"The history of establishing one of the most populated and famous Welsh communities in America began in 1818, when six extended families ventured from the Cilcennin area and crossed the Atlantic in search of a better life.
The "1818 Welsh" settled in southeast Ohio but for many years after that only a handful of settlers followed them. Gradually, from the mid 1830s onwards, more and more Welsh settlers emigrated to the counties of Jackson and Gallia.
Between 1835 and 1850, it is estimated that approximately 2,500 to 3,000 men, women and children left Cardiganshire due to poverty and instability, and established "Little Cardiganshire" in southeast Ohio.
Over a century and a half later, the links between Wales and the state of Ohio continue to flourish.
The National Library of Wales received a generous donation from Evan E. and Elizabeth F. Davis, Oak Hill, Ohio to fund an innovative new project on the Welsh in Ohio.
The goal of the Wales-Ohio Project is to digitise a selection of Welsh Americana relating to the state of Ohio held at The National Library of Wales and to make them available on-line to audiences on both sides of the Atlantic.
The Wales-Ohio website (listed on the right) displays approximately 5,000 images of archive, manuscript and printed material, photographs, maps and prints as well as sections which chronicle the history and experiences of the Welsh settlers in Ohio in the nineteenth century.
The Wales-Ohio Project will run until the end of March 2009, by which time the website will have been enhanced to include:
- transcripts and translations of the manuscript material currently available on the website
- a new and revised education section
- digitised materials that exist in private hands, community museums or archives in the United States"
Article by Menna Morgan
Take a look at our family history mini site...
your comments
Albert thomas nesscliffe nr shrewbury
Looking for my father famliy from coedalay LLanfyllin had a small holding there , his name was gwynfryn thomas he live there in 1943 gran , we called lizzy also richard and richin the house , father sister Winny,
Sun Nov 8 19:11:56 2009
Samuel Davis, Columbus ohio trom MI.
I was born near Saginaw MI. I have been told that my family origin is Shawnee Ohio and South Wales before that. Can you help?
Mon Nov 2 08:19:22 2009
Leslie Beam, Mt. Gilead, Ohio
Can't believe I've stumbled upon your neat site! Grandma: Grace Davis Sipes, (Jackson Co. Ohio & Indiana Welsh mining communities) married Chet Sipes also with Welsh heritage in the Jones name as farmers across.Cannot locate Great Gram's Bible which would tell where everyone came from...But I spent 4 months in Wales, autumn 2008 to Feb 09 and loved each and every minute, especially the grocery shopping and cooking in a little rented kitchen apt. The Bakeries are so generous with giving out help & baking tips. Wonderful gals over there! Guess my heart is in Wales, as I surely know my stomach is!
Mon Oct 26 09:11:09 2009
Stuart Evans, Llansadwrn
Dear John Downes, I knew your father during his long, sad illness. I am sorry I did not make it to the funeral - no one told me. My father was Daniel Dennis Evans, cousin to your mother, Margaret, a very nice lady of whom he was very fond. I am a great admirer of your famous uncle Terry; I love boxing and he is always good copy with great one-liners. Dear Lee Evans of Ohio, my grandfather was Joshua Evans, probably named after his grandfather - these names keep popping up. There is a suggestion locally, that our Evans family are descended from Owain Glyndwr's third ( illegitimate son%! 29 Iuean ap Owain Gruffudd Fychan - the name Evan is a form of Ieuan - my famous rugby playing 3rd cousin is Ieuan Cenydd Evans ( capt of Wales Rugby), his great grandfather was Lewis Evans, son of Evan Evans - you see the names do keep popping up !
Sun Jun 7 21:28:01 2009
William Davies, Carlisle, PA
My G.G. Grandparents Evan & Sara (Evans) Davies came to America with three or four children from London in/about 1849 and settled in Jackson County, Boomfield Twp, Ohio. They migrated from Wales and were married in London about 1825. Evan & Sarah were buried at the Marcum Cemetery, Jackson Co, Ohio in 1856 & 1858. I cannot find the rest of the family originating in Wales. I do not know where Evan & Sarah came from in Wales. Any ideas?? Thank you!
Tue Mar 24 16:59:24 2009
J Thomas from Oxford, Ohio
EVANS; JAMES; TOMPKINS;& THOMASIsn't it fun to attempt to solve mysteries with all these common names? All these families lived in the Trumbull Co. Ohio- Niles, Mineral Ridge are. I'd love to correspond with people that are "still" searching!
Sun Mar 15 19:47:20 2009
David Davies, Robbinsville, NC
My family settled in Mineral Ridge, Trumbull Co. in 1871. They came from Beaufort, South Wales and were miners. I have considerable information on my family in Wales from 1819 to 1871, but I'm having trouble with pre-1819 (brick wall). Also have extended family from Merthyr Tydfil and Neath.
Tue Mar 3 09:42:48 2009
New Zealand
John Henry Goodwin came from Radnorshire, Wales to Ohio 1850. His brother Thomas Goodwin also came to Ohio. they took up farm in Delta, ohio fulton county.Two other brother came to New Zealand. Edward and james Goodwin.
Fri Jan 9 09:55:27 2009
jones abergavenny
Looking for a Margaret Jane Jones Youngstown Ohio - she used to write to my father in the 1950's
Tue Dec 30 12:04:19 2008
Deborah Davis
My family has been told for years that we descended from Wales; however, I can only trace us to 1770 or 1780 in Pennsylvania. How would the name of Davis have been changed from the Gaelic?
