1890. 1890 100079 1870-1880 8769 11.77 The following Table, marked C, gives the number of Welsh people born in Wales who are residents of some of the principal cities in the United States, according to the Census Reports for 1860, 1870, 1880 TABLE C. and 1860 1870 1880 1890 895 584 929 965 Camden, N. J.. Charleston, Mass. Grand Rapids. Springfield, Mich.. Manchester, N. H. Hoboken, N. J. Troy, N. Y. 142 96 Lawrence, Mass.. Reading, Pa CITIES. New York.. Chicago. 583 CENSUS REPORts of the WELSH POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES. 11 24 Dubuque, Ia.. Terre Haute, Ind. Chattanooga, Tenn Galveston, Tex... Haverhill, Mass.. Brockton, Mass... 52 11 11 16 19 47 15 3 15 226 135 1860 1870 1880 1890 cultural districts, the number of American-born Welsh greatly exceed 15 those born in Wales. In other settle13 ments, however, the great majority 70 are recent arrivals from Wales. Hence it is very difficult to form a satisfactory estimate for the country in general. Another difficnlty arises from diver gent, and frequently from confused. and indefinite views concerning the conditions and limitations which con32 stitute the Welsh people as a distinct 24 nationality among others comprising the great American nation. What conditions of birth, what degrees of 3 descent, what form of speech, what 5 associations of life, what are the characteristics which bind Welsh people together in America and distinguish them from others. Must a person be able to speak the Welsh language? Should the distinction be confined to 26 those born of Welsh parents and 8 grand-parents, or should it be applied 37 also to those who are more remotely descendants of Welsh people? It is evident that our views on such questions will greatly modify any estimate or calculation of the number of Welsh people in the country. 13 11 10 18 22 21 4 25 The above tables give only the number of Welsh people in this country who have been born in Wales. But no account is given of the Welsh people who have been born in America. Although Welsh by nationality and largely by language, they are enumerated in each census as native Americans. Hence there are no of ficial or reliable data for computing the number of American-born Welsh people. For this reason the number of such persons is a mooted question. Estimates are frequently made at random and for various purposes. Many of them, however, prove unsatisfactory. The difficulty is increased also by the variety of conditions and elements which enter into the question. For instance, the relative proportion of natives of Wales and of America differs greatly in various settlements. In the older Welsh settlements, and especially in agri There are some who would confine Welsh nationality within the narrow limits of the Welsh language. Language, however, by itself is no real criterion of nationality. People may and do change their languages, but remain the same in blood, in physical features, in feeling of kinship and in national characteristics. The Cornish, Scotch and Irish people have given up their own languages and adopted English. On the other hand, children of English, Irish, French. Italian and Jewish parents residing in Wales speak Welsh fluently and identify themselves with national movements without becoming in any real sense Welsh people. Welsh speech, tberefore, is not a proper test of Welsh nationality. There are many people. in Wales and in America, thoroughly Welsh by birth and lineage, and by national sympathy and characteristics, but who cannot understand or speak the Welsh language. If the limits of the Welsh language be too narrow, where then should the line be drawn? Are there any limits beyond which the Welsh people as such lose their identity? There are many in this country descended from more or less remote Welsh ancestry, who do not regard themselves as Welsh people. They have Welsh blood in their veins but otherwise they do not acknowledge or identify themselves with Welsh na tionality. Many of this class have lost all knowledge of their Welsh lineage and identity as well as all national sympathy and characteristics. Although descended from Welsh ancestors and inheriting Welsh blood, these evidently cannot be rightly classified as Welsh people. identify themselves as Welsh people. 