- Abertillery Online Discussion Forum -

pepefe21 · Joined: 29 Aug 2009 Posts: 3

I have been researching my family history, and as you can imagine there are times when I am in a complete muddle, as I did not know my welsh grandparents, uncles or Aunts or cousins that well, appearing for weddings, baptisms and funerals.

My grandparents were Thomas John Roberts and Sarah Ann Austin, Thomas was born Mar q 1880 (although daughter disagrees with this, saying he was born 14 August 1879). They had 6 children.

During the 1st World war, Thomas went missing and Sarah Ann fearing that she could not feed her children gave one son away to her best friend (Family legend), and my mother really didnt know she had another brother. Thomas was returned to her safe and well, although had shrapnel in his leg. I am told he returned to the front three times and was awarded medals.
One of my uncles, who liked a tipple, sold these medals at a pub for £5.00. Now I am trying for my mother (who now is 81) to find these medals, or find what medals were awarded to Thomas John. Apparently I will find his army no on the Absent Voters list. Living where I do, this I cannot do, so would be grateful if anyone could help me?
I have traced the family tree back to John Austin born 8 Sep 1817 Llanwenarth(?), he married Maria Pugh June quarter of 1850.
John Austin was a miner and when he was offered the chance to help Mr Hughes to teach Iron ore mining to the Ukrainians, he agreed, so sometime before 1871 he went with many others to a valley in the Ukraine - Hughesovka. Although I have no proof of this, his wife made a note on the 1871 Census. She was due to join him after 1871, however she received a letter saying he had died. Maria Pugh married again to George Brown on 11 August 1874 and appears on 1881 Census at Sheepwalk Terrace.
John & Maria had 7 children, Thomas who married Rose (Warren?), Mary Jane who married William Roberts, & her twin Sarah Ann who married Llewellyn West and emigrated to USA, John married 1, Ann Carter, 2, Elizabeth Gould, then James who married Kate (Catherine Williams?), Catherine who married Will Dicks or Dix & William who married Mary Francis.
I would dearly love to take this further and would love to contact any of my relatives etc.
My email is address is pepefe21@hotmail.com
Thanks for reading my message

regards Trish