Birth Certificates for births in Presteigne, Radnorshire 1849

Probably not the right marriage as on the 1851 Mira is 1 year old but her eldest sister, Eliza is 15. Therefore a marriage to Mary Pritchard in 1830 is more the likely. Their children appear to be:
Ann 1832
Eliza 1836
Emma 1838
Richard Clement 1841
Elizabeth 1847
Mira 1850....all baptisms
Charles 1855???
Diana 1847???-----not sure about these two.
From Dusty Docs for Fownhope with Fawleye.
Not sure about Chandler though...still. I can only find one Chandler on there.

 

Well. Now I am totally confused.
Mira and George Rackley celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary which appeared in the paper on the 22/7/1932. It states in there that Mira was born on April 4 1849 in Hertfordshire (I assume that should be Herefordshire) which would mean parents were William and Sarah.

 

Ok, thank you for all the information. It really is hard to tell which one is which!

I know that Mira and William James Rackley were married in Pinner/Hendon Middlesex in 1872. I don't have a copy of their marriage certificate. Am I right in saying there might be more information on that? She died in Harrisville Queensland Oct 1939 at the age of 90. She came to QLD on the Winefred arriving in Moreton Bay in 1874. She was about 24 years of age, married when she was 23. I have not been unable to obtain copies of any immigration papers to date. Numerous records on Ancestry/My Heritage give her date of birth as July 14 1850 in Fownhope but her the historical death image states her place of birth was Radnorshire. If she was 90 when she died, then the year of birth should be 1849. My mum tells me that my great grandfather, George Rackley was born illegitimately but bore William's name. He was born in 1867 before William and Mira were married. Who know's if William really is the father!!

 

Last name for Mira (and Thomas) could be Davis/Davies.

 

As suggested on Ancestry 1861 census
Mary Pritchard
Marriage Date: 23 Feb 1830
Mariage Place: Fownhope With Fawleye,Hereford,England
Spouse: Thomas Davies
FHL Film Number: 992806

1861 England Census
Mary Davies: 49
Estimated birth year: 1812
Relation: Wife
Spouse's Name: Thomas Davies
Where born: Fownhope, Herefordshire, England
Civil Parish: Fownhope
County/Island: Herefordshire
Thomas Davies 56
Mary Davies 49
Richard Davies 18
Mira Davies 10
Charles Davies 6
RG 9; Piece: 1817; Folio: 4; Page: 6

A William Rackley married Mira Davis in Hendon, Middlesex Sep. 1872
I wonder if people have been confusing names for several years?

 

Sorry. I meant William

 

Ancestry has marriage image, 14 July 1872
fathers James Rackley lab'r & Thomas Davis -Butcher. William 20 - a groom & Mira 23 spinster both of Pinner. Miras signature has a definite dotted 'i' in Davi-s with
Wit's James Rackley -his mark & Briidget Morris -signed.
Parish church of Pinner ( Harrow)

 

How is this for confusing! I just downloaded George Rackley, Mira and William's son's historical death image. On this image, it states that his father was George Rackley and his mother was Mary Abigail Willis (who was actually his wife). So whomever wrote down the information on the certificate put the name of his wife down for his mother. ARgh!

 

I am also wondering if for some reason, Mira or her family may have sent away for proof of birth or baptism and the records of the other Mira were sent.

 

This is definitely the marriage record as both the fathers names are correct and Mira's age seems to be correct too. I have William's age at the time of his marriage as 19 so it's pretty close! Thanks for this.

 

Why would they do this I wonder?

 

I do think at times when peple were asked for names or other persons for legal documents ie births marriages & deaths if asked for "Mother's name" the person giving info would automatically give their own Mother's name etc. nerves or grief can also play a part in persons thinking and so their replies.

 

Ok, good to know. So the more likely record would be Fownhope birth? I do have a Mary Pritchard in my tree who married James Jenkins, my first cousin x 5 removed. Born 1815, Michaelchurch, Escley, Hereford. Maybe there is another one floating around..I have seen that name before.

 

Oh what a tangled mess this is....
The other Mira, whoever she may be, married Henry Gaines March 1871 Hereford 6a 675
1901 census and 1911 census Myra(Mira) and Henry are happily living together but in both instances Fownhope is given as her pace of birth.
Myra Gaines died age 62 in Hereford 1913 and Henry died age 65 1915.

 

Other census have her as Fownhope as well. One has her as Gainer.
Back to the drawing board I feel.

 

Forgetting the Chandler connection, this Mary Powell is of interest. I've been looking into DNA connections and Powell is a connection I'm looking into. Thanks for this tip Archie's Mum. I'll check it out. My previous research seems to suggest that Thomas Davies from Mordiford is the right Thomas Davies.

 

Soo, here is the Thomas Davies 1887 death certificate. I believe this is THE Thomas Davies I've been looking for although this death puts his birthdate around 1803/04. In all of the census documents I've found for this fellow, it has his occupation as Game Keeper. He's married to Mary Pritchard and also, there's a Mira born of the same parents. I don't know where 'Chandler' comes in but at least this is a good place to start!!!

 

Here is Mira's birth information. I think it's a match!!

 

1861 census of Fownhope, Herefordshire (RG9/1817, folio 4, page 6) shows the following family living at 16 Fownhope Village:

Thomas DAVIES Head Mar 56 Butchers Shop Herefordsh Mordiford
Mary do Wife Mar 49 do Fownhope
Richard do Son Unm 18 Ag Lab do do
Mira do Daur Unm 10 Scholar do do
Charles do Son 6 do do do

This Thomas's occupation would appear to match that of your Mira's father on her marriage records, wouldn't it. He does seem to have changed his occupation by the 1871 census (RG10/2692, folio 5, page 3) when he is described as a Woodman. Son Richard & his wife is the next record down and has become a Butcher - unless the Enumerator transposed their occupations. 1881 census of Fownhope shows Thomas as a Gamekeeper, so that would confirm the death record that you have found. Son Richard Clement DAVIS was baptised 19 December 1841 at Fownhope.

Janet