RootsChat.Com

I'm researching potential Romany ancestry, and in so doing, trying to decipher a few census addresses. In the 1871 census, some of my family is recorded to be living in Chilton Orchard, Sittingbourne... anyone know anything about this location? Is it really an orchard, or the name for a particular area?

Hello folks.

Looking for information on Harriet Smith, nee Mitchell. Not sure of birth date or location, but census records indicate they might be the same as her husband, George Smith (b. 1812 St Mary, Hoo.)

They lived in Hoo for the 1841 census and Finchley for the 1851 census. George died some time between the 1851 census and 1860, for that is the year she remarried (to Richard KENNETT, and relocated to Milton by Sittingbourne.)

Her father's name is James MITCHELL, and any info or documents regarding her birth, marriage to George Smith, etc. would be most helpful! (As would any information on this Mitchell family.)

Thank you!


Eliza

Does anyone know anything about a blacksmith shop in Finchley mid 19th century? It's cited as one of my ancestor's residence in the 1851 census. The script is difficult to read, but it looks like it says "known as W. Bafe's Blacksmith Shop." A different member here wondered if it said W. Bass.

Also - does anyone know anything about the history of the Bald-faced Stag Pub? It started out as the Jolly Blacksmiths in the 1730s, and sold illicit beer, but there doesn't seem to be info between then and the name change (which I think happened in 1890.)

(I'm trying to determine whether there is a connection between "known as a blacksmith shop" and illicit beer sellers by that name.)

Okay so... My great great grandfather is James Chapell, born 1842 in Milton, Sittingbourne. He married Emma Smith/Kennett in 1867. His father is William Chapell, born 1802. (I think in West Malling, though this isn't absolute fact.) His mother is Sarah Sillis, born 1813 in Sittingbourne. (William and Sarah married 1830 in Gillingham.) William Chapell's father is another William Chapell, whose wife's name is Elizabeth.

I am researching a possible connection with my Milton Chapells, and a woman named Mary Chapell, born 1819 Milton, who married Richard Rossiter (born 1813 Sittingbourne) in  1837. Both Richard Rossiter and the Chapells I mentioned earlier worked in the brickfields + as mariners. I want to find out if there is a connection between Mary Ann and James/William/William...as a sibling, cousin, etc. But the records needed are too early. Does anyone have any information on this? (Access to parish records, etc?)

I am interested in anything regarding William's siblings (ie William and Elizabeth's children), or the latter William's parents, etc.

Hi everyone!

This is my first post, so bear with my newbie-isms.

I am trying to research the allegedly Romany side of my family. (I say alleged because it had always been a family rumour more than anything...) Anyway, when my father started researching our family tree, he found something peculiar. The wife of my great great great (I think?) grandfather appears to have two last names. (On the marriage certificate of her son, John Chapell, her maidden name is listed as Emma Kennett, but on John's birth certificate, she's listed as Emma Smith.) Because of the sheer volume of names, my dad started researching a different line...and I picked up where he left off.

Anyway, we wondered if Emma were married twice...so I traced her in census records down from 1901 to 1861. From 1871-1901 she has her married name (Emma Chapell), and in 1861, she's listed as Emma Kennett (14 years old and living as a servant in a family of Coopers, interestingly enough...[I am aware that both Smith and Cooper are common English traveler names.]) 14 seems a little young for a first marriage...even in the mid-nineteenth century, though of course it's possible. Is it also possible that she used two last names? Was this practiced by travelers?

It creates a problem, because I can't find any earlier records! She would be around 4 in the 1851 census, but no one really seems to match. (Her birth place for the other census records - Boxley, Kent - had been consistent...but I know we can't always rely on birthplace accuracy, thanks to the million parishes, districts, etc. one could list...not to mention the fact there is also a Bexley, Kent, which adds to the confusion.) (Plus I don't know if I am looking for a Smith or a Kennett.) I have no idea what her parents' names are...this information would be exceedingly helpful.

Also, the Cooper family connection is interesting beause the head of the household (Alfred Cooper) is 23...which struck me as young. His wife, Eliza, is 22. I looked at the 1851 census for Alfred, and it shows he was a servant to a different family. (So it seems odd that a 23 year old former-servant would employ a servant himself.)

Anyway! I am rambling, now. Apologies for the length of this post. Any tips on where to proceed next would be very appreciated! Of interest: Emma's husband, James Chapell, wore an earring and called birds to him. Of course that means very little...except for the fact that I have a heap of unrelated and circumstantial evidence that seems to point to the possibility of Romany heritage. Anyway, again, any advice/comments would be wonderful!

Eliza