4. Welsh descendants, or those who have descended from remote Welsh ancestry and have lost their Welsh lineage and identity. There being no data for computing the number of Welsh people and their descendants born in America, any estimate must, of necessity, be merely tentative and a matter of opinion. Statistics of the Welsh churches furnish no satisfactory basis, and no statement would be complete and reliable without full consideration of the birth and death rates and the number and influence of mixed marriages and other uncertain elements. It is with some hesitation therefore that we offer the following estimate. It may serve, however, to give a general idea of the Welsh population in America. According to our best judgment and knowledge, we are inclined to believe that the number of American-born Welsh is about twice the number of British-born Welsh in the United States, and that the Welsh descendants would add another 100,000 to the number. If this ratio or proportion between them be nearly right, we should therefore in round numbers have the following: Between these extremes-the narrow limits of the Welsh language on one hand, and the loss of Welsh lineage and identity on the other, there is another class of Welsh natives of America. It includes those who are born of Welsh parents and grandparents, and some who are direct descendants of more remote Welsh ancestors, although not versed in the Welsh language. They feel bound together by ties of lineage, 1. and of national sympathy and characteristics, and identify themselves with the Welsh people and their institutions. For the sake of convenience may designate these several we classes as TABLE D. THE TOTAL WELSH POPULATION OF AMERICA. British-born Welsh. 2. Welsh-American. 3. Cambro-American.. 4. Welsh Descendants. .100,079 50,000 .150 000 .100,000 Total Welsh People and Descendants 400,079 This estimate, though lower than some which have been published at 1. British-born Welsh, or Welsh various times, somewhat exceeds that born in Wales. 2. Welsh-American, or'American born Welsh who speak the Welsh language. 3. Cambro-American, or American born Welsh and their descendants, not versed in the Welsh language, but of others, and among them the estimate made by the late Rev. R. D. Thomas (Iorthyn Gwynedd) and published in his book, "Hanes Cymry America" (1871), ("The History of the Welsh in America"). Rev. Mr. Thomas CENSUS REPORTS OF THE WELSH POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES. 137 was familiar with the Welsh settle ments at that time, had given much thoughtful attention to the subject, and his opinion should have great weight and influence. Allowing, how ever, for the rate of increase and for the various classes of Welsh people, the difference between them becomes very slight. It will be observed that the Welsh population in America has increased between 1850 and 1890 more than three-fald. In this connection it may be interesting to notice also that the population in Wales has increased about one-third during the same period, as will be seen from the following: was 1861, 66 66 66 66 66 66 in the professions, in the arts and sciences, and in the various industries and manufactures of the country, and some of our people have been honored with high political offices, which they have invariably filled with conspicuous ability. We may mention also in this connection that the four nonconformist religious denominations in Wales, the Calvinistic Methodists (Welsh Presbyterian), the Congregational, the Baptist and the Wesleyan (the Methodist Episcopal), are largely represented in the Welsh churches of America. Unfortunately, no complete statistical reports of membership are published except by the C. M. In 1851, the population of Wales denomination. The following com1,005,721 putation, however, of their relative 1,111,780 strength may be of service in giving 1,217,135 a general idea of the distribution of 1881, 1,360,513 the Welsh population among them. 1891, 1,501,034 It is based partly on statistical and From the census report for 1890, Diary reports, and partly on estimates we observe that the Welsh people are by persons who are qualified to form scattered largely through the coun- a reasonably correct idea of their nutry. But the great majority of them merical strength. It will be observed are settled in the North Atlantic, that there are no Welsh Episcopal North Central and Western Divisions, churches in America, which clearly and principally in the States of New shows the position of that church York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, among the Welsh people. Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas, ESTIMATE OF THE VARIOUS WELSH DEColorado, Utah, Washington and CalNOMINATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES. ifornia. In these States the Welsh people have strong colonies or settlements, and have established societies and churches, so as to secure nearly the same social and religious advantages that they enjoyed in Wales. They support two Welsh weekly papers. and three religious Welsh monthlies, and the CAMBRIAN as an English national magazine. And at stated iutervals they hold their literary and musical competitions just as in the mother country. A large number among them also have advanced themselves to positions of wealth, honor and influence Total members, adher. Denominations. Ch's. Members. & childr'n 185 12,000 25,000 5 600 1.200 180 12,000 25,000 Calvinist. Meth. Total, 63 4,500 9,500 800 438 29,500 61,500 We may assume that one-third at least of the Welsh people born in America speak the Welsh language, and are associated with the Welsh churches. These added to those born in Wales, we should have about 150,000 per |