RootsChat.Com
Some Special Interests => Travelling People => Topic started by: leonab on Sunday 24 February 13 22:32 GMT (UK)
-
James Norman was my great grandfather and on the censuses I have found he states he was born in Swansea in 1841. I have not found any birth records for him. At the end of his life he was a travelling showman and over the years had been involved with a company called Sequah and had travelling freak shows. He was greatly involved with the Showman's Guild and they erected a large monument to him in CHadderton cemetery and there are several obituaries in the Worlds Fair of 1914 to him and the details of a large funeral. His children did not continue as travelling showpeople. I am not convinced that he began life as a showman but I think he had brothers and sisters and that his nieces and nephews were showmen and women. If anyone can give me any details of his family I would be very grateful as all his children are now dead and as often is the case I have no-one to ask about him. I have plenty of information about his second wife with whome he had the children James Norman, Patrick Norman (died 1921 in Oldham and was engaged to a Granelli) Leonora Norman, Matilda Norman and Florence norman.
-
James Norman was my great grandfather and on the censuses I have found he states he was born in Swansea in 1914.
Hello and welcome to RootsChat
Are you certain you have the correct y.o.b. for James????
Or have you given his death year as birth year??
Suz
-
Hi and welcome from me too
Could he have been born a few years earlier than 1841? There is this birth on freebmd
James Norman December qtr 1838 Swansea Volume 26 Page 417
-
Do you have a copy of James Norman's marriage certificate showing his fathers name
The 1841 census for the James born 1838 shows his parents as Robert (occ mariner) and Catherine - neither were born in Glamorgan
There is a younger brother John aged 10mths
Could this be the right entry?
Piece 1426/6/21/33
EDIT
I think the above James Norman died in 1842 as Robert & Catherine have another son James aged 17 in 1871
-
Did he marry Emma Jane Ward in Norfolk in 1891?
-
Yes I do have his second marriage certificate. Father was William Norman deceased - French Polisher.
-
Just in case you can't find him in 1901 - he was in Ireland and one of Henrietta's sisters is with them
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Antrim/Duncairn_Ward/Craigavad_Street/957698/
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai000312056/
Florence and James are not shown with them but Patrick is and also another daughter Matilda who appears to have been born in Nantwich
Births September qtr 1898
Matilda Norman Nantwich 8a 340
They had another daughter Leonora whilst in Ireland born 1901/2
He's quite elusive on very early census entries
-
Thank you. Yes I had found him in Ireland and in 1911 in Manchester. I would love to find parents and siblings though. I suppose it happens to everyone but it is usually later up the tree. Where is reply on this setup. I am having dreadful trouble finding it - have just used quick reply. You are very good looking like this. I suppose I was hoping for cousins to respond lol
-
Did you get the reply I sent this morning :)
-
Hi
Yes I did - I have just spent the past hour or so trying to find him in 1841 and 1851 but he remains elusive. There is no 1841 entry for a William Norman french polisher who was old enough to be his father.
What I have (possibly) found is that Rhoda was probably Rhoda Snoswell parents James & Matilda and the reason they perhaps never married is that she married in Kent in 1861 to either Ambrose Collard or George Brown.
I can't find an 1871/1881 entry for either of those males with a wife Rhoda and can't find a death for Rhoda Collard or Brown between 1861-1871
-
Thanks carole for looking all those up. :) I am not sure it is her though. :-\ If there is ever anything I can try to look up for you just say.
-
There is a baptism of a James Clerk NORMAN at Swansea St John in 1839
-
Hi
I have only just read this post. My Gandma was Florence Norman, James's Daughter.
I don't know a great deal about the Family but can find out more from my Dad. It would be good to share information.
-
Hi My Great grandfather was James Norman and he was your 2x great grandfather. I am the granddaughter of his son James, the brother of Florence who I knew as Aunty Flo. I met her a few times in Shropshire. Have you a tree on Ancestry so we can share information. I think I may have been in contact with your Dad a couple of years ago. His funeral report in the Worlds Fair mentions nephews and nieces but I cannot find any brothers or sisters or parents - it has been my brickwall for years. Do you know the names of any?
Leona
-
Hi Leona
It's really nice to have found you! I don't have a Family Tree on Ancestry yet as I have literally just started this today! I will start to build one. Where do you live? I live in Shropshire, near Shrewsbury.
Kind Regards
Jane
-
Hi Jane
I am glad to meet you. I was Leona Norman before I married. I just looked at my tree and tried to work out whose daughter you were but I failed and don't seem to have you down - there was I thinking I had all the martins, Englands etc. I do have a harry turner married to Florence England but I only have a son down - Kenneth. What is your place on the tree. We will have to exchange email addresses because it is silly for cousins to be putting everything on here for all to see. I am not sure how to private message on here but will investigate. Ask your Dad about the old James Norman's brothers etc will you? I live in Needingworth Cambridgeshire. One of your other cousins lives in Shropshire, also called jane.
-
Hi Leona
This is so interesting! My Dad is "Kenneth Pete" Son of Harry and Florence. He never uses the name Kenneth and is known as Pete. I also have a Sister called Lisa. My Mother is Joyce Ellen Turner (nee Mapp).
I will ask him about old James Norman brothers. I will see him tomorrow so will let you know next week.
I look forward to chatting to you again soon!
Kind Regards
Jane
-
Hi Jane and welcome to RootsChat...you will need to remove your email address as it is against RootsChat privacy policy to prevent spamming...you do this by using the modify button on the right...edit yout email out and save.
Added...now done
Carol
-
Hi Leona
Where can i find a copy of his Funeral report in Worlds Fair? I have tried to google it but can't find it.
Thanks
Jane
-
Check your emails jane
-
Hello.
Do you know if your Norman family had any recent connections to the Medway area of Kent?The reason I ask is my sisters ex,the father of my 2 nephews was a Norman from Rainham,hes 48 now so I cant give his name.I haven't done much research on his family,but I do remember him saying his grandfather was a Patrick "Paddy" Norman who came over from Ireland.I also remember him saying Paddys family weren't originally from Ireland,but he worked there then came back.Seeing as you've mentioned a Ptrick,and an Irish/Kent link,it just made me wonder.
Nel.
-
Hi Leona/Jane
I am Patrick Martin cousin to Pete Turner (Kenneth Pete Turner). Just to clarify
Pete's mum was Florence Nanette England (known to my family as Nanette), her mum was Florence England (nee Norman) my grandma Flo (later married to Jim Hawkins) She was one of James Norman (1841-1914) daughters.
Leona we had contact a few years ago great to see all the info you have put on Ancestry about James.