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I am trying to find details of my greatx3 grandmother Catharine (sometimes spelled Catherine) Matthews. She was born in Meifod Montgomeryshire c1795. As local BMD doesn't start until 1837, how can I find out her maiden name, details of her parents, the date she married etc.
In the 1841 census there was a Jonetta Meredith with the family (born c1766) in Montgomeryshire. It doesn't say what, if any relationship she was to the head. I was wondering if this may have been Catharine's mother but I cannot find any deaths or other details for this person in the local BMD.
Catharine's first child Richard was born c1821 and she had 5 children by the 1841 census .
Any help with how I can search for this information would be much appreciated. :-)

Is this her with son Richard in 1871 ?

name: Catherine Matthews
event: Census
event date: 1871
gender: Female
age: 75
relationship to head of household: Mother <<<<<<<<<
birthplace: Meifod, Montgomeryshire
record type: Household
registration district: Newtown
sub-district: Newtown
event parish: Hendidley
county: Montgomeryshire


head Richard Matthews M 50 Newtown, Montgomeryshire
mother Catherine Matthews F 75 Meifod, Montgomeryshire

This looks like the youngest child on that census - his birth cert will give her maiden name, assuming she is his mother of course!

Births Dec 1840
Matthews Pryce Newtown &c 27 121

This might be them 1851???

1851 Wales Census

Name: Cathe Matthews
Age: 54
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1797
Relation: Wife
Spouse's Name: Richard Matthews
Gender: Female
Where born: Newton, Montgomeryshire, Wales
Civil Parish or Township: Llanllwchaiarn
Town: Newtown
County/Island: Montgomeryshire
Country: Wales
Registration district: Newtown
Sub-registration district: Kerry

Richard Matthews 61
Cathe Matthews 54
Richd Matthews 30
John Matthews 27
Eliza Matthews 21
Thos Matthews 16
Bryce Matthews 10
Lewis Matthews 8

Wondering if this could be Richard's baptism?

Richard Matthews, "Wales, Births and Baptisms, 1541-1907"

name: Richard Matthews
gender: Male
baptism/christening date: 08 Apr 1821
baptism/christening place: NEWTOWN,MONTGOMERY,WALES

father's name: Richard Matthews

mother's name: Catherine

indexing project (batch) number: C05756-1
system origin: Wales-ODM
source film number: 104817
reference number:
Citing this Record

"Wales, Births and Baptisms, 1541-1907," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/X1YC-MPX : accessed 21 Dec 2012), Richard Matthews, 08 Apr 1821; citing reference , FHL microfilm 104817.

...............................................

siblings?

John Mathews
Wales, Births and Baptisms, 1541-1907
christening: 19 Oct 1823 NEWTOWN,?MONTGOMERY,?WALES
parents: Richard Mathews,? Catharine

Elizabeth Matthews
Wales, Births and Baptisms, 1541-1907
christening: 25 Sep 1825 NEWTOWN,?MONTGOMERY,?WALES
parents: Richard Matthews,? Catherine

Elizabeth Matthew
Wales, Births and Baptisms, 1541-1907
christening: 17 Aug 1828 NEWTOWN,?MONTGOMERY,?WALES
parents: Richard Matthew,? Catherine

Eliza Mathews
England and Wales, Non-Conformist Record Indexes (RG4-8)
christening: 24 Oct 1830 Newtown,? Montgomeryshire
parents: Richard Mathews,? Catharine Mathews

For reference.


1841 census transcription details for: Cross Street, Llanllwchaiaen
Print Close

National Archive Reference:
RG number: HO107
Piece: 1440
Book/Folio: 4/17
Page: 27
Reg. District: Newtown & Llanidloes
Sub District: Newtown
Parish: Llanllwchaiaen
Enum. District:
Ecclesiastical District:
City/Municipal Borough:
Address: Cross Street, Llanllwchaiaen
County: Montgomeryshire
Name Relation Sex Age Birth Year Occupation Where Born
MATTHEWS, Richard M 50 1791 flannel weaver Montgomeryshire
MATTHEWS, Catharine F 45 1796 Montgomeryshire
MATTHEWS, Richard M 20 1821 flannel weaver Montgomeryshire
MATTHEWS, John M 18 1823 flannel weaver Montgomeryshire
MATTHEWS, Elizabeth F 13 1828 Montgomeryshire
MATTHEWS, Eliza F 10 1831 Montgomeryshire
MATTHEWS, Thomas M 6 1835 Montgomeryshire
MATTHEWS, Pryce M 0 (5 months) 1841 Montgomeryshire
MEREDITH, Jonetta F 75 1766 Montgomeryshire

1861

Catherine Matthews 66 - widow
Richard Matthews 40
Thomas Matthews 27
Bryce Matthews 20
Lewie Matthews 18
Kate Matthews 9 - Granddaughter
-

Sorry, he was Richard Matthews. born c1791 and according to one census he came from Delobra in Denbeighshire.
Thank you I will try that site.

Possible marriage for Richard and Catherine??

