RIDLEY Family Bethnal Green - travelling showman

[gene-genie]

Hi
Does anyone have a connection to this family:

CENSUS 1851 
 Address: Grimsdale Yard, Saint Dunstan Stepney, Tower Hamlets ,Whitechapel,MDX
RIDLEY, Thomas Head Married   M 47    1804         Traveling Showman   Bethnal Green, MDX
RIDLEY, Mary    Wife    Married F    40    1811    Traveling Showman's Wife    Bethnal Green, MDX
RIDLEY, William  Son  u/m   M    20    1831    Traveling Showman's Son   Bethnal Green, MDX
RIDLEY, Alfred    Son  u/m   M    15    1836       All Bethnal Green
RIDLEY, John    Son    u/m   M    12    1839                    "
RIDLEY, Annetta  Dau    F    10    1841               "
RIDLEY, Henry    Son       M    2    1849                "
RIDLEY, George    Son       M    0 (2 MOS)    1851    Whitechapel,MDX

I believe this is the same man who was described as 'A Musician' on the baptism of his son Alfred in Southwark in 1835, and probably the same Thomas Ridley baptised in 14 August 1803 in St Mary Whitechapel - son of William and Mary Address 'roadside'.

The son John Ridley b 1838  Bethnal Green married Selina (?surname).   He was also a travelling showman.  I believe they had a daughter Mary, who in turn married James MATTHEWS (I am not sure where)  However, I do know that their daughter, Grace C Matthews born 1894 Sts Philip and Jacob Bristol,  married Frederick G GRANT in 1913.  Frederick was the son of James GRANT  b Cheltenham b. 1841 and Louisa DENNING b. Bristol 1851. Louisa is my 3x great aunt, the daughter of Wm Riddle DENNING and Mary Rice ADAMS of Bristol.

My mytsery is the  only Grace C Matthews I can find so far on the 1901 census born Bristol appears as follows:
CENSUS 1901
Address: 4, Van Manley Yard, Battersea
RIDLEY, John    Head    Married M    62    1839    Circus Showman   St Lukes, London    
RIDLEY, Selina    Wife    Married F    60    1841    Bethnal Green, London       
RIDLEY, Thomas  Son u/m   SingleM    40    1861  Circus Showman  Cavendish, Suffolk    
RIDLEY, William  Son       M    30    1871    Circus Showman Whitechapel, London   
RIDLEY, Nella    Dau u/m F    21    1880    Kingston, Surrey
RIDLEY, Emma    Dau u/m  F 19    1882    Windsor, Berkshire    
RIDLEY, Rhoda    Dau    F    16    1885    Bethnal Green, London    
MATTHEWS, Grace  Grand Dau     F 7    1894       Bristol    
JONES, Peter    Servant  Single   M    38  1863   Assistant Showman    New York British Subject

In 1911 just two years before her marriage, Grace is apprently at school  at 3 Alma Rd Clifton, Bristol.

I have not found this Ridley Family in 1861 or 1871, nor have I found a Mary Ridley yet (Graces' mother)  but in 1881 they are in Bethnal Green in a Caravan abd described as 'traveller/showman'.
1891 they are still working as showman,  Address:  Fair Ground, Red Cross Street, St Saviour Southwark.
I believe John Ridley died in 1904 and his wife Selina in 1906.

[gene-genie]

I believe I have found John and Selina's marriage:

1860  Mile End Old Church
John RIDLEY & Selina MANNING 

I have also found her Baptism:
MANNING female (unnamed)  St Luke  1841
As yet, I've not had much luck finding a Selina Manning on the Census before 1861 when she is a Ridley married to John.

See here for more on this family:
 http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=657353.new#new

[groom]

Does it give her parent's names on her baptism? How can you be sure that it is her?

There is a John Manning and his wife Jane who had two children baptised on 17 Apr 1841 at St Pancras, Camden. John's occupation is given as Showman.
The children were Selina Elizabeth Manning and Mara Ann Manning.

[gene-genie]

That would be the children of John Manning and Jane Tester (I think) 
It could be that Selina Elizabeth  baptised St Pancras Old Church could be mine,  espeically as John is a 'showman', but FindMyPast shows a baptism for an as yet unnamed female child in St Lukes  in 1841  (the right date, but it doesn't give parents names) and on each census bar 1901 where she gives a birthplace of Bethnal Green  (where all her children baptised), my Selina gives her birthplace as St Luke.  I suppose, getting the birth certificate is the only way to sort them out. 

[lee13lee]

Hi new to all this ,I'm also looking for Ridley family my grandmothers(Margaret Elizabeth Oneal ridley) father William Oneal ridley is listed as showman on her wedding certificate dated 1918 in Bristol have you came across any of these names 
Thanks hope this makes sense

[gene-genie]

Hi lee,

It would be helpful to know if you could tell me where Margaret Elizabeth Oneal Ridley was born, her mother's name and what her birth date was.  It is possible that you're related to my Ridleys as I have a William Ridley born 1870, for whom I have no marriage at the moment.

Although I have not come across the surname Oneal yet, I have found this and wonder if it seems familiar
Marriage:  William Ridley to Rosie O'Neal Dec Q 1902. Bath, Somerset  ref 5C  1167.

According to the 1911 Census this William Ridley was born in Bethnal  Green in 1874, while Rosie seems to have been born in Kidderminster Worcs in 1880. 

As your great grandfather was a showman I find it hard to believe there is not a link somewhere.

[lee13lee]

Hi
Can't find birth record for Margaret Elizabeth Oneal Riley ,her marriage certificate puts her birth 2 years earlier
(1898) she died 1983 in Bristol date of birth is listed on there as may 14th 1900,Im not sure but thought her mother was called rosene? As for William Oneal Riley have only just found out about him
Lee

[lee13lee]

Hi
Can't find birth record for Margaret Elizabeth Oneal Riley ,her marriage certificate puts her birth 2 years earlier
(1898) she died 1983 in Bristol date of birth is listed on there as may 14th 1900,Im not sure but thought her mother was called rosene? As for William Oneal Riley have only just found out about him
Lee

[Pinklady2708]

Hi gene-genie l do believe we are distant relations!! I think it is interesting to see that on John & Selina's marriage cert it is witnessed by Mary Grant there must have been a family connection long before Their great granddaughter Grace married Frederick Grant?  See my previous post for my family connection. I want to discover more!!!!