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From:
Subject: Re: [Cmn-L] James Rice CofE christening ??
Date: Thu, 03 Oct 2002 15:31:13 -0700 (PDT)

Hi, Maureen,

Here is the little info I could find on a possible
christening for James Rice, with even less info for
Mary, since my filmed BTs of St Peter's in Carmarthen
end in 1812.

Rees and Rice were put together, and almost all were
given as Rees by the copyist. Only three entries:

James born 11 instant [=11 January?], nothus Anne
Morgan by William Rees bpt 15 Jan 1802 [this means he
was illegitimate, his mother unmarried Anne Morgan, his
father Wm Rees]

James b. 31 January last [=1803?], twin son of John &
Sarah Rees bapt 6 March 1803 [his twin was David, and
an older brother was John b. 1800]

James born 15 January last, son of David & Mary Rees
bapt 8 Nov 1812 [the final entry]

Only one Mary Rees appeared in that whole period:

Mary b. 5 Oct dau of David & Charlotte Rees bpt 5 Nov
1809

None of this is very satisfactory, so I tried NewChurch
just outside of Carmarthen, which is popularly
considered as Carmarthen (and it is on the same film).

ST Peter's had no Rees marriages in the time period,
but NewChurch had three marriages as follows:

David Rees of Abernant bachelor md Esther Rowlands of
NewChurch spinster on 16 November 1803

Benjamin Rees of Merthyr Tudfil md Hannah David of
NewChurch by banns on 21 Nov 1809

David Rees of St Peters md Mary Evans of NewChurch by
banns on 6 Nov 1813

The earliest couple, i.e. David and Esther, was the
only one with children:

William bap on 25 March 1804
Jonathan bap on 6 April 1806
Jona bap on 15 January 1809-- I thought this name could
have been changed to James, but little Jona died four
days later.

It's possible that the marriage of David and Mary in
NewChurch refers to the parents of the last James in
1812, since their first names are the same, so I
checked the years again this morning to be sure that
the child was born a full year ahead, and the dates are
clear. However, my film is of COPIES so mistakes are
possible. Also, it is not unheard of that they were
married a year late, and the priest at St Peters might
not know they had only a common law marriage if they
appeared together like a stable couple. The years are
not what you estimated, but estimates are shifty
anyway, and it is helpful (a little!) that the mother's
name is Mary.

Actually, the next idea is to search out the
Independent chapels in Carmarthen, unless you are
perfectly sure that James or she belonged to the Church
of England in Wales. Anyway, until 1837 or so,
marriages had to be in an Established Church, not an
independent one.

Sorry I could not give you more exact info. Good luck
in your effort!

Norma Leigh Rudinsky


Quoting Tony and Maureen Marshall <>:

> To Oliver and Pauline
> If James Rice married under an assumed name, I
> give up!!
> Thanks to everyone for their interest.
> I await to see if he was babtised in Carmarthen
> town. then i will star to
> order some films.
> Maureen
>
>
>
> ==== CARMARTHENSHIRE Mailing List ====
> Carmarthenshire Place Names Database - Looking
> for a farm etc you cannot find - Contact -
> - Let him know the name
> of the Farm House etc etc - He will search the
> Database
>

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