RootsChat.Com

Thank you so much for all your help. I have been searching for details on the siblings of Solomon Smart but drawing a bit of a blank and thought about rootschat. In the past those helping have been so very helpful. I sent a message late last night, went to bed and wow I have been given the missing details. The other sibling information I have apart from James Smart (born 1845/6 in Stringston, Somerset. The last info I can definately trace if the Census info for 1861. He is a lodger and groom in Holford Somerset. I can find some possible references in the USA and it would be quite likely that the brothers each wanted to go across the water.
Thank you again for taking the trouble to help me discover about the grown up life of Clement.

Mark

Hi, I am still struggling to find the record of he death, likely drowning of Charles Higgins. I wish when I was a child I asked my grandmother to explain more about his situation, rather than just to accept he had drowned. A good lesson to speak with all relatives in order to acquire as much information as possible.

I think that it was likely he went to the USA, but not to see family as they went over later but to work. It would seem reasonable that he returned to visit and the 1899 visit by a Charles P Higgins would make sense. It may be on that trip or on his return the ship sank?. The inquest for his brother in 1889 (10 yrs before) also indicates he had returned earlier. It is a shame that there are no other clues. As he worked in a sols office I think the reference of a ship's cook drowning is unlikely although he might have been working his passage?

My best bet might be so see if there are any records across the pond. I have drawn a blank so far but any suggestions would be fantastic.

Merry Christmas to you all.  Mark

In 1889 a relative George Higgins killed his partner and himself in Tredegar. The cottage was part of a 4 house terrace that was turned into 8 small dwellings. These cottages were between a quarry and St Josephs and higher than Red Lion Square that was to the right.
I have attached the newspaper image of George that no doubt has no resemblemce to him but all I have and the newspaper image of the cottages. I recently went to Tredegar but couldn't find the area and wonder if there is a photograph of these former cottages where the horrible murder took place.

Thanks all. Sorry Carol, I don't know why I said old, I think I meant the picture was old. I'm still young at 64!

You have all been most helpful.  Mark

Dropping H's!  Interesting how names changed on mum's side Fowles became Vowles.