Recently aquired certificates:
Marriages:

Ann Gronow March Qtr.1840 Cardiff Vol.26 page 427.
Ann Gronow Sept. Qtr.1841 Bridgend & Cowbridge Vol.26 page 449.
Margaret Gronow Dec. Qtr.1842 Cardiff Vol.26 page 519.
Elizabeth Gronow June Qtr.1849 Cardiff Vol.26 page 670.
Elinor Gronow June Qtr.1850 Bridgend & Cowbridge Vol.26. page 665.
Jane Gronow June Qtr.1853 Cardiff Vol.11a page 343.
Ann Gronow Sept.Qtr. 1853 Cardiff Vol.11a page 292.
Ann Gronow Dec.Qtr. 1853 Bridgend Vol.11a page 699.
Elizabeth Gronow March Qtr.1856 Bridgend Vol.11a page 482.
Elias Goronwy Dec. Qtr. 1856 Merthyr Tydfil Vol.11a page 525.
Margaret Gronow June Qtr.1858 Cardiff Vol.11a page 345.
Mary Gronwy Dec. Qtr. 1859 Merthyr Tydfil Vol.11a page 487.
Mary Gronow June Qtr.1860 Bridgend Vol.11a page 583.
Mary Ann Gronnow Sept. Qtr. 1860 Pontypridd Vol.11a page 203.
David Goronwy Dec. Qtr. 1860 Merthyr Tydfil Vol.11a page 485.
Catherine Gronnow Dec. Qtr. 1867 Pontypridd Vol.11a page 458.
Edmund Gronow June Qtr. 1874 Pontypridd Vol.11a page 513.
Mary Gronow Dec. Qtr.1877 Bridgend Vol.11a page 699.
Daniel Goronwy Dec. Qtr. 1878 Pontypridd Vol.11a page 436.
Elizabeth Gronow March Qtr.1886 Cardiff Vol.11a page 334a.
Celia Goronwy June Qtr. 1888 Pontypridd Vol.11a page 543.
Annie Marri Gronow Sept.Qtr.1894 Merthyr Tydfil Vol.11a page 905.
Elizabeth Gronow Dec.Qtr. 1894 Bridgend Vol.11a page 1179.
James Ormond Gronow Sept. Qtr. Merthyr Tydfil 1897 Vol.11a page 891.
Mary Ann Gronow Sept. Qtr.1902 Pontardawe Vol.11a page 1332.
Henry Gronow Dec. Qtr.1903 Merthyr Tydfil Vol.11a page 1111.
Irving Henry Gronow Sept. Qtr.1905 Pontypridd Vol.11a page 786.
John Gronow March Qtr.1906 Pontypridd Vol.11a page 595.
Irving Henry Gronow Dec.Qtr. 1914 Pontypridd Vol.11a page 1062.
William Gronow March Qtr.1915 Bridgend Vol.11a page 1271.
Mary Gronow March Qtr.1916 Pontypridd Vol.11a page 829.
Percy Allan Gronow Sept.Qtr.1920 Cardiff Vol.11a page 1006.
Rhianedd Goronwy Sept. Qtr. 1921 Pontypridd Vol.11a page 1104.
Thomas James Gronow March Qtr.1924 Merthyr Tydfil Vol.11a page 981.

On this day we remember the fallen of two World Wars and other conflicts around the globe, both past and present. The loss of life among Gronow families has been commemorated previously on these pages. (see side link: Gronow War Dead). So as we remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their Country, let us also remember those soldiers, sailors & airmen who return from battle with serious wounds or other illnesses due to the effects & their experiences of war.

In September 1916, King George V authorized the Silver War Badge (SWB) to honor all military personnel who had served at home or overseas since 4 August 1914 and who had been discharged because of wounds or illness. The badge was not simply an honor; it also served a practical purpose. At the time, men of military age who were not obviously in the service were sometimes accosted or insulted by civilians presenting them with white feathers a symbol of cowardice for shirking their patriotic duty. The badge served as an outward symbol that the wearer’s duty to country had been honorably fulfilled.

Gronow recipients of the Silver War Badge:

David Gronow 1890- 1928 / Private / 45018 / South Wales Borderers.
Ernest Gronow 1887- 1954 / Private / 15690 / 3rd Bn. South Wales Borderers.
Ivor Gronow 1896-1941 / Sapper / 1225 / Royal Engineers.
John Ivor Gronow 1884-1933 / Private / 82087 / Royal Defence Corps.
Levi Harries Gronow 1896-1980 / Private / 2600 / The Welsh Regiment.
Percy Alan Gronow 1893-1961 / Gunner / 348649 / Royal Garrison Artillery.
Thomas Gronow 1864- / Pioneer / 337665 / Inland Water Transport Royal Engineers.

"At the going down of the sun and in the morning, We will remember them."

