| Griffith History Birth & Census Records |
| For years, I have heard Dad say that Pappy always identified his Grandfather William's birthplace as Nantyglo. The 1871 census lists his birthplace as Monmouth, Blaina, and his birth certificate as Aberystruth Parish. I wondered how this could all be the same person? Here is the answer:
The communities of Llanelly, Brynmawr, Nantyglo, Beaufort, Blaina, and Blaenavon, communities that had much in common and were close in proximity to one another, despite crossing parish and county boundaries. If you are researching your ancestors who lived in these communities, you should therefore be aware that a person listed as being born in Aberystruth parish in Monmouthshire (perhaps Nantyglo), may have been living little more than a mile from another person listed as living in Llanelly parish, Breconshire (perhaps Brynmawr). In other words, the common experiences of the people living in these communities crossed parish and county lines, in many instances making those lines irrelevant. A further explanation of the towns of our ancestors: NANT Y GLO, GARNVACH AND BLAINA are in the parish of Aberystruth, hundred of Abergavenny, and county of Monmouth; the first-named is about a mile from Bryn Mawr, and the two latter from a continuous line of houses running from it, and parallel with the extensive iron works. At Nant y Glo is an excellent national school; and there a market is held, on Saturday, for butcher's meat and vegetables, which is, in general, well attended. At Blaina is a neat church, dedicated to St. Peter; the living, a perpetual curacy, is the gift of Lord Abergavenny. There are besides several chapels for Baptists, Independents and Wesleyan Methodists. Population returned with the parish. LLANELLY is a long straggling village in the parish of its name, hundred of Crickhowell, and county of Brecon, 4 miles from Abergavenny. The extensive iron works carried on here are the support of the place. There is a neat church at some distance from the principal part of the village; the living is the gift of the Duke of Beaufort; there are also several chapels for different religious denominations. In the neighbourhood are some very interesting waterfalls. The population of the parish, in 1841, was 7,366. BRYN MAWR is a village, in the parish of Llanelly, four miles from the village of that name, and twelve from Merthyr Tydvil. Like Llanelly, it derives its support from the numerous iron works with which is it surrounded. The erection of a church here has been for some time contemplated, to meet the wants of the increasing population, and subscriptions, for that purpose, have been entered into. The Welsh and English Baptists, Independents, and Wesley and Primitive Methodists have each a chapel here. Population returned with the parish. The above was taken from Pigot's 1844 Directory of South Wales, Llanelly Parish and Brynmawr. There is some wonderful information there. |
 |
| Lewis Griffiths & Elizabeth Powell
Were married in the Llanelly Parish Church (above) in the County of Brecon August 26, 1839 The church was built between 1200 and 1250. See History & Description of Llanelly Parish Church, Breconshire, Wales |
| Nantyglo, Blaina, Aberystruth? |
 |
 |