Researching the history of any family can reveal many secrets and what better place to do so than in the Library. Our collections and resources are packed full of information and secrets, ready to release the contents to those who are willing to do some digging. It is always a privilege to be asked to investigate the history of any Welsh star, and this time Scott Quinnell was the star.
As usual with any family history research, you never know where you will go or what you will discover. Scott was aware of some of his family history, the Quinnells' side being from Sussex and his mother's side from the Trimsaran area.
Usually the aim is to focus on research within Wales, but remember that resources within the Library enable us to research beyond Offa's Dyke. In the case of the Quinnell family it was research in the Sussex area, where free access to Findmypast within the Library was very useful.
'Grandpa Stan' was Scott’s hero and he was very emotional as I showed him the marriage report of Stan Quinnell to Beryl Nurse (his grandparents) in the Llanelli Star newspaper on 28 July 1945, where the names of many family members were noted.
By using online resources, which are available for free within the Library, it was possible to follow Stan Quinnell's family back to Robert Quinnell at the beginning of the nineteenth century. This was done by searching the 1939 Register, the 1921 census back to 1841, parish registers and newspapers.
Newspapers are full of information that very often cannot be found anywhere else - it was recorded that 'Grandpa Stan' was fined for riding a bicycle without lights; another time without insurance; the details of marriage and obituaries, naming everyone who was there and their relationship. Newspapers can be accessed online, original copies and on microfilm within the Library.
Why not try searching for some of your ancestors and see what you find? A good place to start would be https://newspapers.library.wales/
You can watch Cyfrinachau’r Llyfrgell on S4C Clic or BBC iPlayer.
Beryl Evans
Services and Engagement Manager
Category: Article