End of the course but the research continues

Today was the last day of classes but there is still research opportunities for this afternoon and this evening as well as tomorrow. Unfortunately the library is closed on Sundays…

This afternoon Jane and Doris and I had a bit of a road trip up to Park City and the Utah Olympic Park nearby - about 32 miles (48km) south east of Salt Lake City.

The Utah Olympic Park was the venue for the ski jumping, bob-sled, luge and free-style jumps took place for the 2002 Winter Olympics.

We had a wander through the small museum/exhibition presenting various bits of history about the area, the skiing Hall of Fame and the olympics. The theatrette was showing a film about the 2002 Winter Games and as we entered it happened to be showing a segment about Alisa Camplin - Australian Gold Medal winner for the Women's Aerial Freestyle Skiing…

Park City is a bit further up the road and was, back in the 19th Century was a mining community. During the 80s and 90s it has a resurgence as a tourist location. The main street is now seemingly filled with art galleries, restaurants and souvenir shops. All very nice but just a little bit to trendy…

Back down in the library the rest of the afternoon and evening was quite productive in it's own way. Although I haven't definitive answers on Daniel Davis' line (it requires the purchase of some certificates that will take a few week to arrive), I have some good, specific research plans.

Tomorrow is the last day in the library so I plan to complete the look ups for Williams Rowland's siblings in the parish registers.

It's Day 4 of the course and where has the time gone?

Today has been v.productive on the research front.

After a morning of looking at how to get the most out of Title Deeds in class, we headed to the Family History Library again for an afternoon and evening of research.

I haven't managed to do anything with the Title Deeds (yet) but did spend a lot of time investigating parish record images... after about three hours I have found (and have images for) the baptismal entry of my G-G-Grandfather William Rowland of Henllys and later Abercarn - son of Thomas (a shoemaker) and Hannah.

In the process I have also found the entries and images of the baptismal entries for his siblings John, Edwin, Oswald, Ann and Alfred and a previously unknown sibling - Hannah. I still need to look further to find the other two (Sydney and Emily).

The entries show that the family were moving about the district as the children were born and baptised in either Pontypool, Henllys or Llantarnum. There didn't seem to be a progression from one place to next in an order of birth years but a jumping around - Llantarnum, Llantarnum, Henllys, Pontypool, Henllys, Llantarnum, Henllys... we are not talking about great distances but maybe being a shoemaker at this time required more travelling than I previously perceived - yet another channel for research...

Anyway time for us to go out for an evening meal followed by another couple of hours research before the library closes.

Course time and research at the Family History library SLC...

...today is Day 1 of my course in "Strategies in Welsh Ancestry" with Darris Williams and the International Society for British Genealogy and Family History's British Institute 2010... that's a bit of a mouthful!

We had the morning of tuition in the Crystal Inn followed by some hours of research at the Family History Library up by Temple Square.

During the afternoon, I managed to get requainted with my Great Grand Father Dan Davis, late of Cardiff and Abercarn. He married Amelia Rowland in July of 1901. At the time of the 1901 census (pre marriage) he was in the village of Penrhiwceiber (north of Pontypridd) as a visitor with David Davis and family.

David and his wife were, as Daniel, born in Fishguard, Pembrokeshire. Could it be that David is Daniel's older brother? Using this as a premise for a path to research I believe I have found him in the 1871 Census... I think I need to find a birth certificate to get a few more hooks onto which I can hang this hat...

Course Banquet this evening so time to get freshened up

Woohoo - at the hotel and the bed is just feet away...

the New York to Salt Lake leg was nicely delayed by about an hour but after waiting this long I no longer cared!

it was a 4 and half hour flight and we landed at about 11 local time but getting luggage and waiting for the hotel shuttle it was after midnight by the time I'd checked in and got to the room. That's about 25 hours after I started this journey.

V.nice accommodations - ensuite (natch), desk, La-z-Boy arm chair, king size bed and a 32" TV with 50 channels... nice

As I've already turned into a pumpkin about two hours ago (no comments!), I think it's time to fall into bed a screaming heap... that's probably more energy than have... OK a whimpering mess.

Just a 6 hour stop-over in JFK and I'm on the last leg to Salt Lake City...

... the flight over and I have a 6 (or so) hour lay-over at JFK... nice! I tried getting wait listed on a flight to Salt Lake at 3 but it was already over booked - just have to wait for my scheduled service at 730...

Here's the view from the Delta Sky Club - an overcast and muggy (outside) day - inside, nice and cool and pleasant and, at times, beer-y. A good choice I think to while away the hours - JFK Terminal 3 flight-side is v.boring and take about 10 minutes to view the sights - oooo Starbucks... ahhh Burger King... the thrills never cease.

The flight over was pretty good. Although a KLM flight, it was code-share of a Delta flight. Economy class had a reasonable amount of leg-room and the entertainment was on a new touch screen that had quite a big selection. That being said, I can't remember the movies or TV watched but at least it occupied the time.

Might be time for a bit of a nap before heading westward...