Edmund George Gronow
1881-1934
Born in Tonyrefail the son of Evan Gronow & Eliza Rose. Edmund a Striker by trade 5' 9" tall with blue eyes and light brown hair.
He joined the Grenadier Guards on the 14th September 1900. He saw action in South Africa, earning the South African Medal with Clasps Cape colony & 1902.
He transferred to 1st class Army Reserve on the 10th September 1903, and was finally discharged from the army on the 9th September 1912.
He married Rebecca Gladys Wood on the 12th February 1905 in Cardiff.

In Remembrance:

Margaret Donne Gronow

(nee Evans)

died 7th October 2011

Peniel Nursing Home, Carmarthenshire.

THE ANGEL WITH THE CENSER.

Within a dimly-lighted Church,
All decked with festal flowers,
An Angel stood — on Christmas Eve —
'Twas in the silent hours,
When vesper-prayers were over
And the worshippers gone home,
To wait until the midnight bell
To Mass should bid them come.

The Angel stood with folded wings,
And in his fair, white hand
He held a golden censer bright
Obeying God's command
Not to return to Heaven,
But to wait in patience there
Till he could bring the incense
Of one faithful humble prayer.

THE ANGEL WITH THE CENSER, AND OTHER POEMS.
by B. M. G R O N O W.

London, REMINGTON AND CO., New Bond Street, W. 1883.

A quick look around the web gave no clues as to the authors name, except the initials B. M. Always one to try & put a name to these things I thought I'd find out who wrote this little book of poems.
It turned out to be Bessie Marion Gronow (1851-1929) who on the 16th February 1889 at St Peter's, Brighton, by the Rev. Heathcote SMITH, Louis Marie BASINET, youngest son of Mons. Claude BASINET, of St Alan, Chambery, France, to Bessie Marion, younger daughter of Wm. Lettsom GRONOW, Esq., of Ash Hall, Glamorganshire.

In Remembrance:

Marion Gronow 

(nee Davies)

 

died 23rd August 2011

Swansea, Glamorganshire.

Recently aquired certificates:
Marriages:
William Gronow Dec. Qtr. 1938 Cardiff Vol.11a page 613
William Gronow Sept. Qtr. 1953 Cardiff Vol.8b page 465

Facebook has just updated the Gronow's across the world groups page, so feel free to come along and join this group
to access the group click on the Facebook logo in the column on the right. Hope to see you there.

From the publication: Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 12 Part 2: June-December 1537 comes an interesting conversation between Thomas Cranmer & Thomas Cromwell on the 28th August 1537.

'Has twice written in favour of "this poor man," Wm. Gronnow, the bearer, to the lord Deputy of Calais to restore him to his room, but he can get no answer. Begs him to get a bill signed by the King to the treasurers and comptrollers of Calais for payment to Gronnowe of his accustomed wages, and to none other.' Forde, Signed.

It would appear that at this time the lord Deputy of Calais was Arthur Plantagenet, 1st Viscount Lisle, KG (died 3 March 1542 Tower of London). History is less clear what happened to his 'bearer William Gronnow[e]. However During his time at Calais, Arthur and his wife had to manage much of their affairs outside Calais by correspondence. Copies of 3,000 of these letters were seized as evidence after Arthur was arrested. They survive to the present day in the Public Record Office, and have become a valuable historical resource for a critical period in English history. Does there lurk among the dusty letters any further insight to the "Bearer" of the Lord Deputy of Calais. I wonder?

Citation 'Henry VIII: August 1537, 21-31', Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 12 Part 2: June-December 1537 (1891), pp. 209-228.

I am pleased to say I have just become member of
"The Association of Graveyard Rabbits"

The Association was named for Frank Lebby Stanton's poem, The Graveyard Rabbit. Although the poem is about superstitions associated with graveyard rabbits, Stanton also establishes that such rabbits have a charmingly intimate knowledge of graveyards and a loving association with the dead. These traits are the motivation of the human beings interested in this group.

My association is mainly for my work on St. Mary's Church Monumental Inscriptions which you can view by clicking on the "Blog Links" tab opposite. But researching a one-name sudy involves visiting so many graveyards & public cemeteries, it could just as much apply to this study.
You can find us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/graveyardrabbit

Amusing Bastardy Case at Swansea - The county magistrates (Measrs. J.G. Hall, S.B. Power, and E.M. Richards) sitting in petty sessions at Swansea on Wednesday, were occupied for several hours in hearing a case in which Cecilia Gronow charged William Jones of Morriston, with being the father of her illegitimate child. Mr Woodward appeared for the complainant, and Mr C.H. Glascodine for the defendant. The complainant stated she met the defendant for times in August last year, and one night he had improper connection with her, which resulted in the birth of a child. Mary Jenkins and Catherine Williams stated that they saw the defendant and the complainant together in August last, but Mary Jenkins admitted, in cross-examination, that when she went to tell the defendant that he was the father of the child, she was not sure that he was the man, and when his brother went out, she told him that Cecilia Gronow had a boy for him.
Several witnesses were called to prove that the complainant stated that the father of the child was taller than David Jones, and David was taller than William Jones. The mother also said that the father had a moustache, and all the witnesses for the defence swore that the defendant, who is not 18 years of age, never had a moustache. The bench believed that it was a case of mistaken identity, and dismissed the case with costs.

