One Name Study of Gronow / Gronnow / Goronwy

One Name Study of Gronow / Gronnow / Goronwy

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

As is often the case I was browsing through some online books when I came across "The Roll of the Fallen 1939-1945" of the University of London OTC & STC. privately printed at the Chiswick press London.

In it I came across Capt. Robin Louis Gronow Fevez of King's College. I had not come across the name Fevez in my searches so some research was required. Robin Louis Gronow Fevez and his younger brother David Gronow Fevez were the sons of Eugene Leon Fevez, 1865-1936 (a Woolen Merchant, born in Manchester to a French national) and Ethel Gronow Oliver, 1879-1970 (a solicitors daughter from Wimbledon)

Both men died in the service of their country during WW2. Robin a Capt. in the Queen's Royal Regiment died on the 10th September 1943 and is buried in Salerno War Cemetery, Italy which contains many burials resulting from the landings and fighting which took place when Commonwealth and American forces landed near Salerno on 8-9th September 1943.

David Gronow Fevez was a Pilot Officer with 26 Sqdn. RAF who was lost on the 5th June 1940 while flying his Westland Lysander on a tactical reconnaissance misson. He was shot down by Hptman Muller (staffelkapitan) south-west of Abbeville ans crashed near Ercourt at 12.10 hrs.
He is buried in the local church near the middle of the southern boundary of the graveyard.

Both young men are Grt. Grand Nephews of Capt. Rees Howell Gronow of Waterloo fame.

Wednesday, January 05, 2011


Obituary
Margaret Alice Gronow
{1922 -2010}

GRONOW, Margaret Alice sadly passed away on the 12th December 2010, aged 88 years. Margaret beloved Aunt of Nora, Ivor, Carol, Susan, Cyril, Timothy and a loved great-aunt of her many nieces and nephews. The funeral service was held today Wednesday Jan 5th 2011 at 1.30pm at Glyntaff Crematorium Pontypridd.
{first published in the Media Wales Group on the 29th Dec.2010}

Margaret Alice was the youngest daughter of Irving Henry Gronow & his 2nd wife Alice Beatrice Bodman.




Tuesday, January 04, 2011


Rockhampton Australia.
4th January 2011

My thoughts and concerns are with the Gronow families in Rockhampton, Queensland Australia which is at the centre of the state's flood emergency, with its 75,000 residents bracing for the Fitzroy River to peak at about 9.4m (31ft).

The families are descended from Francis Sydney Gronow & his wife Margaret O'Shea. My thoughts especially to Grahame & Lyle Gronow & their children, who I had the pleasure in helping them with their family history not so long ago. Rockhampton, 370 miles north of Brisbane and a hub for the farming and coal-mining region, has become the focus for what officials call "biblical" floods affecting 200,000 people in an area the size of France and Germany.

Friday, December 17, 2010

Obituary

Amy Gronnow WILLIAMS.(nee PRICE)
(1919-2010)
Suddenly but peacefully on 9th August, 2010, of Herbert Jennings Avenue, Acton, aged 90 years. Beloved wife of the late Joseph, much loved mum of Joseph and Sylvia, Jacqueline and John, cherished nanna of her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Funeral Service was held at Holy Trinity Church, Gwersyllt, on Tuesday, 17th August, 2010 at 1pm followed by Interment in the Churchyard.
(First published in the Leader on 12th August 2010, distributed in Mold).

Amy Gronnow Price, was the daughter of William Gronnow Price and Amy Shires of Old Rhosrobin, Wrexham. Denbighshire.

From a Wrexham newspaper 16th January 1929.
"At Wrexham William Gronnow Price 57 of New Rhos Robin was sentenced to 6 months Imprisonment with hard labour and his son William Edward Price aged 20 to 3 months for stealing fowls from a Farm. The only clue was an unusual label on a whisky bottle which the men had left behind them."

Thursday, November 11, 2010


11th November 2010

"We will Remember them"

As the nation comes together to remember those who have died in service of our country and with our thoughts of those men & women who at this time are serving in Afghanistan, I thought I'd include this piece about another Afghan War, this time 1878-1880.

