Thomas was baptised at St Mary's, Brecon. In 1842, when daughters Anne and Elizabeth was married in March and July 1842, they were living in High Street Superior ward and Thomas was a brewer. But when son Thomas Baskerville Jones was married in October of the same year, his occupation was shown as "esquire".
The Thomas Jones who married Anne Williams at Llandeilo Graban in 1805 was described as being a farmer, rather than a brewer. But we know from the 1841 census that his wife was not born in the county of Brecon, which would certainly be consistent with her having been born in Aberedw, Radnorshire. Rather compelling evidence comes from the fact that the marriage license was witnessed by Wm Jones of the town of Brecon, innholder. William's signature is quite distinctive and is very similar to those on (a) the 1775 marriage license of Thomas Jones and Sybil Baskerville and (b) the 1790 administration of William Jones of Glasbury by his wife Ann. But of course 1790 was 15 years BEFORE the marriage in Aberedw. Another witness to the marriage bond was a Richd Jones, who may or may not have been related.
Perhaps in 1805 Thomas was occupying one of the Baskerville properties in Aberedw. This might explain why I have not yet been able to find the baptism records in any of the Brecon churches of their two oldest children, Thomas Baskerville Jones and Ann Sybil Jones, although from the 1841 census we know that they were born in Breconshire and not baptised at a church near Aberedw. This is probably the key to locating the marriage.
BUT the 1825 administration of the will of his supposed mother-in-law Gwenllian Williams was signed by William Williams (gentleman of Llandeilo Graban), John Williams (surgeon of Middlesex) and a Thomas Jones. William and John were presumably her two sons, so it might seem reasonable that the third signatory would have been the husband of her eldest daughter Anne. The signature of Thomas Jones is certainly very similar to that on Thomas's 1805 marriage license, despite the 20 year time gap. HOWEVER, this Thomas Jones is described being a gentleman of Llanbedr Paincastle, rather than a brewer from Brecon! So I cannot help feeling that I may have misindentified the wife of Thomas.
This is also suggested by the signature of Thomas Jones on the marriage record of his daughter Anne to John Powell Williams in 1842. This signature is quite different, so I think that the search must continue afresh.
One possibility that I did consider was that he might have been the Thomas Jones of Crickhowell, Brecon, who married an Ann Meredith in Abergavenny on 11th June 1809. But it transpires that this Ann was baptised in Abergavenny on 16th December 1781, so would have been aged 63 at the time of her death, rather than 60. Although there were some other Thomas Jones and Anne marriages in Monmouthshire, none of them look possible, so Radnorshire probably remains the most likely origin for Anne.
One other quite likely possibility is that she was Anne Bowen of Clyro, Radnorshire, who married a Thomas Jones there on January 18th 1803 by license. Perhaps Clyro might be where Thomas's two eldest two children were born. I have yet to look for the baptism of Anne Bowen to see if it fits. But 1803 is rather early if their first known child was born in 1809 (earlier ones could have died in infancy of course). Also, Thomas Jones was said to be a farmer from Kington on the marriage license, not a brewer from Brecon.
A Thomas Jones married Hannah Williams of Glasbury on 13th November 1808, which is a more appropriate date. But apart from the different spelling of the Christian name, Glasbury is usually said to be in Brecon rather than Radnor, and she was supposed born out of the county. We would need to find here baptism date to see if it fits OK.
The Thomas Jones of Glasbury who married Anne Baynham of Bronllys by license in 1804 was not able to signed his name so it cannot really have been him.
In the 1841 census, Thomas was described as being of independent means, aged 60 and living in High Street Brecon (near Church Lane) with wife, Anne, four children Thomas (32) brewer and Ann(30) Elizabeth (27) and Sybil (24) all of independent means. Also living with them was John Cadogan (aged 20) who was NOT born in Brecknockshire (this is vecause he was born in Abergavenny, although no record for this has been found for this yet) and 2 servants George William St John, clerk aged 40 and Robert Fenn aged 24 valet, neither of whom was born in Brecknockshire
Thomas Jones was a brewer at the time of both of his daughters' marriages in 1842 and was living in High Street Superior ward. |
