helena boswell

[nelwild]

Many thanks for that Heywood,ill post again when the certs arrive,Nel.

[vince smith]

Hello Nelwild.

The Lavina and Mary to whom you refer are my Grt Grandparents. The Helena on that census, is i believe, the daughter of Guilroy and Honora.
Lavina's only daughter at the time was my Grandad's sister Rhoda.

I only know of Guilroy's family through Romany Genes.  None of lavina's family moved to kent.  Most of Lavina and Mary (Polly)'s family finished up in the West Midlands.

Vince. 

[nelwild]

Hello Vince,

many thanks for the reply.

The 1901 census has Guilderoy as head.Near the bottom of the list of family is Lavina,described as Gilderoys nephew,his wife and daughter Rhoda.

Below them at the very bottom is Lily and Helena,described as Gilderoys grand-daughters.So just looking at the page its impossible to say which of Gilderoys children are the parent/s.

Ive corresponded with a contact on GenesReunited who has an Helena Boswell in her tree,hers is also born 1900,but birthplace given as London.
Her first reply confirmed that Helena married Benjamin,and the ceremony was probably in Blean.
In her second reply she says she doesnt think that Helena can be connected to me because she was adopted as a baby,and Boswell was her adoptive name.
Although she was probably brought up in Kent,she thinks she was born in London.
So all very vague,its difficult to know what to think.

Its quite co-incidental that both Helenas are born 1900,making her quite a young bride in the first 1916 marriage.

Did travelling families ever adopt babies and raise them as their own?

Ill send for both these certs to see what they reveal,

Nel.

[heywood]

Hi Nel,

I think I have missed this - how do you know she was born 1900?

heywood

[nelwild]

Hello Heywood,

sorry ive confused it a bit.

What i meant was the Helena im looking at and the one this contact has were both born 1900,only she says she thinks hers was born London.

Im just trying to clarify how much she knows about her Helena thats definately confirmed,as her first post seemed to suggest she married Benjamin and it might have been Blean.
Ive asked if shell open her tree but still awaiting a response,

Nel.

[vince smith]

Hello Nel,

It has always been extremely common for Romanichal to adopt non Gypsy children and bring them up as their own. 

Also there are well established Boswell famlies living in Kent and essex today and have done so since living memory.

Vince.

[nelwild]

Vince,

many thanks,i thought that was the case,historically.

When i was growing up my parents were friendly with a lovely Romany Lady who used to foster and adopt children,she was very well respected in the road where we lived.
My Dad used to drive her and some of the kids down to Camber Sands some years for a holiday.
Also,in the Kent town where i grew up there was a Boswell family i was friendly with who i believe were of Rom decsent.

Thanks again for the help and advice,im going to send for these certs to satisfy my curiosity,

Nel.

[heywood]

Hi Nel,
on Ancestry world wide tree someone has her as Helena Clara May as a surname. However, I have looked for this too with no result.

heywood

[nelwild]

Many thanks for that Heywood.

My contact on GR seems to think she was raised in Whitstable,but theres nothing on the 1911 for Boswell or May.

Im hoping the marriage certs will reveal more,im very intrigued by it taking place twice,itll be intresting to see why.

Ill let you know when i get it,

regards,

Nel.