Vale of the Dee

Welsh genealogy and the surname JONES can not usually be separated.   The following is a summary table of the first who are recorded as taking the surname JONES.  They are show by Welsh county and the dates that they were first recorded in the English legal records of the day.  The table is a figure taken from my blog called "The Jones Surname" [ thejonessurname.blogspot.com ].  This blog discusses everything you wanted to know about the JONES surname but were afraid to ask.

The date of each post, which presents a little more about each JONES for the Welsh county listed, is shown above.  The documentation of each JONES is given in the post.  I thought this might be an interesting topic for those who have been following this blog [Welsh Genealogy] since my 50 years of genealogy have brought me to the Vale of the Dee.

Richard Jones (JQ-95) The First JONES

Richard ap John = Richard Jones, the first of my Welsh descent to take the surname JONES. 

His code number is JQ-95, which means it took me quite a while to get to this connecting point.  In  Chancery Proceeding (series II), Vol. I, AD 1558-1579, Bundle 104/ no. 165, is the document which identifies this Richard as being of "Llanfair".  Llanfiar - Dyffryn Clwyd is the place of  Llyn-onn where the JONES side of the family would come to reside.  Making this "bridge" connection was one of the most difficult branches to my tree climbing.  What a deal! 

JOHN (JP-1) The Jones Surname Bridge

John (JP-1) ap Robert (JO-1) is the next in line among the branches of my JONES family tree.  To become a JONES one must have a JOHN among the branches.  It was this JOHN (JP-1) of Llynn-Onn who was the one for my family.  His wife was Jane Almer (JP-1) who has a distinct family tree of her own.

It was during the period that Wales was placed completely under the laws of England (Act of Union, 1536 and additions of 1542) that the Welsh naming system [ name "ap" name "ap" name "ap", etc.] was truncated to the English "surname" system [first name then surname].  It was a matter of what the English "ear" heard when a Welshmen gave his "name ap JOHN" that was to become the surname JONES.

My Welsh Family Tree (Part III) Personal Research

Needless to say, Welsh tree climbing can be as difficult as JONES surname tree climbing.  Connecting the ends to the middle can be quite an undertaking.  First you have to have a sense of both ends, and then some sense of how to piece these ends together!  The two previous posts list several references which have helped me get one end of the branch. [The Welsh Branch!]  This post list the research that has helped me get the other side of this branch. [The American Side!]

There are three foundations of this genealogy.   Documentation, documentation, and documentation.  No way around the brick walls.   Some 52 years of doing this genealogy has left me many, many, many, references.  My personal research has involved many sources and materials.   They started as piles and piles of notes, pictures, tables, charts, graphs, records, etc...etc..., and when ever I want to find a certain documentation,  I often failed to uncover its location among my stacks.   Thus began my notebooks.  They helped me organize my research into a specific, locatable source.  I place a subject title, and number on each notebook so that I could at least put my finger on a reference or research topic if needed.  Over the years I now have more than 250 notebooks!

I thought it would be helpful to at least outline these notebook topics, and give some idea of their content.  When I give the documentation of my Welsh Family Tree, the research/references can be found in these notebooks.   A blog called The Jones Genealogist Research Notebooks has been started. [http://tjgresearchnotebooks.blogspot.com]  It can be used to give the genealogist an idea of the sources used during my own JONES tree climbing.  It can also be searched by topic using "search this blog" indicator along the top right of the blog site.  The notebooks are physically located in my personal research library, The Joseph Wheeler Jones Memorial Library, Danville, KY.  They are available for use if arrangements are made.   Please come for a visit.

Reader's Choice: The Top 10 Posts

This is the second article which outlines the posts that the readers of Welsh Genealogy have selected to view. They are listed in order from #1 to #1o. They can be viewed using the column titled "Blog Archives" on the page outline shown. The title of the post and the date of the post are given. This blog is intended to help those who have an interest in Welsh Genealogy, but have no real connection to Wales. [Like us Americans.] Here goes:

1) Words of Life - Aug. 8, 2011.
2) The Palatinate - Sept. 7, 2011.
3) Welsh Adjectives as Names - May 15, 2011.
4) Eyri (Land of Eagles) - Dec. 13, 2010.
5) Tribes to Territories - Apr. 3, 2011.
6) Welsh Genealogical Research: The Foundation - Dec. 15, 2010.
7) The Flow and Ebb - Sept. 26, 2011.
8) The Ebb and Flow - Sept. 19, 2011.
9) Wat's Dyke - Oct. 25, 2011.
10) A Penny for Your Thoughts - Aug. 27, 2011.

Based upon 4,424 views as of 2/16/2012.

Maes Usswalt - Maserfield - Oswestry

Welsh names frequently have different meanings and origins. This adds to the difficulty in doing genealogy for those of us not familiar with the "landscape" surrounding such words. For example, the word Oswestry can mean a borough, a market town, a parish, a hundred, or a lordship. When the name Oswestry is given today, you automatically assume it is referring to the town located in the county of Salop. [ 17 miles N.W. from Shrewsbury, and 180 mile N.W. from London.] However, when listed in a historical document, it may mean any one of the items listed above. Thus, determining these distinctions may make the difference in shaking the correct family tree branches!

First called "Maes Usswalt" after Ussa, the son of Cunetha Wledic (Cunedda, known as Cunedda "The Lion".] , it became called Maserfield. This meaning "the field" of Ussa. On August 5, 642 AD, a battle was fought here between Penda [pagan king of Merica 632-654 AD], and Oswald [Christian king of Northumberland]. The story goes that Oswald was slain near a tree, and his body was divided, and fixed to three crosses. [ Derision of Christianity by a Pagan king!] The Welsh called it "Croes Oswald" and a monastery was formed coming to be called "Oswald's Cross" = Oswestry! It was annexed to the Kingdom of Mercia following Offa's Dyke, and a castle was built 1149 AD by Madog ap Meredydd. By this time "Oswestry" had become a "borough" [Norman influence], a "market town" [trade influence], a "parish" [Church influence], a "hundred" [state influence], and a "lordship" [monarch influence]! Thus, "The Lordship of Oswestry", was located as "The Hundred of Oswestry", in the "Parish of Oswestry", as a "borough" and "market town". The "Hundred of Oswestry" contain the townships of "Llan-forda", "Maesbury", "Middleton", and "Weston".

Wow! Who would have thought that the name Oswestry could have such a meaning?

A helpful reference is: A Topographical Dictionary of England, by Samuel Lewis, Vol. II, p. 458-460. [Originally published in four volumes, London, 1831.]

A New Blog : Cadwallader Jones

For those with Welsh ancestors and an interest in Welsh genealogy, the surname JONES is paramount. Cadwallader is a Welsh name meaning "War Ruler" or "War King". After many years of research into his life, I wish to tell his story. If interested the link is:

http://cadwalladerjones.blogspot.com

New Blog: The Brick Wall Protocol

Just started a new blog for those doing genealogy who face a "brick wall". See: http://thebrickwallprotocol.blogspot.com Welsh genealogy certainly has a few!