Page 4 - Ninnau Jan-Feb 2021

Genealogy

Life in the Past Lane

By Susan Davies Sit with financial support for poets, generation in many cases.
as he did for my ancestor. My These idiosyncrasies do make
Middle Names ancestor gave my 2x great- for some interesting genealogy
We all have ancestors with grandfather the middle name of research, providing clues for us.
middle names that confuse us. Hayley in 1817, and he in turn Case in point: I have a child of
My own grandmother had the handed it down to his son Thomas Ashmore named John
middle name of George. As I William Hayley in 1847, and so Checkland Ashmore, b. 1869,
was embarrassed to ask why she on. My mother had a cousin but no last name for Thomas’s
had a boy’s name, I never knew. born in 1922 who also had wife, Sarah. How many times
When I was in my late 20s and Hayley as a middle name, but does that problem surface for
beginning genealogy, I found he had no idea why until I told us? So I just searched for a mar-
out her mother’s maiden name him and his daughter. Such are riage of Thomas Ashmore in the
was (Scottish) George. My long-standing traditions, lost in 1850s and there it is: his wife
question was answered. time. was Sarah Checkland.
Middle names were not On my Scottish line, all the Use middle names as clues;
always common, especially in way down to my mother, every you never know where they
rural Wales. The first person in other generation gave their may lead.
my Welsh family tree with a daughter the first or middle
middle name was born in 1843 name of Jean, starting at least in A research note:
in Ynys Môn; 1709 in my 1738 with Jean Scott. Had I The National Library of
English branch; and 1836 in my known about this, my daughter Wales is hosting free online
Scottish branch. I have learned would have been Jessica Jean. seminars: https://www.library.w
middle names were much more father’s father; own tree I have (English In the 20th century, I find that ales, and click on “Events.” One
common in England, where they A first daughter named after branch) surnames used as mid- first names in Wales stopped such seminar was titled “Lives
were somewhat less likely to the mother’s mother; dle names such as: Luckman, following more traditional nam- in Crime: Exploring Welsh
use prior generations’ first 2nd son named after the Adnet, Pearson, Ashmore, ing convections. People born in Social History through the
names. As we all know, first mother’s father; Rozier, Clark, Brown, Pitman, the 1920s and later don’t mostly Court of Great Sessions c.
names in Wales were usually 2nd daughter named after the Ward and more. have Welsh first names. 1730-1830”. The link says “Buy
taken from prior generations father’s mother…. or a similar Interestingly, in the1840s, in However, middle names often a ticket,” however, events are
and it causes endless confusion rule. It all makes for complex one of my English branches, my did reflect an ancestor. My free, but you must reserve a
to have four generations of Welsh genealogy and research. ancestor, a newspaper editor father is Ian Richard (Richard spot. The symposiums are usu-
Hugh Roberts, for example. The use of a mother’s maiden and published poet, wrote emo- was his maternal grandfather’s ally in English on one date and
Naming conventions in Wales name as a middle name, usually tional, imploring letters to his name), Eric Thomas (Thomas in Welsh on another date. If you
often followed this rule: but not always for sons, is per- benefactor, Sir William Hayley. was his father’s name). So mid- are able, please consider a dona-
A first son named after the haps the most common. In my Sir William often came through dle names still reflect a prior tion to the library. Enjoy!

