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This blog was to follow genealogy 201, giving some ideas to the genealogist.  Genealogy 101, 201, and 301 are intended to help get the tree climbing going.

You may not use the contents of this site (blog and posts) for commercial purposes without explicit written permission from the author and blog owner.  Commercial purposes includes blogs with ads and income generation features, and/or blogs or sites using feed content as a replacement for original content.  Full content usage is not permitted.

Jerry E. Jones, MD, MS, The Jones Genealogist, Library of Congress No. 6192-01064476.

Wrexham (Wrecsam)

Wat's Dyke made its way through the ancient Lordship of Bromfield. The townships which formed this area are shown in the figure to the right, which was taken from the detailed work of Palmer and Owen. It shows the flow of Wat's Dyke in relationship to Offa's Dyke as they both pass through this area. Less than two miles apart, in the area of Bersham and Wrexham, they form a narrow space which must have been an exchange point between the Welsh, and those Anglo-Saxons, who built the dykes.

It was at this geographic point that the "commot of Wrexham" became the "Manor of Wrexham". Initially called the townships of "Wrexham Fawr" and "Wrexham Fechan", they were jointly called "Wrexham Regis". Early forms of the name were "Wristlesham" (1161 AD), "Wrettesham" or "Wrectesham" (1236 AD), "Wyrcesson (1291 AD), and "Wrightlesham" (1316-17 AD). These names were felt by Palmer and Owen to be errors made by clerks.

Acton (Acatone/une) [Church with Saxon stonework], Allington(Allentune), Broughton(Brochetone/tune), Eaton (Eton) [1000 salmon] {must of been a good place to fish!}, Eyton (Eitune) [fisheries], and Gresford (Gretford) were all recorded in "The Domesday Book", but no Wrexham. Apparently, its name first appears in English records 1161 AD as outlined above. [Taken from: The Domesday Book, Thomas Hinde, Editor.]

It was here that the eldest son of Jeuaf (Ieva) (JH-1), Iorweth Fychan (JI-1), was first identified as "of Llwyn Onn". [Jeauf (JH-1) was alive 3 March 1140 AD).] This Llwyn Onn, meaning "Ash Grove", was apparently the winter home (hendre). The land was roughly 1.5 miles to the east of Wrexham. The summer home (hafod) was near Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd, which was also called Llwyn-ynn (Llwyn Onn). As you can see from the map above, this land was split by Wat's and Offa's Dyke. Just how did we, my Welsh ancestors, manage to keep active these two areas on different sides of the fence? That story is yet to come!

The family tree is given in detail at: http://jonessurnamedna.blogspot.com.

The most detailed reference is: A History of Ancient Tenures of Land in North Wales and The Marches, by Alfred Palmer and Edward Owen, printed 1910. The map above is enlarged from this text.

The Domesday references are taken from the most readable text: The Domesday Book, England's Heritage, Then and Now, Thomas Hinde, Editor, Hutchinson Publishing Group, London, 1985. pp. 52-55.

Cadwallader Jones a New Blog

For those who have completed Genealogy 301, you might want to check out this new blog, using all the tools presented. If interested, the link is:

http://cadwalladerjones.blogspot.com/

The Brick Wall Protocol

Just started a new blog to help get around those brick walls. This should be called Ge-ne-al-o-gy 401! http://thebrickwallprotocol.blogspot.com

The Need to Know

By now you should be a long way out one of your tree branches. The further out you climb, the thicker the leaves. The thicker the leaves the more difficult it is to see where you are going. The more difficult it is to see where you are going the easier it is to feel you are lost. Don't give up. Sometimes it is helpful to take a break and put everything aside. Climb down out of the tress and go to the mall, the movies, the park, or where every it is that gets your mind off the tree climbing.

Sometimes it is helpful to show another family member what you have put together. They may be suprised, and be willing to help, or add some insight that might get you going in a new direction. Don't worry, there are enough tree climbers out there that will encourage you along the way.

Now you have it. A true time machine expert. Remember that documentation is important and be prepared for skeletons. The heart of a genealogist is to know. Know who we are. Know where we have been. Know what we did. Know why we survived. Know where the family existed and is buried in the dust of the earth. At the age of nine, I stood before my first ancestors cemetery. I wanted to thank them. Be sure and thank your ancetors too.

Public Records

If you have made it this far, you must have the infection...that genealogy infection that unites all us crazy tree climbing folks. Hopefully you will survive, so let's keep going.

Public records are available at three levels. You have already made your trip to your local courthouse, and identified the county clerk's office. Here are the local documents so important to include in your families' history. Make a couple of trips to orient you to the resources available.

The second level is the state or territorial records. In the U.S.A., each state has a capitol which is the center of the state's history. There is usually a State Archives which is specially interested in preserving the state's history and records. These archives begin with the date of admission of the state to the Union. Once you have identified which state your family comes, this would be your next attention getter if you have made the rounds at your local level. They will house many records that have no genealogical value and yet others will contain considerable family history. There is usually a State Historical Society, the State Library, or the State Historical Commission.

The third level is the national. Federal records are kept in the National Archives, Washington, D.C. There are census records, land records, ships' passenger lists, naturalization records, military service and pension records, and bounty land records. The National Archives was founded in 1934 and holds records from 1775. Genealogical records comprise but one per cent of all the records stored in the Archives.

So there you have the next travel itenterery. When your tree climbing takes you further back in history, the second and third levels may be your best resource.

From Private to Public

By now you should have used up all the family records you have at hand. Remember to check for photographic albums, engraved jewelry and silverware, insurance papers, Social Security papers, employment records, memory books, inscriptions in gift books and the like.

It is time to move from private to public records. What makes a record "public" is regulated by state law. Each state may vary somewhat but a public record can be defined as any written or printed book, document or paper, map or plan which is the property of the state or of any county or municipality or part thereof, and in or on which any officer or employee of the state, or of a county or municipality, has received or is required to receive for filing or recording. The courthouse is the center of public records and offers the location of these records often needed for genealogical research. The county records include criminal court records, civil court records (foreclosures, divorces, register of probate), wills and letters of administration, land records (deeds, mortgages, powers of attorney), vital records such as marriage licenses, marriage records, and certain miscellaneous records such as tax rolls, register of voters, and Coroner's files. Wow, enough already. Beware, it is only the beginning.