Hello again Deb,
Actually, I'm surprised at just how much can be found from the census about Travellers. I've not looked at Travellers before this and I guess I had a sort of vague idea that the enumerators would not chase them up - but this wasn't the case at all (fortunately for you). There were certainly lots of interesting families around. And it's fascinating how the same names (surnames and forenames) keep turning up.
Your cousins have put together lots of information!
Incidentally, did you see the christening of Selina, your William's little sister, on the IGI.
PINFOLD Selina, bap 22 Feb 1891, Par Cornwall, father Tom Pinfold, mother Sophia Pinfold.
As you say, the IGI has:
John PINFOLD m Harriet JAMES, 2 Aug 1831, Pimperne Dorset
The IGI also has a John and a Harriet having:
Sarah Harriet PENNIFOLD, bap 3 Nov 1833, Saint Nicholas, Brighton, Sussex
I looked at that 1871 census entry which you mentioned (details follow) hoping that tracing some of the people in it might somehow lead to finding Harriet & John, and perhaps Thomas & Sophia in an earlier census. A vain hope!
1871
Lamerton, Devon
'Caravan' on Collacombe Downs
PENFOLD Harriet, Widow, 58, Licensed Hawker, b Wiltshire Warminster
Do Elizabeth, Daur, Unm, 24, Lic Hawker, b Dorset Stourminster
Do Alfred, Son, Unm, 22, Lic Hawker, b Somerset Marston
Do Henry, Son, Unm, 20, Lic Hawker, b Somerset Bridgewater
Do Edward, Son, Unm, 18, Lic Hawker, b Cornwall Dubwalls
Do William, Grandson, 8, b Devon Plymouth
GUESS Charlotte, Granddaughter, 11, b Devon Paignton
HUGHES Ocean, Visitor, Unm, 20, Lic Hawker, b Devon Honiton
JAMES Joseph, Nephew, 18, Lic Hawker, b Somerset Taunton
However, I came across some other family members as I trawled through so will mention them for completeness.
Listed in Barnstaple, camped next to each other, are Henry & Ocean - recorded as Penforld (transcribed on a certain site as Prurfold); and Alfred & Louisa recorded as Penfold (transcribed as Prufold)
1881
Barnstaple, Devon
Temporarily here living in Caravans
PENFORLD Henry, Head, Mar, 29, Licensed Hawker (Brushes), b Somerset Bridgewater
Do Ocean, Wife, Mar, 29, b Devon Honiton
Do Betsy, Daur, 9, b Devon Paignton
Do Henry, Son, 5, b Devon Exeter
Do Trefiance(?), Daur, 3, b Devon Paignton
Do John, Son, 8 months, b Devon Braunton
PENFOLD Alfred, Head, Mar, 31, Licensed Hawker (Brushes), b Dorset Weymouth
Do Louisa, Wife, Mar, 29, b Devon Plymouth
Do Louisa, Daur, 8, b Devon Torquay
Do Phoebe, Daur, 3, b Devon Newton Abbott
Do Moses, Son, 10 months, b Devon Newton Abbott
1891
Henry PENFOLD & Ocean (actually as Penfold!) are in a Caravan in Common Moor Lane, South Molton Devon with Bessie, Henry, Defiance, John, Vastie, Noah, Albert and Leonard.
1881
Henry GESS & Charlotte were in a caravan in East Stonehouse, Devon, with lots of children - but now Charlotte's birthplace is given as Dorset Weymouth. And one daughter, Elizabeth 18, was born in Guernsey ...
1871
Henry GESS & Charlotte and family were in St Andrew Devon - Charlotte's birthplace as Dorset Weymouth
1861
Henry GESS & Charlotte and family are in tents in Camborne Cornwall - Charlotte's birthplace given as Dorset Blandford.
1851
Henry GESS, b Britchingley Sussex, is in Wandsworth with parents Henry & Rebecca and siblings.
There are quite a lot of LDS patron submissions on the IGI for Henry GESS & Charlotte PENFOLD and their family.
But where, oh where, are Thomas & Sophia in anything other than 1891, and where is Thomas's mother Harriet in 1861 and 1851 ...
Regards,
JAP