Captain William Lettson Gronow, of the 1st Batallion Manchester Regiment (Late 63rdFoot)
who in the Second Anglo Afghan War from 1878-1880 joined the 2nd division of the Kandahar force, but was not present in any of the more important actions.
William was the son of the William Lettsom Gronow and his wife Catherine Anne Norman.
Born 9th January 1848 - Died 28th December 1903
He retired a Lieutenant Colonel of the 1st Manchester Regt. ( he was also the Grand Nephew of Rees Howell Gronow of Waterloo fame)

Sunday, October 31, 2010


In Loving Memory of
Jane Charlotte Gronow
1852-1907


My Great Grand Aunt, a nurse & midwife and a woman devoted to a life of helping others through illness, died in the Liverpool Home for Incurables in 1907 and was buried on the 7th May in Toxteth Park Cemetery, Section D right Grave 284. Her name appears inscribed on a memorial to others from the Hospital. (Pic left).

In 1875 the hospital, known as the Home for Incurables moved to the building in which it would remain for the rest of its existence, on Upper Parliament Street. The home was now run by a General Committee and was 'intended to be a home for women of a respectable class, who are suffering from chronic complaints of an incurable nature. Intake of cancer sufferers was limited as were geriatric cases. Although many patients who entered the home spent the remainder of their lives there, others did improve and were discharged so there was some degree of patient turnover.

After 1885 the home was known as the Liverpool Home for Incurables, a name it retained until its absorption into the National Health Service under the aegis of the South Liverpool Hospital Management Committee in 1948, when it became the Home for Invalid Women. In 1969 after a further change of name the home became Princes Park Hospital. Although it aimed to provide care for younger chronically sick women, increasingly its intake was of geriatric patients. After 1975 the hospital admitted male as well as female patients. The hospital closed in 1986.



Wednesday, September 29, 2010

I spent a wonderful week last month down by Newport Sands, a family holiday with research combined. I had wanted to visit the graveyards around Dinas for a while and so when the occasion arose, I took the opportunity to visit the Gronow seafarers of the area, I was not disappointed. From Plas Bach a cottage on the hillside of Moylegrove I travelled to the various local Churchyards & Non-conformist graveyards in the area. Macapela with it’s well kept lawns, by the local villagers a testament to the Master Mariners and ocean going sailors of the area. Gronow graves abound, the children, who are used to searching fruitlessly for Gronow markers, were calling “found one”, “look another” “and another” I have never found so many graves in one place as I did on that morning on the hillside in Dinas.

Just down the road from Macapela towards the sea is Ramah graveyard it’s old iron gates not use to visitors any more, we found more old sailors & their wives. Quite by chance, while out walking the dog one evening on the hills around Moylegrove I came across Bryn Bethel perched high up overlooking the sea. One of the quietest and remote graveyards I’ve had the pleasure to visit. Not had chance yet to index all the pictures, but it was nice to be able to put an image to all the places I had been researching, Newport, Dinas, Cardigan, Nevern & Moylegrove.


Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Recently aquired certificates:

Births:
William Henry Gronow Dec Qtr. 1863 Pontypridd Vol.11a page 288.
Sarah Jane Gronow Dec Qtr. 1879 Haverfordwest Vol.11a page 851
William Henry Gronow June Qtr. 1882 Bridgend Vol.11a page 583
Ronald G A Edwards March Qtr. 1920 Bedwelty Vol.11a page 229
Marriages:
William Gronow March Qtr. 1858 Cardigan Vol.11b page 5.

Monday, September 20, 2010


I've spent the last week looking at family trees on a well known commercial website, these "Public Member Trees" are something else! So far I have contacted over 12 'owners', the response so far 1 reply, who in all credit to him has corrected the mistakes within his tree. In the vast majority of cases it seems to be a case of reproduction without verification. I even had and old contact of mine get in touch, giving me her research only to find, yet again information from a 'Public member tree' had found its way into her family tree.

