richard Marchant and Mary Watkins so you may already have the marriage register entry. Do you know who acted as their witnesses in 1772? Mary was born in Stackpole Elidor, the only Watkins marriage I could find there was for Gelly Watkins at Stackpole in 1686, but I don't know who he married.....the Records Office could probably supply this information. The only marriage in this Hundred anywhere near Mary's birthdate was Roger Watkins who married in 1757 at Pwllcrochan. The "Gelly" name is quite fascinating.....all the other Gellys of Pembrokeshire seem to have some connection to the property Gelliswick, Hubberston ....Gelly Barrett, Sir Gelly Meyrick etc. Unfortunately Gelly Watkins does not appear to have left a will. There is a Will for Henry Watkin of Stackpole otherwise Cheriton in 1782, John Watkins of Manorbier in 1767 and William Watkins in Manorbier 1793. If you don't already have them, I would suggest you ask Haverfordwest Records Office for copies of St. David's Probate index sheets for the names of Merchant/Marchant/Watkin/Watkins/Watkyn. I don't have these particular sheets...they show Bonds, Grants & Inventories as well as Will details. You can order will abstracts from Haverfordwest, but if you need the other material or full wills, they can only be obtained from The National Library at Aberystwyth, which uses the same St. David's numbering system as shown on the index sheets. Some Listers will tell you it is cheaper to order the will films through the Mormon Family History Centres...that is your prerogative, but being in Oz I do it my way! Of course, you could order a few will abstracts from Haverfordwest if any of the information I've given seems relevant. Your Richard Merchant/Marchant would probably have been born about 1740 to 1752 or so. A George Merchant was married 1751 at Monkton, and another George at PMA (Pemb. St. Mary?) in 1754....Richard Merchant married at Stackpole Elidor in 1744, another Richard is recorded in 1750 at Bosherston whilst there are also marriages of Marchants which took place in Rhos 100, including John Marchant who married Mary Lewis at Hubberston in 1754 . Another avenue is the Marriage Licence records at The National Library. There is one for Thomas Marchant at Carew? (Caeriw) Pemb. July 15, 1759 and Mary Lewis, and George Merchant (blank) 1718 who applied to marry Jenett Nash. I presume she was the Jennet Merchant whose Will was proved at Martletwy in 1737. There are wills for a George Merchant 1791 Manorbier, and Mary Merchant in 1771 St. Michael's Pembrokeshire, plus a John Merchant at Penally in 1713. No leaves, no twigs...but perhaps a tiny tendril or two here. Bettye Kirkwood, Australia. ----- Original Message ----- From: "william Marchant" <william.marchant@tiscali.co.uk> To: <WLS-PEMBROKESHIRE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, January 02, 2005 7:15 AM Subject: [WLS-PEM] Merchant family tree > Seasons greetings everyone. Have come to a full stop with my family researches- I live in Kent! My Gr/Grandfather was Richard M b.1817 Wiston. m. Elizabeth Jones 1836, Martletwy. 2xGr /Grandfather was Henry M b.1875 St, Petrox. m.1812 Elizabeth Francis of Slebech.. His father was Richard M m. 1772 St Petrox to Mary Watkins b. Stackpole Elidir c 1749.Any twigs or leaves you can put on my tree, gratefully received. > > > ==== WLS-PEMBROKESHIRE Mailing List ==== > South/West Wales Lookup Exchange http://home.clara.net/tirbach/lookup.html >