I have several ancestors who died in the Pontypool area of Wales (especially Trevethin and Abersychan), but I have no idea where they are buried (and I don't really have exact dates of when they died, either). Four of them probably died in the early 1900's, so I suspect Panteg Cemetery in Pontpool, which opened in 1906, is a likely resting spot for them. Does anyone know of a directory for Panteg Cemetery that we can check to find if my ancestors are buried there? These are the individuals I suspect may be buried there:

William Smith (b. 1840, d. after 1881), and his wife
Mary (Jones) Smith (b. about 1841, d. after 1881)

Henry Jones (b. 1835, d. after 1901), and his wife
Margaret (Smith) Jones (b. about 1837, d. ?)

Also, am I missing any alternatives for where they may be buried? I am fairly certain that they were all nonconformists, and I know William and Mary attended Ebenezer Chapel for church. Perhaps there is a cemetery there as well?

I recently determined that William and Mary Smith are buried in a shared grave at Ebenezer, and made their memorials here on Find A Grave, IDs 80285580 and 80285077.

Would there happen to be any photo volunteers near the Pontypool area who could get a photo of this grave at Ebenezer? Its more precise location in Pontnewynydd is on the cemetery page.

I know it's unlikely that anybody will pick this one up, but thought I'd try anyway.

Oh bother! If you had posted 2 weeks ago I was in Cwmbran for a week and would have popped up for you, not going back home until June next year

That would have been a nice coincidence! That's fine though, maybe I can ask again before next June, it's not like this is urgent and I don't see anyone else claiming this.

For municipal burial records you will need to contact the local authority. They do cemetery searches but do make a charge for it. I'm in a neighbouring authority and they don't charge for the search but charge £13 for the information they give you i.e. if they find the grave they will tell you for nothing that it's there but you have to pay to see the list of occupants and any other details. The authority you need for Pontypool is Torfaen. I don't know where you are so forgive me if I'm telling you things you already know. Church burial records are in the Gwent Record Office but very few non-conformist ones exist as there was no compulsion for them to be kept as in churches. Some of my husband's family were buried in Trevethin and we've never been able to find them.

Lesleyann

Thanks for the info, Lesleyann. I think I'll avoid trying to follow up on Panteg Cemetery now that I've found some ancestors buried relatively late at Ebenezer... I suppose I'll continue to focus on little nonconformist churches like that until I run into another dead-end.

I've found doing research in Wales relatively difficult compared to the USA and Cornwall, my other two focuses. And it doesn't help that the family surnames I'm looking for in Wales are Smith, Jones, Jones, and Smith!

I know the feeling! I'm looking for Griffiths, Jenkins and Williams. They've moved the Gwent Record Office from Cwmbran and it's now a mile from where I live so if you need a look-up give a shout. I'll be there quite often!

Lesleyann

Hi Lesleyann I've just had a search done from Blaenau Gwent, took nearly a month for them to let me know the info, would only accept cheque for payment then as soon as they got the money they e-mailed the info (graves in Brynmawr and Blaina), search from Powys took 2 days and no cost
When in Wales in June I've promised myself a trip up to the new Record Office

I suppose I'm lucky enough to live near enough to go to the office with a burial query and I can pay my money over the counter. There is one lady who is very efficient and if she's on holiday I wait until she's back. If you need any more I can send you her name and phone number which is a direct line. Or, if you know the cemetery, I can go and look for you. Brynmawr cemetery is huge, though, so you really need to know the area you are looking in. If you have the grave locations and numbers I can always take some pics for you.
They charge £5 to go into the new record office so make a list of what you want before you go to get your money's worth.

Lesleyann

Thanks but I've got all the Lovett names from Brynmawr now, the ones we couldn't find must be in churchyards and many of those are overgrown or even disappeared now.
Didn't realise there was a charge for the Records office now, will certainly do a list