An Exposition to Transform the Arts of a Nation

The Wales-PA Project that
was featured in a previous
Ninnau article in cooperation
with the People’s Collection
Wales is always looking for
items in digitize about the Welsh
experience in North America.
We choose certain projects from
time to time featuring the expe-
rience of the Welsh in different From the archives of the Post-Gazette, the Gorsedd Circle
settings in Pennsylvania. The
following article we chose to Circle. This first Gorsedd circle actu-
pursue for publication on the The Eisteddfod is a traditional ally took place outside of Wales
PCW site involves the 1913 Welsh celebration, and the first on Primrose Hill in London.
Pittsburgh International official National Eisteddfod was Towards the end of the 19
th
Eisteddfod. held in 1176. Following the first century, Herald Bard, Arlunydd
Each year, in cooperation National Eisteddfod in 1176, Pen-y-garn, made a detailed Image from the 1913 International Eisteddfod in Pittsburgh,
with Duquesne University in many eisteddfodau were held plan of the Gorsedd Circle. from the archives of the Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh, an intern who has throughout Wales, under the According to his plan the stone
an interest in helping us is cho- patronage of Welsh gentry and to the east, the Maen Cyfamod,
sen to do research on events noblemen. The Eisteddfod and the two Portal Stones members within its coveted nation, has people invested in
and other items that we think eventually developed into a folk formed the shape of the mystic ranks. And Pittsburgh, among connecting with longstanding
are important to the project. festival on a grand scale. After mark. The stones were often many other cities across the traditions of their ancestors.
This article was written by declining popularity in the 18 dressed with oak and mistletoe
th
Alexandra Warren, a very century, it was revived in the leaves at the turn of the century
accomplished young woman early years of the 19 century. although this trend has largely
th
who did a fabulous job in In 1880, the National disappeared over time. In 2004,
researching all aspects of the Eisteddfod Association was the new stone circles each year
Eisteddfod. formed and since then an were replaced with a set of
The leaders of the Wales-PA Eisteddfod has been held every man-made stones that are
Project are Dr. Fred Long and year, except 1914 and 1940. moved annually each year for
David Williams. The Pittsburgh International the next Eisteddfod.
Eisteddfod was held in The 1913 International
By Alexandra Warren Pittsburgh due to Mrs. David Eisteddfod held in Pittsburgh,
Davis and her son James J. Pennsylvania, hosted its
A small open space in a Davis. Mrs. Davis attended Gorsedd Stone Circle outside
crowded downtown city with Eisteddfodau when she was Exposition Hall near
trains, cars, boats and even a young in Wales and explained Pittsburgh’s point. The opening (Cymdeithas Olrhain Achau Cymry America)
rollercoaster drowning out the her sentimental thoughts on the ceremony was held on July 2
sense of calm usually found out- Eisteddfodau, prompting her and the closing on July 5. The
side. But within this small open son, James J. Davis, to propose ceremony was led by Dryfed, Formed in 1990 in the United States
space, there is a circle of 12 hosting an International Archdruid of the Order of the to serve as a common link
large stones hosting ceremonies Eisteddfod in Pittsburgh. Bard, establishing the American for Welsh genealogical researchers
for the arts and initiating a new The Gorsedd Stone Circle is Order of the Bard. Members in the US or anywhere throughout the Welsh world.
tradition to the Western made of twelve stones evenly were inducted into the organiza-
Hemisphere. placed in a circle around the tion throughout the various cer- Member: Federation of Genealogical Societies

The 1913 Pittsburgh center stone. The size of the emonies that took place over the
For information:
International Eisteddfod was stones has varied from pebbles course of the Eisteddfod. The send S.A.S.E. to WAGS
held between July 2 and July 5 symbolically placed around in a goals of the organization are to c/o 60 Norton Avenue
at Exposition Hall near circle to towering standing amuse, instruct, and elevate. Poultney, VT 05764-1029 USA
Pittsburgh’s point. The festival stones. The remains of the stone The Gorsedd embodies not just E:mail: wagsoff1990@yahoo.com
and competition spread through- circles are scattered throughout music but literature, poetry, ora-
out the Exposition buildings and Wales as a reminder of past tory, painting, sculpture and For a sample newsletter:
outside to the Gorsedd Stone Eisteddfodau. The tradition of other art forms.
Circle held near the Fort Pitt the Gorsedd Stone Circle was Although the Pittsburgh please include $2.00 (US) check payable to WAGS
Blockhouse. The 1913 first formally created for a festi- Eisteddfod was hosted over a as well as a #10 self-addressed envelope with $.68 US postage
Eisteddfod stands out among val in 1792 when Iolo hundred years ago, its influence or appropriate International Reply Coupons (IRC).
the Eisteddfodau of history as Morganwg, a Welsh academic on the Welsh community in
the establishment of the and scholar, wanted to display America has remained. The You’ll find us on the web at:
American order of the Bards the Welsh ancestral connections Order of the Bard, Ovate and
and the first American Bardic to the Celts and their traditions. Druids, still hosts American http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~vtwags/

®
Page 4 NINNAU - The North American Welsh Newspaper January-February 2021