There are too many examples to highlight here, but one I think must be taken to task. There are over 40 trees on this site, with a gentleman by the name of HYWELL GRONOW born 18th February 1757, all 40 trees give the same birth date & marriage date & in most cases same death date. In 30 years research I have never come across him! Most trees say he was born, married & died in Coity, Glamorganshire. Well he is nowhere to be seen in the parish registers of St. Mary Coity, nor have I ever come across him in over 50 parish registers that I have indexed.

So if anyone out there has Hywell Gronow in their tree, and would like to give me the source for his baptism, marriage or death I'll be the first to apologise! once it's been checked & verified of course.

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Recently aquired certificates:

Births:
John Gronow Sept Qtr. 1866 Cardigan Vol.11b page 1.
Marriages:
Joseph Gronow Sept Qtr. 1841 Abergavenny Vol.26 page 42.
William Gronow Dec. Qtr. 1850 Haverfordwest Vol.26 page 1001.

Wednesday, July 07, 2010


For over 70 years a lifeboat has covered the Horton and Port Eynon area of the south Gower coast, Glamorganshire. As part of her crew father and daughter Stuart Gronow (deputy launching authority) & Mari Gronow (crew member) cast a watchful eye across the waters of the Gower Peninsula.

Stuart & Mari's family have lived and farmed in the Gower Peninsula for over 275 years . The Peninsula's richly varied natural environment is renowned for its heathland, limestone grassland, fresh- and salt-water marshes, dunes and oak woodlands. Its mixed geology has given rise to a wide variety of scenery in a relatively small landscape area. Dramatic limestone cliffs, interspersed with sandy beaches and rocky shores, dominate its southern coast. In the north, the coast is low-lying with extensive salt marshes and dune systems.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Recently acquired certificate:

Births:
Samuel George Gronow December Qtr. 1908 Pontypridd Vol.11a page 558.


I'm just in the process of finishing the extraction of images of the 1911 Census, and can I find the above Samuel? not a sight of him, nor his parents. If anyone has Samuel in their extended family I would love to hear from you.

Friday, March 26, 2010

Recently acquired certificates:

Births:
David Gronow June Qtr. 1838 Merthyr Tydfil Vol.26 page 351.
Alfred William Gronow June Qtr. 1840 Swansea Vol.26 page 490.
John Gronow Dec. Qtr. 1853 Bridgend Vol.11a page 304.

Marriages:
William Gronow Dec. Qtr. 1853 Bridgend Vol.11a page 708
James Gronow Sept. Qtr. 1859 Cardiff Vol.11a page 297
John Gronow Sept. Qtr. 1915 Pontypridd Vol.11a page 1433.

Burglary, 26th June 1876.

ARTHUR BROWN (35) , Burglariously breaking and entering the dwelling-house of one Evan Gronow, and stealing therein a coat and waist-coat, his property.

MR. DOUGLAS conducted the, Prosecution.

EVAN GRONOW . I am a shoemaker, of Irongate Wharf, Paddington—On Saturday night, 10th June, at 11 o'clock I was in bed on the ground floor, and was awakened and saw the prisoner pass my coat out at the window—he was three parts in the room, but standing outside—I asked him what he was doing, and he ran away—I went after him, and never lost sight of him—he got behind a cart—I called for help, and Sergeant Tompkins came up he laid hold of him behind the cart—I charged him with stealing a coat and waistcoat—I picked up the waistcoat myself—I have not recovered the coat—the prisoner said he was sleeping on the timber—on the road he said "I had got the wrong shop" and that he had some beer.

THOMAS TOMPKINS (Police Sergeant D 14). I was in Irongate Wharf, I heard some cries and saw the prosecutor and the prisoner dodging round a cart—the prosecutor said the prisoner had stolen his coat—I took him, he said "It is all false, I know nothing about it—I came round here for a sleep"—I said "You arc rather out of breath for sleeping, let us go back and see what it is"—we did so and examined the place, and found it had been opened—on the way back we found" a waistcoat, but not the coat—the prisoner appeared to have been drinking, but was not drunk.

