At last! A Welsh connection. I was born in Monmouthshire, brought up in Cardiff and lived in Swansea and in Llanharan, where both my sons were raised. I thought I was entirely alien to Wales. Until now.

John Owen (son of Owen and Mary Jones - patronymic system) was baptised at Cemmaes (alt. Cemais), Montgomery in 1786. He married Ann, from Penegoes (a village close to Machynlleth) and they settled in Merthyr by 1811, when daughter Mary was baptised. Further children were Jane (1815 and 1817), Owen (1819), Ann (10 Feb 1822), and Thomas (about 1825). The patronymic system was abandoned and the family name became OWENS.

In 1841 they were living at River Row, Ebbw Vale.

Ann married Robert WILDE, a widower, at St. Sannan's Bedwellty in 1847.

In 1851 John and Ann were in Beaufort with Mary, Owen and Thomas, and Daniel Jones, a nephew born in Trevethin.

24/12/06