RootsChat.Com
Some Special Interests => Travelling People => Topic started by: cazzanne on Thursday 28 February 08 13:28 GMT (UK)
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My partner has challenged me to find his ancestors. He says I will not find many of them as they were travelling around the Dudley Bromsgrove, Droitwich areas with their fair. The surname is Townsend and apparently were well known around these areas. Can anyone help please I don't know where to start and hate to lose a challenge.
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Hi Cazzanne
We all love a challenge! Before we can search though, we need somewhere to start :)
Names , dates, any info you have would help. Hopefully your partner can tell you what he knows for sure.
deb ;D
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Hi Deb,
Father: Reginald John Townsend. Born May 1909 in Upton upon Severn Worcestershire. Died around 1967 in Andover Hampshire.
Mother: Florence Lucy Steele. Born 1913 in Andover died 2004 in Andover.
Maternal Grandparents: Rosemary ? Albert or Arthur Steele. Andover
That seems to be as far as I can go at the moment. The family did travel around with the fairground in the Worcestershire area.
Hope you can help
Cazzanne
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Birth Record for Florence Lucy Steele
Q1, 1913 Florence L Steele Mothers surname... HOAD or HOOD Andover vol 2c pg 465
the entry is difficult to read due to poor typewritter & heavy ink
Hope this is a start
Judi
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Birth Record for
Name: Reginald John Townsend
Year of Registration: 1909
Quarter of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep
District: Upton Upon Severn
County: Worcestershire
Volume: 6c
Regards Judi
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Hi Judi
Thank you for your help you have at least given me a lead to follow up for the maternal side.
My partner David has set the challenge as he says I will not be able to trace the paternal side of his family as they moved around so much. We shall see ;)
Carol
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Hi Carol
Do you know if there are any other children except Reginald John Townsend? born after him there are a couple also born in Upton that could give mothers surname?
Judi
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Hi Judi
David thinks there were some brothers. Ernest, Ronald and stanley although he is not sure about stanley
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Hi carol
can,t see anything that stands out with the brothers, the only way for sure to know parents is to order the birth record for Reginald John Townsend
That will give you both parents names & we can then back track to their marriage & then the census will take us back to 1841
Even if they moved about they should be on the census as most of the travellers sites & fairs were covered
Judi
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hi Carol and Judi
There seem to be 2 sisters for Florence Steele ...
Dorothy K Steele Sept q 1911
Mother's maiden name ;Head
Andover
Vera P Steele mar q 1920
mother's maiden name ;Head
Andover
it looks like Florence's mmn was Head as well , although as Judi says it is very unclear.
Does David know anymore on his paternal grandparents ... a name would be nice ;D
deb
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Hi Deb and Judi
I really am grateful for your help. Davids mother had quite a lot of sisters vera and dorothy were two of them so I can go on from there probably.
I will order a birth certificate for Reginald Townsend as it seems to be the only way I will find his mothers maiden name.
Again thank you for all your help
Cazzanne
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hi
Keep us updated ...hopefully we can help once you have his parents names.
deb :)
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Hi Cazzanne
I noted today that there's a book about West Country Townsend showmen on the Joyland Books site. You'll find details here:
www.joylandbooks.com/books_new/townsends.htm
Sharon
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Hi Sharon
Thank you for the information on the Townsends fairgrounds. I am going to buy one. I am not getting very far with my search at the moment so perhaps it will turn up some information.
Cazzanne
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Hi Sharon
The book 'Townsends - A showmans story' arrived today and has been quite helpful thank you for putting me onto it.
Cazzanne
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You're welcome. Glad it's useful.
Sharon