The prisoner in his Defence stated that he was drunk and did not know what had been done.

GUILTY —He was further charged with a previous conviction, to which he PLEADED GUILTY**— Ten Years' Penal Servitude.
Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, 26 March 2010), June 1876, trial of Arthur Brown (t18760626-272).

Census of 2nd April 1871, RG10; Piece: 7; Folio: 85; Page: 46; No.8 Irongate Wharf, Paddington.Marylebone.London.

Friday, March 12, 2010

Inquest Report, Newport. Monmouthshire.

Mr Brewer held an inquest on Friday evening, at the Dock Hotel, on the body of Daniel Gronow, aged 60 years, an engine-driver on the Monmouthshire for many years. The deceased came by his death in the locomotive yard, whilst engaged about his engine. He was crushed by the buffers of a truck striking him against one of the engine buffers. A verdict of "Accidental death" was returned.

[Western Mail (Cardiff, Wales), Monday, March 9, 1874; Issue 1515]

Wednesday, March 03, 2010


Congratulations to
Tony & Iris Gronow
on the occasion of their
5oth Golden Anniversary

[first published in the Media Wales Group on 27th February 2010]
Congratulations Mum and Dad on your Golden Wedding Anniversary lots of love from-Caroline, Paul, Carl, Janet, Emma, Sean, Cerys and Tomos.

{Tony is a descendant of Thomas Gronow 1709-1773 Wenvoe, Glamorganshire.}

{Edit 20Aug10}
Sadly Tony died on the 22nd July 2010
at Llandough Hospital after a short illness.
The funeral was on Friday August 6th at Thorn-Hill Crematorium.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010


24th February 2010
The British Prime Minister has apologised for the U.K.'s role in sending more than 130,000 to the former colonies of Canada & Australia. Britain is the only country in the world with a sustained history of child migration. Only Britain has used child migration as a significant part of its child care strategy over a period of four centuries.
The reality of this policy was to remove children, some as young as three years old, from their homes, from their mothers and fathers, from all that was familiar to them, and to ship them thousands of miles away from their home country to institutions in distant lands within the Commonwealth. Many of these children were removed without their parents' knowledge or consent.

One such young man was Ernest Gronow born in Hendon, Middlesex in 1894. Ernest set sail on the 9th Sept 1909 from Liverpool on the SS Corsican, bound for Quebec. He arrived on the 17th September 1909, his final destination Ottawa, Ontario. He travelled along with 16 other young boys between the ages of 11-15 under the Catholic Emigration Association.

According to the Census taken on the 31st March 1901 Ernest Gronow was a inmate of the Guardians of the poor, of the Hendon Union Schools. [RG13/5336 folio 127. page 4] His birthplace is recorded as unknown. At the same time a Mary Gronow, probably his sister is also in the same institution. I don't know what happened to Ernest or what his life became in Canada, or even if he stayed in Canada, if anyone knows what became of him please get in touch. According to the 1911 Canadian Census a Ernest Gronow was living in Labelle Quebec.

Thursday, February 11, 2010




A trip to Chester Record Office proved very interesting in regards to a very early ancestor. While looking at the Church warden accounts for St. Mary-on-the-Hill, Chester I came across the following entry for Easter 1562-1563 were payments are made for 'kneeling places' by one Richard Gronow.
This is a very good early reference to an Elizabethan Gronow, that I have found. More research is needed to establish the origins of this gentleman.

{The Parish of St.Mary-on-the-Hill, Chester, extends beyond the city boundaries, and includes the township of Gloverstone, which is wholly within the city, and those of Upton, Moston, Claverton and Marleston-cum-Lache in Broxton Hundred, and Little Mollington in Wirral Hundred.}

Sunday, January 17, 2010


Charles Grunnow, Coach driver, Bromborough. Cheshire.

