RootsChat.Com
England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Gloucestershire => Topic started by: Swni on Friday 16 November 18 18:02 GMT (UK)
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Hi. We are currently compiling my father in Law’s family tree as a surprise for him. One of the queries we are trying to solve is that his Grandfather was known to be a Didicoy. I’d not heard the term before, but apparently it is someone with Gypsy blood. His name was Clarence Albert Morgan. He was born in Westbury on Severn 1883 to Thomas A Morgan and Martha Prime Head. His grandparents surnames were Morgan, Hammett, Head and Jones. Clarence Albert later moved to Cwm in South Wales, where he married Maud Mary Merry and raised 8 children. He died aged 47. Does anyone on here know of any gypsy families in W on S during or before Clarence Albert’s time (1883), with any of the names I have mentioned above? Any information would be gratefully received. Thank you.
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IF he had traveller ancestors, then his parent's occupation(s) and locations of where they dropped their sprogs is highly relevant.
Can you supply that (in transcribed form)
Pauline
EDIT:
MORGAN, CLARENCE ALBERT PRINCE 1883 D Quarter in WESTBURY ON SEVERN Volume 06A Page 235
I thought his mother's surname was Head?
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If you are not already a Member (free to join, just register) I would suggest you join the Forest of Dean Family History Trust - which has thousands of records transcribed including
At Cinderford Bridge Methodist
5 December 1883
Clarence Albert MORGAN
parents: Thomas Arthur and Martha
residence: Ruspidge
Officiating Minister: William CUMBERLAND
Event: Baptism
Memoranda: Born September 19 1883
Parish Chapel: Cinderford Bridge Methodist
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1901 census https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X9YM-S2K
1891 census (page 2) https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4KSD-4MM
Child Surname Child Forename Mother's Former Name Year District Office
MORGAN Clarence Albert PRINA 1883 Forest of Dean Westbury on Severn, Newnham 51 113
MORGAN Bertha HEAD 1888 Forest of Dean Westbury on Severn, Newnham 57 243
MORGAN Bertha PREECE 1887 Forest of Dean Monmouth, Coleford 44 394
MORGAN Ada Anne HEAD 1891 Forest of Dean Monmouth, Coleford 48 29
MORGAN James Henry HEAD 1893 Forest of Dean Monmouth, Coleford 50 167
MORGAN William HEAD 1895 Forest of Dean Monmouth, Coleford 52 180
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Again from the Forest of Dean Records
Marriage at Cinderford St John
2 May 1881
Thomas Albert MORGAN aged 24, Bachelor, Collier
father: Richard MORGAN, Shopkeeper
Martha PRINE (as transcribed) HEAD
aged 19, Spinster,
residence: Cinderford
Bride's father name: Henry HEAD, Miner
He marks she signs
witness 1: Richard COOPER
witness 2: Annie HEAD
As the 1881 census was taken on the 3 April - Martha and Annie will be on the 1881 census. Martha is working as a Servant aged 19.
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As Martha - states her father's name was Henry - this is the 1871 census East Dean
HEAD
Henry - 28 - Iron Miner - born Wiltshire, Stratton (which is Swindon)
Sabina - 27 - all born East Dean
Martha - 8
Rosina - 6
Sarah Ann - 5
Bertha - 2
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You can then use the Forest of Dean records for lots of information including Henry HEAD marrying Sabina JONES - 26 January 1863.
Henry's father was Frank HEAD etc. etc
In 1851 you will find Martha HEAD aged 40 living in Little Dean Glos, Rail labourer's wife - and Henry was born, Swindon, Wiltshire.
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Many thanks for this information, it’s very much appreciated. We still have the puzzle as to where the ‘didicoy’ comes from. It’s very intriguing and I know it’s sonetginv my 81 year old father in law would love to find out. I will do as you suggested and join the F of D family history trust. Maybe they can throw some light on Traveller families in the area at that time. Thank you once again. 😊
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Hi. We are currently compiling my father in Law’s family tree as a surprise for him. One of the queries we are trying to solve is that his Grandfather was known to be a Didicoy. I’d not heard the term before, but apparently it is someone with Gypsy blood. His name was Clarence Albert Morgan. He was born in Westbury on Severn 1883 to Thomas A Morgan and Martha Prime Head. His grandparents surnames were Morgan, Hammett, Head and Jones. Clarence Albert later moved to Cwm in South Wales, where he married Maud Mary Merry and raised 8 children. He died aged 47. Does anyone on here know of any gypsy families in W on S during or before Clarence Albert’s time (1883), with any of the names I have mentioned above? Any information would be gratefully received. Thank you.
A Didicoy is someone of mixed heritage, part Romani Part non-Romani.
Cheers
Guy
PS It is more common for a Romani man to marry a non-Romani than a Romani woman to marry a non-Romani
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Many thanks. I didn’t know that. So at least now we know we are probable looking at the male line. That helps.
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Didicoy was a common term when I was young. Generally it was used for Gypsies with mixed parentage. Not necessarily a Gypsy parent and a parent from a non Gypsy background, but often a child who had one parent who was a Romany Gypsy and another parent who was from a different Gypsy background.
From memory people used to call the Gypsies who went round houses selling pegs, lavender etc. didicoys.
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My husband's family have Morgan [gypsy] connections - this branch of the family had a route they followed - Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire - though I have found some of them in the Swansea valley pre-WW1. Some of the Morgans were noted folk-singers [you can google them].
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I am also researching my heritage and know that my great grandmother and back were didicoy from Gloucester.
My great grandmother's maiden name was Lee and her married name was Dean
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My husband's family have Morgan [gypsy] connections - this branch of the family had a route they followed - Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire - though I have found some of them in the Swansea valley pre-WW1. Some of the Morgans were noted folk-singers [you can google them].
Sorry to pretty much hijack someone else's thread but I'm following the same travelling Morgan's around Wales and the South as Mrs.Family and would love to share info. My link is through many generations of Daniel Morgan largely in Wiltshire, Gloucester, and then in the 20th century around Pontardawe, Swansea, Ebbw Vale. This is my first time using the roots chat forum so I'm sorry if I'm approaching this all wrong!!