Mon Nov 3 09:23:35 2008
Evans, Llansadwrn
Stuart Evans of Llansadwrn, great-great grandson of Evan Evans Llansadwrn (one of the original 'ganga of four' who founded the Voluntary School System, built the 1st purpose -built Primary School at Llansawel. Know as Y Cadno Coch, The Red Fox , on account of the redarmy coat he used to wear, kept secret militia regiment long after Napoleonic threat. Very ambigious position re. Anglican Church, very pro under the circumstances. The other founders of the Voluntary School System: Rev Gruffudd Jones of Llanddowror, Lady Bevan, Lady Marion Phillips of Rhos. Rode famous Welsh cob, gene founder of Australia! n thoroughbred line. Quite frankly he appears to have been a larger than life character, dispensing justice to great and small alike, quite fearless, principled, tee-total ( possibly raccobite),quick-tempered, gifted with animals, charitable, crafty...in the sense that the Welsh see the fox as 'cute', 'wise.'
Wed Oct 15 10:06:24 2008
S Larkin, Gloucestershire
A sister (Jane Davies nee Jones) of my great great grandfather (Stephen Jones, 1811-1885, from Rhiwen, Llanbadarn Trefeglwys) emigrated from the general area of Cilcennin to Ohio in the 1840s. She is a common link between my family history and Evan E Davis of Oak Hill, Ohio (mentioned in the article above). Two other members of the family emigrated to other American states (including Rev Timothy Jones, who settled in Waukesha Wisconsin, via Illinois, having left Cardiganshire in the 1860s). Happy to provide further details to anyone with related ancestry.
Fri Aug 22 09:07:26 2008
Le Slater, Nebraska
Looking for the Harry Blakely above. A number of years ago you answered a message board inquiry..and we lost track of one another (re Edward Calvin Penry) I am Edwards great granddaughter. My Grandmother was his daughter.
Mon Jul 14 16:59:26 2008
Michal W. Mainwaring from Washington, DC
Great Grandfather David, as young single man, immigrated from Bwlch, near Brecon late 1800s to Alliance, Ohio, NE Ohio. With wife Louisa Jones, had 4 children, all of whom stayed in Alliance. A grandson, became a three term mayor. Family still connected. Cousins in New Zealand, Australia. Related to Hargest family of Pittsburg, but have lost touch. Would love to hear from interested parties.
Mon Jun 9 14:41:10 2008
Ira Thomas from Harrison, Arkansas
I am trying to locate information concerning my family that suppose to have emigrated from Wales early part of 1800's. My GGGGrandfathers'name was Knealy Thomas
Mon May 5 20:08:07 2008
Harold Blakely
Sounds like a great project. I am currently tracing my Great Grandfather Alfred William Penry b.1845 in Radnor OH. back to Wales. I think he is connected to the Gwenddwr Breconshire Wales area. Visited Radnor OH. 3 years ago and found much family material in the Delaware Co. Genealogical Soc. files. Happy to share all. I live in Texas.
Thu May 1 08:35:24 2008
Connie Guido PA USA
Hello,I have been doing research on the Casker Family from the pembrokeshire area of Wales. MY part of the family is through Edward birth 1834 and Catherine birth 1834{ Thomas} Casker who settled in Trumbull County in about 1853.He was a miner as a mule driver in the census. Yes I would be intrested in any information I could find about the miners of this area. Best regards
Fri Apr 11 09:06:13 2008
Lee Evans from Columbus, Ohio
re John Downes, Aberystwyth. My great grandfather Job Evans was from a farm called Cwm-rhew,bought from Lady Lucy Foley, Thomas Foley's widow.Job's father, Joshuah Evans,was from Caio. I've hit a dead-end tracking down Joshuah's parents. Don't know if this gets us any closer to figuring it all out...
Wed Feb 13 10:06:22 2008
John Downes Aberystwyth
re Lee Evans great grandparents do you know where in Llansadwrn Job Evans came from? My own great grand father Evan Evans was from Maesycwarre Llansadwrn, his parents were Jos and Elizabeth Evans also of Maesycwarre but Evans was a common surname in this Parish.
Wed Jan 30 15:36:27 2008
Lee Evans from Columbus, Ohio
My great-grandparents, Job Evans and Mary Jones Evans immigrated to Youngstown, Ohio in 1869. They came from Llansadwrn, Carmarthenshire and Aberayron, Cardiganshire, respectively. My great grandfather was the son of farmers while my great grandmother was the daughter of Jenkin Jones, a master mariner who sailed out of Aberayron. They had six children and my great-aunt, Margaret Evans. was the first curator of the Butler Mueseum of American Art in Youngstown, Ohio in the early 1900's and was formative in introducing modern art to northeast Ohio.
Mon Jan 14 08:35:41 2008
Anne Alt, Ohio, USA
My great great grandfather William J. Williams of Llanfihangel-y-Ngwynfa came to Ohio and settled in Delaware County in 1838 and lived first as a cooper, then lived the rest of his life farming. Over three generations of his family have remained in the small town of Radnor, Ohio--a very Welsh community rich in it's heritage. It is because of William that I have made several trips to Llanfihangel trying to piece together the years from 1836 (when his sister Eleanor was born) and 1850 when Eleanor appears in Delaware County Ohio living with William--What happened to their parents, John and Mary Williams w! ho onced lived on the Caefny coed farm? For years I have hit a brick wall on this...
Fri Jan 4 16:12:14 2008
Tammy Gwilym
I live in Columbus Ohio. I was born in Nelsonville Ohio. We Moved to Jackson Ohio to stay with my grandfather David Gwilym. My problem is I cannot find information about my family except for a few facts. I would like to know if you might have any suggestions.Thanks Alot
Sun Oct 14 11:51:24 2007
Are you interested in the Wales-Ohio project? Have you been researching your family history? Send us your comments.