Birkenhead County Magistrates Court
Thursday Spetember 13th before Messrs S.Stitt & F. Thorneley

CRUELTY TO A HORSE.- Charles Grunnow, cab driver of Bromborough, was fined 15s., with costs for working a horse with open sores on it's back. The animal was also in a very weak condition.
(Liverpool Mercury, Friday September 14th 1888; Issue 12693)


Liverpool Court of Passage.
A sitting of this court commenced on Tuesday at St. George's Hall, Mr T. W. Baylis, Q.C. presiding.

Grunnow V. Forsyth.- In this case, which was of no public interest, Charles Grunnow, car proprietor, Bromborough, Cheshire, sought for the return of a mare, or it's value and damages for the detention against John Forsyth, described as a horse jobber, Dryden Street, Liverpool. The Jury, after a long hearing, found for the plaintiff, awarding him £23 as the value of the mare, and £7 as damages for the wrongful detention.
(Liverpool Mercury, ThursdayOctober 15th 1891: Issue 13658)


Liverpool Police Court
Thursday November 12th, before Mr W.J. Stewart.

Curious Charge of Forgery:
Charles Grunnow of Bromborough, Cheshire appeared in answer to a summons taken out by William Bailey, charging him with forgery. The charge arose out of the sale of a horse by Bailey, who is a horse dealer, to the defendant on August 17th last. It appears that on that date Grunnow purchased a bay gelding from the plaintiff for £18 and the sum of 6s on the spot. A receipt was given leaving a balance of £17 14s. Some time after Grunnow came back evidently dissatisfied with his purchase, and made some arrangements about a black mare. An action was brought by Bailey in the court of Passage for the £17 14s and the jury found for the defendant. The receipt was produced there, and it appeared to have been altered so as to make it seem as though it was in respect to the black mare and not to the geilding the figures £18 and the word "bay gelding" having been scratched out, and the words "Black mare" subsituted. The defendant explained in the Court of Passage that his daughter aged eleven, had written in the words.- Mr Stewart held that there was not a case for a jury, and dismissed the summons.
(Liverpool Mercury, Friday November 13th 1891; Issue 13683)


(The Court of Passage represents the civil jurisdiction of the medieval borough court. By the eighteenth century the “Court of Liverpool”, “Borough Court”, “Mayor’s Court” or “Court of Passage” had gradually confined itself, under the last name, to civil suits. The Court of Passage was abolished in 1971 by the Courts Act 1971.)

Friday, October 02, 2009


Congratulations to
Owen J. Gronow
on his recent promotion to
Leading Junior Cadet
with
T.S. BLACKCAP
Best wishes from all the family.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009


Congratulations to Nathan & Allison Goronwy
On the birth of their daughter
Olivia Helen Goronwy
on the 10th of September 2009
Forster, New South Wales Australia.

Friday, July 17, 2009

Take a look at the new social networking site for genealogists "GenealogyWise" at www.genealogywise.com
A group page has been added for Gronow & it's variants. A good looking site with plenty of stories & videos of a family history nature, I find it much easier than Facebook or Twitter.

Thursday, July 09, 2009

Above shows a graph, for the Census years 1841-1911 giving a guide to the numbers of male and female occupants for England & Wales. The females seem to out number the males in most of the census, nothing changed there then.

A wealthy landowner has just completed the largest folly to be built in Britain for at least a century. The 65ft-tall structure on the 7,500-acre Rushmore Estate, Dorset, has been built in the style of an Indian mogul gateway, topped by five large copper domes.

It was originally designed to conceal five mobile telephone masts. When the phone company, O2, pulled out of the project, the estate’s owner, William Gronow-Davis, decided to go ahead and build it at his own expense. By definition a folly is a structure with no practical purpose usually built to enhance a view or create a feature in the landscape.

In the case of Mr Gronow-Davis’s folly it is a focal point at the end of a mile long avenue of trees. The vista can be seen from window of his drawing room.

Mr Gronow-Davis says it finishes off his garden and adds to the spectacular vista from his mansion. Mr Gronow-Davis chose an Indian theme for the folly because he was born on the sub-continent. He is a descendent of General Augustus Pitt Rivers who inherited the estate in the 19th century, He said: “It is unusual and looks so beautiful from my house.

