Ah, yes, Liverpool, the capital of Wales.
The Mersey tunnel hasn't been mentioned in anything I'm working on...but that's not to say.
I really don't want to be drawn too deeply into genealogy, especially this particular case.
The Welsh diaspora is an enormous subject area, believe me!
In this particular case, Blaen-y-cae, I think I've already indicated some major contributory factors. It appears that several families left together, Roberts, Hughes and Foulkes being amongst them. Interestingly, there was considerable social unrest in Llandeiniolen in 1809, rioting occured, the troops were called in and the Riot Act read.
Warrants were issued for arrest and amongst the names (easy trace!) are a number of Foulkes (spelling can vary wildly!). It appears that a number of the Foulkes warrants were never served, they escaped.
Now, these people worked the land and when required, the quarries. This all changed between, say, 1790 and 1830. It was a period of considerable social upheaval and many didn't even have a bike to get on!
The families I've "studied" were "of the land", farmer/small holders, so logically, they chose (and got!) agricultural land in Wisconsin. It might well have seemed, to them, like a dream come true!
This section of the diaspora were united by being Calvanistic Methodists and it is interesting to note that much of the German diaspora to Wisconsin was of similar persuasion.
Perhaps I should draw up a book list!! :thumbup:

I can tell you anything you would like to know about that cemetery. I am related to everyone who is buried there.

The Roberts family came to America in 1840. They were from Cararvenshire, Wales, where they worked in the slate quarries. Their home was called "Blaen Y Cae".

When they arrived in Racine, Wisconsin, several of the family struck out to claim some land offered by the state of Wisconsin. The land where the cemetary now exists was near the corner of the large farm, also called Blaen Y Cae after their old homestead in Wales. The neighbors also helped them build a church along side the graveyard where services were held for many years. My mother would travel to the farm during Harvest time in the fall to help prepare the meals for the men doing the harvest. The closest town is Randolph, Wisconsin where they lived when they retired.

Carl Hankwitz (520) 744-0072, [email protected]

I have pasted a copy of the thread to a friend in the US who is a fully paid member of the Taffia. :)

She was involved in publishing a facsimile copy of Hanes Cymry America (1872). A History of the Welsh in America by the Rev R D Thomas.

The book has a mention of Racine so I will see if I scan that part.

Coincidentally she lives in Wisconsin.

Blaen y Cae Slate quarry was near Nantlle, again coincidentally my Great Grandfather was manager of the Tyn yr Weirglodd quarry at Tal y Sarn but that was later after 1900.

My family were PARRY

Have a look here on the database of the Royal Commission of Ancient and Historic Monuments of Wales.

http://coflein.gov.uk/en/site/search/result?FREETEXT=blaen%20y%20cae&SEARCH_MODE=SIMPLE_SEARCH&SEARCH_TYPE=ALL 

It will also take you maps showing the locations.

You can also see maps from the mid 19th Century of the area on the National Library of Scotland website.

http://maps.nls.uk/ 

The 25" coverage has not reached Wales yet

Ordnance Survey, 25 inch, England and Wales (in process) - 1841-1952 - 67,941 sheets
Ordnance Survey, Six-Inch, England and Wales - 1842-1952 - 37,390 sheets
Ordnance Survey, 1:25,000 maps of Great Britain - 1937-1961 - 2,027 sheets

By the way, it is Caernarfonshire or sometimes Carnarvonshire or Sir Gaernarfon.

A warning, Welsh names are patronyms so another Roberts family will not necessarily be related to your one though I also have Roberts in my family around there.

Gwynedd Archives seem to have references to Blaen u Cae

https://diogel.cyngor.gwynedd.gov.uk/DATRhagorol/Chwilio.aspx?iaith=en 

For examples

X/Dorothea/1085
DRAFT REPORT on the Talysarn Quarries: Blaen y Cae, Twll Mawr, Cloddfa’r Coed, Tanrallt


There is a Nantlle area website

http://nantlle.com/home.htm 

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