Richard Matthews, "Wales, Montgomeryshire, Parish Registers, 1538-1912"

name: Richard Matthews
event: Marriage
event date: 08 Sep 1820
event place: Newtown, Montgomeryshire, Wales
age:
estimated birth year:
spouse: Catherine Meredith
film number:
digital folder number: 004434281
Citing this Record

"Wales, Montgomeryshire, Parish Registers, 1538-1912," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/KC1L-9DY : accessed 21 Dec 2012), Richard Matthews and Catherine Meredith, 1820.

Son's birth cert for Catherine's maiden name

Looks like not sure of page number
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Births Mar 1843

Matthews Lewis Newtown &c 27 129
Matthews Lewis Newtown &c 27 139

1841 census would seem to confirm that the marriage I found is correct as there is a Jonetta Meredith with the family. I know relationships aren't given in 1841 but I would bet that she is a relative, possibly Catherine's mother?

Thank you all very much for your help. It definately looks like it is the same family. I will make notes of all the info and follow up where I can.Plenty to keep me busy for a while ;-)

??

Civil Registration event: Death
Print Close
Name: MATTHEWS, Richard
Registration district: Newtown
County: Montgomeryshire
Year of registration: 1854
Quarter of registration: Jul-Aug-Sep
Volume no: 11B
Page no: 133


1851 with places of birth.


1851 census transcription details for: Llanfair Road, Llanllwchaiarn, Newtown
Print Close

National Archive Reference:
RG number: HO107
Piece: 2497
Folio: 329
Page: 31
Reg. District: Newton
Sub District: Newtown
Parish: Llanllwchaiarn
Enum. District: 2F
Ecclesiastical District:
City/Municipal Borough: Newtown
Address: Llanfair Road, Llanllwchaiarn, Newtown
County: Montgomeryshire
Name Relation Condition Sex Age Birth Year Occupation , Disability Where Born
MATTHEWS, Richard Head Married M 61 1790 Weaver Woolen
Dolwen, Denbighshire
MATTHEWS, Cathe Wife Married F 54 1797
Newtown, Montgomeryshire
MATTHEWS, Richard Son Unmarried M 30 1821 Weaver Woolen
Newtown, Montgomeryshire
MATTHEWS, John Son Unmarried M 27 1824 Weaver Woolen
Newtown, Montgomeryshire
MATTHEWS, Eliza Daughter Unmarried F 21 1830 At Home
Newtown, Montgomeryshire
MATTHEWS, Thomas Son Unmarried M 16 1835 Weaver Woolen
Llanllwch, Montgomeryshire
MATTHEWS, Pryce Son M 10 1841 Scholar
Llanllwch, Montgomeryshire
MATTHEWS, Lewis Son M 8 1843 Scholar
Llanllwch, Montgomeryshire

Probably reaching quite a bit.....and it is banns rather than marriage.

name: Elias Meredith
event: Banns
event date: 24 Jul 1785
event place: Llanidloes, Montgomeryshire, Wales
age:
estimated birth year:
spouse: Jonet Davies
film number:
digital folder number: 004434129

My geography is hopeless, but apparently there is also a Dolwen about 3 miles away from Llanidloes, in addition to the Dolwen in Denbighshire.

Thank you Kucinta but I do not think this person is connected.
Richard Matthews was according to one census born in Delobra, (not Dolwen) Denbeighshire.
Thank you very much for taking the time to look for the info for me.

Mike, I think that is most definately her son she is living with. Most likely she was widowed by then so went to live with him.

possible for the mother's death??

Deaths Mar 1845 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MERIDETH Jannett Newtown &c 27 132

Burial from family search although age is out:

Jennett Meredith
event: Burial
event date: 17 Mar 1845
event place: Llanllwchaearn, Montgomeryshire, Wales
age: 88
estimated birth year: 1757
spouse:
film number:
digital folder number: 004434161

Thank you for that Flip. The christian name is spelled differently and as you say, the age is out but it is definately something I will check out.

The Elias Meredith - Jonet Davis looks slightly more likely given the variation of the name on the death posted by Flip.

RE Dolwen, was just going by the transcription of the 1851 census that Alviegal posted - didn't realise it had been transcribed wrongly, but having now checked the image, you are correct and it is Dolobra.

Spellings of names depended on the person writing the info - so expect variations, most people couldn't actually write their own names back then! Accents also played a great deal in interpretation - they wrote what they heard, or thought they heard.

However I'm not sure of that death I posted, it could refer to this person (although a different area the age is nearer)

Jennet Meredith
Age: 85
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1756
Gender: Female
Where born: Merionethshire, Wales

Civil parish: Llanenddwyn
Hundred: Ardudwy
County/Island: Merionethshire
Country: Wales

Street Address: View image
Occupation: View image

Registration district: Dolgelley
Sub-registration district: Barmouth
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 1427
Book: 13
Folio: 8
Page Number: 8
Household Members: Name Name
Jennet Meredith 85

She was on parish relief and appeared to be at the same address as John & Elizabeth Jones and their family (he was a farmer) but I'm not sure of the address - it could be Bryscoch??

But then again, this is the wrong county - so maybe the death is correct after all.