James John (1865 - abt. 1948)

Born 10 Feb 1865 in Glamorgan, Wales [uncertain]

Husband of Emma (Whitcomb) John — married 3 Apr 1892 in Pontypridd, Glamorgan, Wales

Died about 1948 at about age 82 in Pontypridd, Glamorgan, Wales

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Cherryl Schmidt [send private message]

Biography

James John was born in Glamorgan, Wales.

James John was born 10 February 1865 according to the 1939 Register and David Stephens’ Family Bible. According to his marriage certificate, he was the son of William John.

In the 1881 Census, James John aged 14 (employed as a Door Boy Underground (Coal Miner) and born in Pontypridd, Glamorganshire, Wales in 1867) was living in Llanwonno, Glamorganshire, Wales ^[1] with his father William John, a widower, born in 1846 in Pontypridd, Glamorganshire, Wales and employed as a Labourer Underground (Coal Miner).

In the 1891 census James (age 29) was a boarder with the family of William Bowen in 1 Lewis Court, Pontypridd, Llantwitfardre, Glamorgan, Wales.^[2]

James (a Collier aged 26) married Emma Watkins (born Whitcomb) (a Char Woman aged 24) on 3 April 1892 ^[3] in the Church of St Catherine, Pontypridd, Glamorgan, Wales. ^[4] At the time, they were both living in Vaughan Street, Pwllgwaun, Pontypridd and witnesses at the wedding were Richard James and Sarah Ann James.

In the Census taken on 31 March 1901, James John (aged 35 and born in Pontypridd) was living with his wife Emma (aged 32) at 22 Vaughan Street, Pwllgwaun, Pontypridd. He was employed in the Colliery as a Hewer of Coal Below ground. ^[5]

On 24 December 1905, James and Emma John had a son named James Leonard John born at 22 Vaughan Street, Pwllgwaun, Pontypridd and the birth was registered in Pontypridd on 31 January 1906.

On 30 March 1910, James John was living at 2 Upper Vaughan Street, Pwllgwaun (or Newtown Miner) and purchased a burial plot number W3402 in the Pontypridd Cemetery. This action was almost certainly prompted by the early death of his wife Emma in 1910 aged 42.

In the 1911 Census, James John (aged 46) was widowed and living at 2 Upper Vaughan Street, Pwllgwaun near Pontypridd, Glamorganshire with his 5 year old son James Leonard John in the household of Richard and Sarah Ann James. Sarah was the sister of James' deceased wife Emma. James was employed as a Coal Miner Rider Below ground. ^[6]

In the 1939 Register, James John (aged 74) and his son James Leonard John (aged 34) were still living at 2 Upper Vaughan Street, Pwllgwaun near Pontypridd, Glamorganshire with his brother in law Richard James (aged 84). Both James John and Richard James were described as Widowed and Incapacitated. ^[7]

James John passed away aged 83 in 1948 and his death was registered in Pontypridd, Glamorgan, Wales. ^[8]

Research Notes

Still trying to find the birth registration for James John to establish who his parents were. According to his marriage certificate, his father was William John who was deceased at the time of the marriage in 1892.

A child named James John was registered in Bedwelty (which is 11 miles NE of Pontypridd) in the March quarter 1865 with Mother's maiden name EVANS. ^[9] I have also found a marriage record for William John and Ann Evans registered in Pontypridd in September quarter 1865, which is after the birth of this child. ^[10] Perhaps these could be his parents. Needs further research as to whether this may be the person for this profile.

NOT OURS as birth registered before James John was born on 10 Feb 1865:

• JOHN, JAMES with Mother's maiden name JENKINS GRO Reference: 1864 D Quarter in SWANSEA Volume 11A Page 527

ALSO NOT Birth certificate of James John 14.3.1865 gives mother as Mary John and the address as the poor house Meline, in the district of Newport Pembrokeshire. However in the 1911 Census James was noted to be born in Glamorgan. I do not think this is our James John's birth certificate.

ALSO NOT son of Thomas John and Elizabeth (Smith) John (23 February 1865 in Cardiff) - see James John (1865-)

• JOHN, JAMES with Mother's maiden name SMITH GRO Reference: 1865 J Quarter in CARDIFF Volume 11A Page 225

ALSO NOT son of Gwenllian Traherne and Christopher John as their son was named Gomer John not James John

Other Possibilities:

• Mother's maiden name: JENKIN: ^[11]

• Mother's maiden name: PHILLIPS: ^[12]

Notes from David Stephens: We have found James John's probate from his death 15 August 1930 at Llandaff, Glamorgan, Wales, United Kingdom to Emma John granted 26 January 1940. This Emma John cannot be the wife of James John (born 10 February 1865 ) as she died in 1910. ^[13]

