I am trying to find any insight/information about my great grandmother, Sarah Elizabeth Burrows, born around 1887-1890, possibly in Pontypool, Monmouthshire, Wales. Died in the Coed e Gric / Griffithstown poor house in 1953. She was Roma, and had two daughters: my grandmother Dinah Burrows, b. 1908, Pontypool – d. 1998 San Francisco, CA; and her (half) sister Sarah Elizabeth (Sally) Burrows, b. 1910, Pontypool - d. 1935, Los Angeles, CA.
The two daughters identified themselves as Roma, although there is little detail about that. I am aware that there was a Romani encampment outside Pontypool around the time of her birth. My grandmother and her sister each emigrated to the US in 1929 and 1930, in part to get away from the maltreatment of Roma in England.
I have tried everything I know to figure out Sarah Elizabeth’s family of origin. My mother speculated possibly Scotland, because they used to receive (dictated) letters from her, and some of them referred to “wee little ones”.
My grandmother Dinah had a deep distrust and dislike of authorities, which lasted her entire life. She refused to answer anything about her family, other than to equate anti-Gipsy discrimination as somewhat like the treatment of African Americans in the US. However, my mother, Diana Elizabeth Burrows (b. 1929, St. Giles, London) described my Grandma Dinah in terms of what my mom called Roma culture: frequent moves; never turning away someone who knocked on her door for food, no matter how little there was; handcrafting skills; not accumulating possessions; and several key moments when she demonstrated that she had second sight, or deep intuition, about family members. (Their description, not mine.)
• DNA appears to indicate a relationship with Stanleys, and Coopers. Possible source of Burrows surname from Berrows/Burrows, Matthews/Mathews, Couzens, however they seem pretty settled out.
• One person, Allen Burrows, would be a possible link among the families.
• Per electoral registers, Allen Burrows lived together with Dahlia/Daylia Stanley after her children with William Rose were born. However, Sarah Elizabeth was born before Dahlia’s children with William Rose. And, depending on the actual birth year, Dahlia may have been pretty young to have children when Sarah Elizabeth was born.
Thoughts? Insights? I am comfortable knowing that women traditionally have had to live by whatever means they could, so no need to dance around that topic. But I’m hoping that someone might have something to share.
I posted a similar question on the Digger Stanley board, which I hope is ok to have done. I’d appreciate any feedback at all that might help break through the proverbial brick wall!
Jan