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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Lincolnshire => England => Lincolnshire Lookup Requests => Topic started by: Kentartertons on Wednesday 18 October 17 22:50 BST (UK)
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I'm trying to trace Major Smith b1780 approx and his wife Mary. They had a son Charles Augustus Smith b1803 approx in Lincolnshire. Baptised in Stamford in 1803. The only reference I've found is a small piece on Genes Reunited and online. A gypsy family Major Boswell and his wife Mary attended the same baptism. Many thanks for any information.
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This could be the same Major Boswell
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M7ZD-CTZ
What is doesn't say - Residing in a Caravan on a Field, High Street, Willenhall, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire and Mary's birth was Graves End, Kent.
A person of that name was buried in Dresden, Staffordshire, on 21st May 1870 aged 108.
The Ashton Weekly Reporter, and Stalybridge and Dukinfield Chronicle 28 May 1870 and several other papers
DEATH OF A PATRIARCHAL GIPSY.
"Major Boswell, who for the last seven years has made a tent on the Stone Road, died on Sunday at the advanced age of 108 years. etc etc"
David
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I imageine that you had seen everything about the Boswells but there is this one in the same county as his possible marriage in 1798:
Leicester Chronicle 11th March 1837
A Mary Linion, Alfred Edingal and Major Boswell, gipsies were indicted for fraudulently obtaining half-a-dozen silver tea spoons from a Mr Shepherd of Barrow-upon Soar but the case was not brought to court.
David
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Thanks David for the quick reply.
I'm actually trying to trace Major Smith who was married to Mary (don't know her maiden name) they had a son Charles Augustus Smith and it was at Charles baptism that the Boswells were present. It's the only evidence I've got of my great x5 grandfather's birth.
I can't trace his parent Major and Mary Smith... wonder if they were one and the same with the Boswells?
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I'm actually trying to trace Major Smith who was married to Mary (don't know her maiden name) they had a son Charles Augustus Smith and it was at Charles baptism that the Boswells were present. It's the only evidence I've got of my great x5 grandfather's birth.
I can't trace his parent Major and Mary Smith... wonder if they were one and the same with the Boswells?
Where was this information stated :-\
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The 1803 Baptism is on Anc. but no image to check witnesses.
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Familysearch.Org has this christening;
ALFRED Boswell, 7 March 1819, Rauceby, Lincolnshire to MAJOR/MARY
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Charles Augustus Smith was the only child baptised that day, 27 June 1803 at Stamford St Michael. His father was listed as a tin plate worker.
How do you know the Boswell's were present at the baptism?
There are no witnesses listed on the baptism, very rare for any on Church of England baptisms.
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There are four baptisms to Major and Mary Smith at Peterborough St John - Mary Ann (3 Nov 1805), Elizabeth (9 Nov 1808), Thomas (8 Sep 1809) and Elizabeth (12 Sep 1812). The first Elizabeth was buried there 6 Jun 1810 and they also had a son William buried there 24 Apr 1807.
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I noticed that Charles settled in the area near Peterborough - Sawtry and Whittlesea - and married in Farcet - https://www.freereg.org.uk/search_records/5817e48ce93790eb7fc03cbb?search_id=59e8c6b8f4040b1c49f55a95&ucf=false
I imagine his father was buried in the area which, if it can be found, might help with a birth date.
There were earlier Major Smiths in Stamford but but I can't find one for Charles's father.
David
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Thanks everyone so far. I found the Boswells reference on georgianera.wordpress.com searched under major Smith.
Very difficult tracing this branch as there were no records kept in the family of any names. Impressed I'd got this far back so thank you all again. Looks like major Smith was a popular name in the late 1600s and 1700s in this part of the country.
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Hi my GGG grandfather was actually Charles Augustus Smith, and I too saw it on Georgiana press which had an article called gypsy romance all about Major and Mary Boswell, I contacted the author and she said they were quite sure that Major and Mary Smith were one and same as Boswell, I have been trying to find out as well for over a year, I do know that Charles sons were Tinsmiths and my family down the line were too which is uncanny lol, my GG grandfather was Joseph Smith moved to Worksop Notts at some point to become a miner.....I wish I could find out if Charles was a Boswell there is just no evidence anywhere, strange thing is Major Boswell was famous fiddler and my dad said his dad had a fiddle but never played maybe just coincidence lol, xx