1871 census lookup please- Smith**Completed**

[mongojoby]

Hi,

I am looking for a Bartholomew Smith, born abt1864, in Cambridgeshire and think he may have been in Bedfordshire at the time of the 1871 census.  If someone could have a look for him for me I would be very grateful.

Thanks

[Cazay]

Travelling Waggon, Biggleswade Bedfordshire
RG10/1550 f100 p40

Christopher Smith 42 Digswell Herts Cane Worker
Elizabeth 43 Biggleswade Beds Hawker
Caroline dau 15         "                   "
Walter son 13 Puckeridge Herts    "
James son 11 Wanstead Essex     "
Jane dau 8 Biggleswade Beds
Bartholomew son 7 Newmarket Cambs
Arthur son 4 Lowton Essex
Emily dau 2          "

Cazay

[mongojoby]

Thanks for your response Cazay,

This line is a nightmere for me to track down, as they were gypsies and seem to enjoy changing their ages as well as moving around- I found them in 1881 (Christopher now widowed) in Essex and although all the places of birth are the same/similar for some reason only Bartholomew has the same age!;
Christopher, 42
Arthers, 6
Bartholemew, 17
Emily, 11
James, 19

If possible would you be able to have a quick look on the 1861 census on the offchance the family might have been in Bedfordshire at that time as well?

[janan]

Cazay is off line so I'll look - at the moment the only likely family is in Gamlingay Cambs all born there but Christopher is married to a Sarah. I'll check them out in 71. With no Bartholemew they are even more difficult to find 

Jan

Forget them still around in 71, I'll keep looking

[janan]

Found them but Christopher has become Walter 
Jan

Down Hall Bridge In Tents, Hatfield Broad Oaks, Essex
Walter Smith Head M 31 Chairbottomer Digsell Herts
Elizabeth do Wife M 32 Biggleswade Beds
Caroline do Dau 5 do do
Walter do Son 3 Over Herts
James do so 6months Wanstead Herts
RG9/1118/28 Pg27

[mongojoby]

Thanks so much Jan.  If it wern't for names like Bartholomew, I think it would be a hopeless task, trying to track down Smith gypsies!

I've heard of gypsies going by both traditional names and gypsy names (on LDS it appears Christopher may have gone by the name of Gritty according to the christening record of Bartholomew) but that variation seems very odd.  Although given I am looking for a  Christopher born in 1833/34, (which fits in with what this Chirstopher said in 1881) who was the son of a Barthwell Smith (who also went by the names of Bartholomew and Mathew), which would mean he would have been lying about his age (perhaps because it looks like he married Elizabeth Albone in 1849, when he was only 16), maybe it is not that odd!  Anyway means I'm in for plently more digging to try and figure it all out!

[janan]

Good luck and happy hunting
Jan