“From my drawing room you look out onto the gardens along an avenue of trees and fountains and about a mile away is the folly. It is wonderful and just finishes the garden off.

The folly is made of concrete that has been rendered in lime and sections of the four pillars have been washed in red ochre lime. The base is made out of Turkish limestone and has the family’s crest coated on it along with the four points of the compass.

From July 9, 2009


Wednesday, July 01, 2009


In memory of
Aubrey George Gronow
born 29th January 1911
Seymour, Victoria Australia.
son of Samuel & Catherine Jane Gronow of Oakleigh, Victoria.
Royal Australian Air Force, Pilot Officer 418104.
Flying a Mitchell Liberator
No.45 Atlantic Transport Group
1943-1945 No.160 Squadron Bhopal, India.

Awards:
Burma Star,1939-1945 Star, Defence Medal.

Monday, June 29, 2009

Recently acquired certificates

Marriage:
John Gronow & Eliza Wright, 1869. Wesleyan Methodist Church Creswick. Victoria. Australia.

This is an important gateway ancestor for a lot of Australian Gronow's in Victoria. Thanks go to Judith Evans for her help on obtaining this information.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Reported on this Day in 1893.

District News, Cardiff.

DEATH FROM SCALDING, Mr E. B. Reece (coroner) held an inquest at the Town Hall, Cardiff on Friday evening, on the body of Annie Mary Gronow aged 3 years of 56 Letty Street, Cathays. The evidence showed that about six weeks ago the deceased was scalded by the upsetting of a bucket of boiling water, and the child died on Wednesday from injuries received. After the evidence of Dr. Shepard the jury returned a verdict of 'Accidental Death'.

(Western Mail (Cardiff, Wales), Saturday, June 17, 1893; Issue 7512)

Thursday, June 11, 2009

All index entries for Wales from the 1911 Census have now been added to the English counties previously extracted. Approx 690 entries, including variants Gronnow & Goronwy. The vast majority of families have been grouped into their households. With the all important information from 1901-1912 I can at last sort out the remaining births for this period into their respective families. I expect this to take a month or so.

Congratulations to Brightsolid for their performance so far.
http://www.1911census.co.uk

Sunday, May 31, 2009

Using the General Register Office indexes for the period 1984-2005 the graph above shows the percentage of ages of people who died in England & Wales. Click map to enlarge.
Using the General Register Office indexes for the period 1866-1920 the graph above shows the percentage of ages of people who died in England & Wales. Click map to enlarge.

Monday, May 11, 2009

Recently acquired certificates:
Births.
John Gronow Dec. Qtr. 1853 Bridgend Vol.11a page 304.
Marriages.
David Gronow Dec Qtr. 1863 Bridgend Vol.11a page 672.
Mary Gronnow Sept Qtr. 1870 Chester Vol.8a page 527.
Ann Gronnow June Qtr. 1888 Chester Vol.8a page 542.

Friday, May 01, 2009

Recently acquired certificates:
Births.
John Gronow Dec. Qtr. 1852 Bridgend Vol.11a page 301.
Marriages.
David Gronon June Qtr. 1857 Scarbro. Vol.9d page 465.
David Goronwy March Qtr. 1874 Merthyr T. Vol.11a page 692.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

In rememberance:
Mathew "Aussie" Gronow.
September 21, 1929 - October 28, 2008

Aussie ""a true-blue military man"", suffered a stroke and has lost his battle
with Alzheimer's disease. He is predeceased by his daughter Gaye Tara
and is survived by his wife of 51 years Margaret ""Peggy"", daughter
Joye Andrea, granddaughter Amber Sage, twin brother John (Sue) and
many nieces and nephews. Matthew served with the Royal Australian
Regiment in the Korean War, RCAF (NATO) in Europe and with the
Canadian Armed Forces (UN Peacekeeping) in Cyprus and Egypt. Well
respected by his peers, Aussie was a member of the Royal Canadian
Legion serving as past President of Branch 37. He was proud to have
served as past President of the Canadian Korean Veteran's Association.
(First published in the Victoria Times-Colonist on 10/30/2008)

Friday, February 27, 2009

Recently acquired certificates:
Births.
Grenville James Gronow Dec. Qtr. 1902 Neath Vol.11a page 966
William Gronow March Qtr. 1905 Pontypridd Vol.11a page 734.
Marriages.
John Grennow March Qtr. 1873 Newport M. Vol.11a page 196.

