Boat people, Tonks family

[Lesley54]

Hi, I’m trying to find my grandmothers paternal ancestors and I believe her great grandfather was one John Tonks, I believe he married an Martha Smith and Nancy Howe, he was possibly married three times.

Thank you

[groom]

Welcome to Rootschat.

So that we can try and help please can you give us a few more details. Roughly what date of birth are we talking about and do you know where he was born or married?

[groom]

Is this one of his marriages? From Freebmd

Marriages Mar 1881
 
Howe    Nancy       
Tonks    John       
Stone    6b   57

[groom]

1881 census

RG11; Piece: 2670; Folio: 25; Page: 43
Grindley Brook (Canal Boat)
Whitchurch
Shropshire

John Tonks   23        Boatman (barge)          Wolverhampton, Staffordshire
Nancy Tonks   30                                           Wolverhampton, Staffordshire
Matilda Howe   9                                             Wolverhampton, Staffordshire
Richard Howe   7                                             Wolverhampton, Staffordshire

[groom]

If his age and POB are correct there, this could be his birth (from the General Register Office site)

TONKS, JOHN   mmn    FULLWOOD     
1859  S Quarter
WOLVERHAMPTON 
Volume 06B  Page 485

[ciderdrinker]

Hi
Marriage 26 Feb 1881 Stone
John Tonks 23 boatman Stone s of William boatman
Nancy Howe  31 widow d of James Plant labourer
wit Charles Stevens and Elizabeth Ann Evans

1881 Grindley Brook  Whitchurch
John Tonks 23 boat man Wolverhampton
Nancy  30 wolverhampton
Matilda Howe 9 Wolverhampton
Richard Howe 7 Wolverhampton

1891 Oak St Odd Rode Chester
John Tonks  28 boatman Penkridge
Martha 22 Eturia
Nancy 9 Oldbury
Selina 3 Thurlwood Cheshire.

1901 Rode Heath boat Italy
John 44 Captain brierly Hill
Martha 35 Eturia
John 2 Middlewich Cheshire.

1911 gives a new wife Rachel  Drone who he married in Congleton June 1907.She was a widow d of Samuel Simms.(only got familysearch transcript but John's father is again William).

2nd marriage 14 Feb 1887
John Tonks 26 widower boatman Middlewich s of William boatman  and
 Martha Smith 18  Newton d of Thomas Smith boatman  in Cheshire Middlewich

The birth you found is at Bilston ,bapt Holy Trinity RC Bilston 4 Sep 1859
John Tonks to William and Jane nee Fullard.
Again i can't see the whole thing.

1871 Alphraham lock Cheshire
William Tonks 30 boat man Birchwood staffs
Eliza 28  West Bromwich
John 12 assistant Staffordshire
Jemmima 6  same
Mary 5 Lancs
Emma 1 Worcester

1861 High St Kingswinford
William 21 boatman Kingswinford
Sleany/Nancy 24
John  2 Kingswinford

Ciderdrinker
Ciderdrinker

[Lesley54]

Sorry it's taken a time to reply, Nancy How, I have since found out is mother to a daughter who is also named Nancy and it's the daughter who is my grandmother's mother...does that make sense.
You have confirmed what I have recently discovered and I am so greatfull.
You might be interested in the reason for my late reply, I have always been interested in our canal system and so decided to volunteer at the Canal & River Trust maybe my history is the reason for my interest in the canals

[jane harrison]

Sorry it's taken a time to reply, Nancy How, I have since found out is mother to a daughter who is also named Nancy and it's the daughter who is my grandmother's mother...does that make sense.
You have confirmed what I have recently discovered and I am so greatfull.
You might be interested in the reason for my late reply, I have always been interested in our canal system and so decided to volunteer at the Canal & River Trust maybe my history is the reason for my interest in the canals

lots of info on google just google Tonks canal boatmen SORRYfor some reason this thread wont let me attatch the info i have on your Tonks

[jane harrison]

Sorry it's taken a time to reply, Nancy How, I have since found out is mother to a daughter who is also named Nancy and it's the daughter who is my grandmother's mother...does that make sense.
You have confirmed what I have recently discovered and I am so greatfull.
You might be interested in the reason for my late reply, I have always been interested in our canal system and so decided to volunteer at the Canal & River Trust maybe my history is the reason for my interest in the canals

lots of info on google just google Tonks canal boatmen SORRYfor some reason this thread wont let me attatch the info i have on your Tonks