Genealogy Chat

Hi, I am looking for any information on John Kearns. I think he came from Ireland at the beginning of the 1800s and he married Elizabeth Griffin in Stafford in 1835. Occupation "Hawker". I have never found him on any record or census since apart from listed on his sons marriage certificate as "Traveller". If anyone finds anything I would be delighted! C

Hi just found this board ,, I have found in my family history search many were travellers,hawkers .dealers with some romanygypsy connections I am interested in Whatnell's and variants with links to Boswell -Lee-Heron-Smith yvonne

From the romany families that I have known I would guess that research would be best done without too much reference to the gorjio way. the families that are still coherent seem to have a phenomenal spoken tradition of family history (unfortunately this will mean suspending rigour in favour of a good tale, but thats often why we do this genealogy thing anyway). there are a good number of romany websites. the patrin is a good starting place http://www.geocities.com/Paris/5121/patrin.htm it has links to many international sites. there is a fairly substantial u.s. romany comunity that are very web literate (and often outrageously rom-christian) try to engage with someone in chat rooms who is prepared to ask her/his relatives about who they knew. dont forget that as travelers it is not too far out of living memory when they would have been in comunication with the european families, perhaps meeting at fairs and cutting across national boundaries with a shared language.

Hi Sandra I have replied to you direct as there is also a Lavinia Smith in my traveller family.

actually it was me not my husband that added the above!!!

Hi .My family on my Mum's side apparently were Rom. My Grandad was a Smith. My Grandmother was a Georgina Birchall..I think that is how it was spelt. They were distantly related. My Gran told me the families finally settled in Reading. Some of the family were drowned in the Reading Floods. My Mum wanted to call me Lavinia,a family name? but Gran objected and I was called Sandra instead...a pity because I much prefer Lavinia. As children we were taught many things which I have learnt were the Rom way of doing things. The family were from Berkshire but I know nothing else about them .One thing my Gran taught me was how to cook hedgehog!!!!!!something I have never done...I would love to learn more about the Smiths or Birchalls.

I'm looking for Parkers Shropshire, my grandfather said that his uncle was a gypsy or lived with gypsy's, he was a horse dealer, not having much luck as i don't have a first name so i'm having to trace all males that i find for a connection. Could it be a gypsy surname? Can only find traces for Boswell's , Lee's etc . Paula

Hi all, I have come across a wonderful photo of a family of "gipsies" in a Somerset country lane - c1890. I am happy to scan copies if anyone would like it - please email me direct with your addy. Sue

I have some ancestors called ROMAINE can anyone tell me if this is a Romany name please?

Christina, is there any possibility he wasn't Romany at all but people thought he was? The name Reuben Golding sounds as if it is likely to be Jewish. Mind you I didn't think Ellis was a Romany name either so it's not to say that he couldn't be - it may just be another possible avenue to explore.

my grand mother was Mary ann Robinson and we were led to believe her family were Romany. on the marrieage certificate no father is listed. She may of course have been illegitimate. The family seem to think that she was cut off from her family for marrying out. Anyone know of a Robinson family

Elaine, I would go for the salesman unless you can't find anything else!! My g Grandfather was a 'journeyman' - which meant he worked for someone else !!! maggie

Thanks Tracie, have got a bit side tracked lately. Info very much appreciated. Christine

Hi Christine, You were looking for Frankum in Tadley and I came across this one, are they yours? or do you have this already? 1881 Census, Tadley Moses FRANKEUN Head W Male 65 Wooton Basket Maker Arthur FRANKEUN Son U Male 19 Wooton Labourer Rachel COX House Keeper Female 46 Crundel Housekeeper (Dom) Mary COX House Keeper Daur Female 14 Brandean George COX House Keeper Son Male 12 Woodmancut

Hello all, I have travellers in my tree, but don't know much about them. My grandmother was Lily Clark or Clarke from Derby. She married my grandfather Elijah Elsmore around 1923 in Derby. Lily died a few days after my Mum (also Lily) was born in 1923. They were a big family who lived in Caravans along the River. Elijah remarried to a irish lady by the name of Rackham soon after. Any info on thesenames would be very helpful. regards Jenny

Hi Lin I have come across some Light's in Hampshire, let me know who you are looking for by sending me an e-mail (click on my name) and I can send you the census copies. Tracie

Jackie, There are a lot of 'Wells's' in the New Forest - ex travellers, settled in houses in the 1940's - 1960's. maggie

Hi, I haven't come across Hendra yet, but will check some of my records, Did you know that Scott was a traveller family name?

My nan told me that her side of the family were Romany's by the name of Hendra, something that (when she was alive) she was very proud of. I realise that they may have come from cornwall but I started in Surrey(Long Ditton near Kingston upon thames to be exact) and the only hendra I know Is her mum was called amelia Kate Hendra who died in Long Ditton, any help please?

i have gypsy in my family from my nan whose maiden name was Lee. We have dark hair,skin and eyes and i have been mistaken for being mixed race i love it when people try to work out where we come from and my mum and cousin can speak romany.