Genealogy Chat

I thought it might be an idea to list all the Travellers/Romany’s we are looking for, and then if anyone comes across them when you are searching census records etc, we can swap details. They could be listed as Travellers, Green Gathers, Licensed Hawkers, labourers, etc.

I am looking for various Doe and Pike families. They were manly based in Hampshire and Berkshire and date wise from 1700-1960 The main names are… DOE MEN Job, Francis, Freedom, James, Charles, William, WOMEN Jane, Ocean, Mercy, Patience, Sanfoin, Amelia, Kate, Binah PIKE MEN Noah, Neptune, Nipton, Nelson, Liberty, Leonard, Sylvanus, Jabez, Henry WOMEN Patience, Charity, Lavinia, Binah, Nainers, Fainette, Britannia, Honnor Also Smith - Lavinia, Jacob Welch - Britannia Curtis - Kibby, Doddie, Tuppence,

So far, I also have these traveller families with my Doe’s and Pike’s I have FRANKHAM’s, BUCKLAND’s and SCOTT’s with the Pike’s in Woodcote 1891 Census I have JEFFs with the Doe’s in Holdenhurst 1891 Census I have SHERWOOD’s, PIDGELY’s, LIGHT’s and COOPER’s with the Doe’s in Holdenhurst 1901 census

Robert TOWNSLEY/TOWNSEND, travelling Tinsmith,born C 1802, somewhere in Scotland!!! Died Old Monkland Poorhouse, Lanark 1882 Married Matlida STEWART Children Robert born 1829 Maybole Ayrshire and Alexander 1837, Arran Bute.

My Daughter dated a lad who was a Romany - Traveler etc. Herts surname Spires, but I think they came from Lincs. Nice lad, but I'd want him on my side in a ruck!

Swales Forrest was a cutlery grinder/chimney sweep/hawker. His connections that I know of are Stockton on Tees,Newcastle upon Tyne and Gateshead. He died at Vincent Street Newcastle upon Tyne in 1929 aged 94. His children that I know of were Daniel, Mary Jane, Margaret Ann, Louise, Bridget, Swales alias Henry Cox and Ada. Their mother shows as Jane Forrest nee Cox on their birth certs but I've never found a marriage to Swales. They also went by the name Campbell from about 1880 to 1910.plus I've never come across them in any census.

I'd like to trace my Ellis ancestors further back. They are thought to have been Romanies or at least leading a travelling life during the 19th century - they had occupations like hawker, greyhound trainer etc. They seem to have been based around Dorset and Berkshire (would love to know more background detail about Romany life in Berkshire if you have any Tracie). At the end of the 19th century they came to Croydon and another branch went up to Sheffield. I would really like to trace them further back - the furthest we have so far is John Ellis, born Binnegar, Dorset or Binegar, Somerset around 1789 (census says the latter but there was no Somerset connection before). Unfortunately, the Somerset parish records are lost for that time/place so I'm hoping he was really from Dorset, not sure how I can ever be certain though.

Don't know if this is helpful to any of you but the is a Romany & Traveller Family History Society Open Day Saturday 23 October 2004 Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church Hall, 338 Wokingham Road, Earley, Reading, RG6 7DA Also try this site http://website.lineone.net/~rtfhs/ Christine

Frankum ( and variations) Tadley and surrounding areas. Penton in Tadley and surrounding areas.

Looking for the Light family in Hampshire or IOW Lin

Christine, I have some details of Frankham in 1891 in Woodcote, could they be yours? Family - Fredrick and Brittannia, Lebe, Deveral, Elisha Family - William and Susan, Mary, Elisha, William There are also some Frankum's on this web site www*pamberheatharchives*org*uk

im looking for wells.some of my relitives are doing family trees and said my dads family came from india.but im not having any luck finding any thing

Jackie It is believed that all Romany travellers come from India, but we are talking about a thousand years ago!

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.

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?

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?

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 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

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 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