Sunday, February 15, 2009


I'm always on the look out for story's that involve our surname, growing up I was always being asked if I were German or Polish, because for some reason people always associated it with this variant rather than it's Welsh one. While searching the 1911 Census I came across a daughter whom I was previously not able to fit into a definite tree, looking forward I noticed that she appeared to marry twice. Upon investigation I came across this information which shows what extremes can happen especially in times of heightened security.
The names have been changed to protect the families from any embarrassment, and even the book does not name the Gronow concerned.
The following is taken from the book "In the Highest Degree Odious" by A.W.Brian Simpson.
"One case of error which is documentable received considerable publicity: it involved ********* who was British by birth and the Borough Surveyor of Guildford. He was detained on the 28th May as 'of hostile associations'; he was held in Brixton until 28th October spending up to twenty-three hours a day in solitary. The background was that 'his colleagues have informed against him and the local populace are demanding his internment.
"His wife is said to be of German extraction, and his intimate relations with a German girl have aroused the suspicions of the police" MI5 found that his wife was Welsh not German & that his association with aliens and visits to Germany were entirely innocent. Sadly his wife did indeed divorce him. In March 1941 he joined the RAF and became a Squadron Leader.

I remember a similar thing my father told me regarding his parents during WW1. The day after anti-German riots broke out in Birkenhead police tried to protect the first victim who had a butcher's shop at Watson Street but it was wrecked after police were overwhelmed by sheer numbers. Riots lasted for a couple of days and pubs were closed. Some luckless victims were not German related. Fried fish dealer Thomas Lincoln, of Price Street, had his shop smashed up by a mob made up mostly of women and young boys. They looted everything after someone said he had sold a fish to a German!

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Monumental Inscriptions added for the following parishes. All entries fitted neatly into existing trees.

Bettws, St.David
Bridgend, Newcastle Hill Unitarian
Bridgend, Ruhamah Welsh Baptist
Bridgend, Tabernacle Congregational
Caerphilly, St. Martin
Church Village, Salem Welsh Baptist
Coity, St. Mary
Coychurch, St. Crallo
Gower (Old Walls) Ebenezer Calvinistic Methodist Chapel
Laleston, St. David
Llandeilo Talybont, St. Teilo on the Marsh
Llangynwyd, St.Cynwyd
Llanharan, Bethlehem Congregational
Nolton, Bridgend St. Mary
Pennard, St.Mary
Rhymney, St. David
St. Brides Minor, St. Bride
St.George-super-Ely, St. George
Treoes, Saran Chapel
Wenvoe, St. Mary.
All entries added for the current available counties from the 1911 Census. Looking forward to the release of the Welsh districts which should clear up a few families for the period 1901-1912. Most of the transcriptions have been correct, the only thing I have found so far (with what little is available) is the much more use of second names used to describe children in the family.

Monday, November 17, 2008


On this day in 1878

At Bridgend Petty Sessions on Saturday (before the Rev. C.R. Knight and Col. Turbervill), Enoch Gronow, farmer, Drehir Farm was charged by another farmer named William Butler, Caegarw, near Brynmenin, with stealing five turnips from his field. Mr Thomas Stockwood Jnr. appeared for the defendant, who was dismissed, the bench considering the evidence against him rather contradictory. (Western Mail (Cardiff, Wales.) Monday November 18th 1878 Issue 2974)

Enoch Gronow was the son of Thomas & Mary Gronow of Drehir Farm, Llangeinor. According to the 1871 Census Enoch is living with his parents on the farm,(described as a Blacksmith) living next door is a Thomas Buttler of Caegarw a Bailiff. (RG10/5414 Folio 117 page 8.)