There is another probate record for a James John, similar date of death 15 January 1930 and similar probate date 26 January 1940 at Landau but with Amos Dudson as the beneficiary. Probate to Amos Dudson

Notes from David Stephens: I have a Bible bought by a William John on 12 May 1875 and dedicated to Ellen John who died 2 April 1874. I will add this inscription but we have still to work out how they are connected. As the bible was in my mother's possession in her house in Essex, there must be a connection as she is Leonard John's niece; Leonard John being my great uncle and James John's son. There is a William and Ellen with a nephew James Morris in the 1871 census of the right ages; William born 1830 and Ellen 1844, and a family of John in Cowbridge in 1841 with William aged 11. Screen shot attached which shows the family is from Coity near Bridgend which is where David Hunt's first wife Emily Jones is also from. David Hunt was the father in law of Jessie Hunt who was James John's niece.

In the items found in my parents house in 2011 was James John's inscribed tobacco box. David Stephens Great Great Nephew.

Sources

1. ↑ 1881 Census: "England and Wales Census, 1881," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2W9-WWXF : 11 December 2017), James John in household of William John, Llanwonno, Glamorganshire, Wales; from "1881 England, Scotland and Wales Census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing p. 46, Piece/Folio 5296/21, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey; FHL microfilm 101,775,454.
2. ↑ 1891 Census: "1891 Wales Census"
   Class: RG12; Piece: 4420; Folio: 73; Page: 28; GSU roll: 6099530
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry uk Record 6897 #421161 (accessed 13 February 2022)
   James John (29) boarder in household of William Bowen (27) in Pontypridd registration district.
3. ↑ Marriage: "Marriage Entry" (https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?cite=vvwLKstKjicykA7jDCK1VA&scan=1) FreeBMD.org; database online. Citing: WATKINS Emma and JOHN James, Marriages 1892 Jun Quarter District: Pontypridd Vol: 11a Page: 683 (accessed 9 November 2020)
4. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Catherine%27s_Church,_Pontypridd
5. ↑ 1901 Census: "England and Wales Census, 1901," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XSM2-WH6 : 21 May 2019), James John, Pontypridd, Glamorgan, Wales, United Kingdom; from "1901 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing Llantrisant subdistrict, PRO RG 13, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
6. ↑ 1911 Census: "England and Wales Census, 1911," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XW6B-SDF : 27 June 2019), James John in household of Richard James, Pontypridd, Glamorgan, Wales, United Kingdom; from "1911 England and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 14, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.
7. ↑ 1939 Register: Source Citation: The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1939 Register; Reference: RG 101/7360E. Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1939 England and Wales Register [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2018. (https://www.ancestry.co.uk/sharing/21998510?h=955efc&utm_campaign=bandido-webparts&utm_source=post-share-modal&utm_medium=copy-url )
8. ↑ Death: "Death Entry" (https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?cite=7nOp3mnlwWhSEE%2Fan5%2Breg&scan=1 : accessed 26 March 2024) FreeBMD database online. James John (Age 83), 1948 March Quarter, Pontypridd. Volume 8b Page 573.
9. ↑ Possible Birth: England & Wales General Register Office, GRO Online Index - Birth (https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content : accessed 15 February 2022), database entry for JOHN, JAMES (with Mother's maiden name: EVANS) GRO Reference: 1865 M Quarter in BEDWELLTY Volume 11A Page 71.
10. ↑ Possible Marriage of Parents: "Marriage Entry" (https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?cite=LDiQeZ3dPAQnmqp26khA0Q&scan=1) FreeBMD.org; database online. Citing: Evans, Ann and John, William, Marriages 1865 September Quarter District: Pontypridd Vol: 11a Page: 374 (accessed 15 February 2022).
11. ↑ Possible Birth: England & Wales General Register Office, GRO Online Index - Birth (https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content : accessed 26 November 2020), database entry for JOHN, JAMES (with Mother's maiden name: JENKIN) GRO Reference: 1865 J Quarter in CARDIFF Volume 11A Page 282.
12. ↑ Possible Birth: England & Wales General Register Office, GRO Online Index - Birth (https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content : accessed 26 November 2020), database entry for JOHN, JAMES (with Mother's maiden name: PHILLIPS) GRO Reference: 1865 J Quarter in BRIDGEND Volume 11A Page 474.
13. ↑ Unlikely Probate Record: "England and Wales, National Index of Wills and Administrations, 1858-1957," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:7XWT-MGN2 : 27 August 2019), Emma John in entry for James John, 26 Jan 1940; citing Probate, Llandaff, Glamorgan, Wales, United Kingdom, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, Great Britain.; FHL microfilm .