Ancestry/Genealogy

And the vital records kept by the government only start in 1837 or 1838. Anything before that is parish records - and I have not been able to find where those are for the church in the small village in Wales where my ancestors lived.

Unfortunately that is right on the cusp of where I need to trace my Welsh ancestors. My great great grandparents married in 1838 so their marriage is recorded. The marriage certificate names the fathers of the bride and groom and where they lived but nothing else. Because the British records start there, that leaves me hanging.

I'm spoiled by being in the USA. Our census began in 1790 as soon as the federal government was stabilized after the revolution. While the early census only gave the name of the head of household and a limited count of family members that at least lets me locate the family. In 1850 they began listing all members of families but not their relationships so you have to do detective work to figure that out.

I need to write to the church in the village and see if I can get the records somehow. I've tried the online resources and while there is a group that is transferring Welsh parish records no one has responded to my requests for how to obtain the information - if it has been transferred.