Western Mail (Cardiff, Wales), Thursday, June 26, 1879; Issue 3161.

The boy in question was William Gronow born the 12th May 1879 in Morriston, Swansea. Glamorganshire. His mother Cecilia went on to marry a William Jones in 1900, 21 years after the birth of her son.

Recently aquired certificates:
Marriages:
Thomas Grunner Sept. Qtr. 1861 Ellesmere Vol.6a page 1114

In Remembrance

Capt. Alan Edmund Harold Gronow
1935-2011

Brian Gronow
1939-2011

Recently aquired certificates:
Births:
Margaret Gronow Sept.Qtr. 1850 Liverpool Vol.XX page 326
Richard Gronow March Qtr. Pontypridd Vol.11a page 453
Marriages:
David L. Gronow Sept. Qtr. 1966 Bridgend Vol.8b page 130
Deaths:
John Gronow Sept. Qtr. 1846 Liverpool Vol.XX page 534

Recently aquired certificates:
Births:
Rachel Gronow Dec Qtr. 1844 Llandilofawr Vol.26 page 520
Oenia Gronow June Qtr. 1855 Pontypool Vol.11a page 130
Marriages:
John Grunnow Dec Qtr. 1860 Abergavenny Vol.11a page 128

In the course of my research I visit many record offices & libraries here in the UK and I correspond by email and snail mail to repositories around the world. But one thing that never fails to amaze me is the sheer helpfulness of our American cousins compared to their English counterparts. Ask a library or record office in England for a very straightforward bit of research and I’m usually met with a request for money and that is when they can be bothered to actually reply to your request. Compare this with America.
I got in touch with the Livonia Public Library in Michigan to ask about a orbit check with only a year of death available, two days later email arrives with a copy of the newspaper article in full, a day after that an orbit arrives for the persons wife. Both orbits full of information that tie the whole family together and confirm their link to the Gronow family in Cardiff. So I’d like to say a big public thank you to Merrill Wassell the adult services librarian at the Livonia Civic Center Library for all their help.

Congratulations & Best Wishes
to Russell & Sarah Gronow
on the birth of their 3rd son
William Christopher Gronow
2nd March 2011
born 2 minutes past midnight 10lb 10oz.
http://gronow.co.uk/Photo/recent.php

Recently aquired certificates:
Births:
Hugh Gronow Dec Qtr. 1942 Neath Vol.11a page 1035
Marriages:
Evan Gronow June Qtr. 1854 Cardiff Vol.11a page 414
William Gronow June Qtr. 1865 Cardigan Vol.11b page 5
John Gronow March Qtr. 1943 Cardiff Vol.11a page 659
Robert W. Gronow March Qtr. 1969 Dudley Vol.9b page 361

I downloaded a couple of 'Kindle' books today. "Born on the Craig" & "My Welsh Childhood" by my namesake Colin (Edward) Gronow. Born into 1940's wartime Pontypridd the books illustrate with great feeling the times & adventures of a boy growing up on the "Graig". A couple of funny parts for me were his first day at school, when he met...... [fans of LOST will find this bit amusing] and his Christmas present one year of "Escalado" a horse racing game, which I had myself when a child and still do, somewhere.

So far Colin's ancestry takes him back to about 1680 in the village of Pentyrch {The Ox's Vale}, in the Cwmwd of Meisgyn, Cantref of Penythen (now called the Hundred of Miskin), County of Glamorganshire, South Wales.

You can also visit his "Wales Tourism" website at: http://www.colinswalestourism.co.uk

Gwynt y Ddraig

(The Dragons wind)

If your looking for a good honest family run firm then take a look at "The Welsh Cider & Perry Company" Gwynt y Ddraig. This family business is run from Llest Farm, in Llantwit Fardre near Pontypridd.

The business is run by Andrew Gronow and his Uncle William George, together with Andrew's father John Gronow and his brother Timothy Gronow (responsible for the artwork opposite).

Visit their website at www.gwyntcider.com/gyd/

Andrew Gronow & his father John descend from Dinas Cross in Pembrokeshire where the family have strong maritime links with the area.

Recently aquired certificates:

Births:
William Gronow June Qtr. 1920 Cardiff Vol.11a page 978
Griffith W Gronow Sept Qtr. 1934 Bridgend Vol.11a page 1123
Haydn J Gronow Dec Qtr. 1941 W. Glamorgan Vol.11a page 1657
Marriages:
Elizabeth Frances Gronow Sept Qtr. 1869 Wharfedale Vol.9a page 192

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.

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.

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.