Tuesday, November 11, 2008



"Lest we Forget"

Let us remember not only the fallen on this, the ninetieth anniversary of the Armistice, which brought the First World War to an end, but all those that entered into that conflict.
The list below is a combination of names taken from the Medal Roll, Service & Pension Records of men who served in the Army during 1914-1918.
If you can add information to those on the list, please leave a comment in the space provided.

Friday, November 07, 2008

Capt. Stephen Gronow 1872-1944

1 of 4 children, Stephen was born at Llandeloy near Solva, Pembrokeshire, the son of John & Frances (nee Nicholas) Gronow. When both his parents died young the orphaned boy was cared for by Capt. Thomas Evans of the Black Horse, Dinas Cross. Thomas was Master of the Mispah. Stephen’s brother John died whilst on his 1st voyage as 2nd mate aboard the Mispah. Stephen became Master of the following vessels: Ascania, Volodia, Saxonia, Valacia, Vardulia, he was also an officer on the Aquitania.
During WW1 he was mentioned in despatches for good services whilst employed on transport duties in the Dardanelles(Times 1st June 1916 & London Gazette 31st May 1916) He was awarded a Silver vase by Cunard Co. and Lloyd’s silver medal in connection with the loss of the “Vinovia” of which he was the Master. (Anglo-Bolivian was purchased by Cunard in 1916 and renamed Vinovia, she was sunk when on passage from New York to London on the 19th December 1917 8 miles south of Wolf Rock by U-105. Torpedoed at 3:30pm without warning and sunk by submarine, with 9 lives lost) Stephen was awarded Lloyd’s Medal for meritorious service on the 13th Feb 1918 for his extraordinary exertions with his encounter with U-105.
He also invented & patented (No.20,753) Improvements in and connected with the Storage and Lowering of Ships Boats.
Stephen married his wife Jennie Sharpe in West Derby Registry Office in 1903. And both now lie together in St.Michael’s church, Nannerch Flintshire. Wales.

Sunday, November 02, 2008

On this day in 1898

At Pontypridd Police Court on Wednesday Nicholas Gronow a commercial traveller, Llanbradach Street Cardiff was charged with forging a cheque for £20 and embezzling the sums of £20 & £2 18s moneys belonging to his employers messrs Corfield Son & Co Cardiff. Evidence was given which alleged that the defendant obtained a cheque for £20 from John Williams Builder of Aberdare. Gronow was committed to the assizes on these charges bail being allowed himself in £100 and two sureties of £50.

Western Mail (Cardiff, Wales), Wednesday, November 2, 1898; Issue 9187

Nicholas it would seem stayed in the shadows, no Birth, Death or Census entry can be found for him (unless you know different?)

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Goronwy
Births, Marriages & Deaths added for the period 1837-2006 for the surname variant GORONWY & the variant added to the GOONS listing

Tuesday, September 16, 2008


Congratulations & Best wishes

To Russell & Sarah Gronow
on the birth of their son

George Gronow
The newest addition to the family weighing in at 10lb 13oz (4.91 Kg) and born at 1:24 pm on the 15th September 2008

http://gronow.co.uk/Photo/recent.php

Friday, September 12, 2008

Recently acquired certificates:

MARRIAGES

James Gronow June Qtr. 1875 Liverpool Vol.8b page 135.
Mary Lydia Grono Sept. Qtr. 1881 Poplar Vol.1c page 1055.
Martha Gronow Sept. Qtr. 1888 Liverpool Vol.8b page 227.
Emmeline Gronow Sept. Qtr. 1891 Liverpool Vol.8b page 26.
Margaret Gronow March Qtr.1900 Liverpool Vol.8b page 11.
Edwin George Gronow Sept. Qtr. 1903 Liverpool Vol.8b page 27.
Robert Gronow Dec. Qtr. 1911 Liverpool Vol.8b page 46.
Edith Winifred Mary Gronow June Qtr. Wrexham Vol.8a page 877.

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