Romanies in Staffordshire/ Shropshire

[ernestine]

Hi there
Can anyone tell me if there were any Romany Communities around Staffordshire/ Shropshire.
Thanks

[An65]

Yea there were a lot of Boswells (and related families) in the Staffs area in the last century for sure. Have you anything specific?

[ernestine]

Hi
Yes I'm looking at the Harrison/ Hill families. I've only got as far as my great great grandma Sarah Hill who married Benjamin Harrison and lived in Old Hill. I have a feeling and this has also been muted by someone else who I met at a Family History fair that either family or ancestors were part of the romany community at some point. It may not be Sarah or Benjamin or their parents but their grandparents. Do you have any other names for the Boswell connections please?
Thanks so much.

[CatOne]

Is this the Benjamin and Sarah you are referring to?

1881 RG11/3442 Folio 130 Page 11
Lowgates, Staveley, Derbyshire
Benjamin Harrison lodger 25 Coal Miner All born Old Hill Staffs
Sarah 26
Ruth 2
Thomas 24 Coal Miner

Marriage?
Benjamin Harrison Sept 1876 Dudley Vol 6c Page 60
Brides - Sarah Hill or Sarah Ann Guest

[CatOne]

If so,

1871 RG10/2994 Folio 39 Page 15
Ellow/Elbow? Street, Rowley Regis, Staffs
Benjamin Harrison 48 Coal Miner Worcestershire "Dudey"
Benjamin 15 Coal Miner
Thomas 13 Coal Miner
Elizabeth 11 Scholar
Ellen 9 Scholar
Ruth 7 Scholar

All other born Staffordshire Rowley Regis


1861 RG9/2061 Folio 15 Page 26 (transcribed "Danison")
Sweet Turf? Dudley, Worcestershire
Benjamin Harrison 38 Head Coal Miner Worcester Netherton?
Sarah 38 wife Stafford Old Hill
Eliza Hayward boarder wife 19 Old Hill
Hanah 9 dau Scholar Stafford Old Hill
Mary 7 Scholar Stafford Old Hill
Benjamin 5 Scholar Stafford Old Hill
Thomas 4 Scholar Stafford Old Hill
Elizabeth 1 Worcester Sweet Turf?
George Hayward boarder mar 19 Coal Miner Worcester Sweet Turf?


1851 HO107/2033 Folio 379 Page 63
Sweet Turf, Dudley, Worcs
John Harrison 58 Labourer All born Dudley
Laura 59
Benjamin 28 Miner
Joseph 23 Cordwainer
William 20 Mason
Hannah 17 Scholar
John 15 Mason Server


1841 HO107/1196/15 Folio 26 Page 8
Sweet Turf, Dudley, Worcestershire
John Harrison 45 Miner Y
Sarah 45 Y
Benjamin 15 Cordwainer Y
James 10 Cordwainer Y
William 9 Y
Joseph 8 Y
Hannah 6 Y
John 5 Y

No obvious Romany/Travellers yet on the Harrison side 

[An65]

Boswells married into most families - they are a very large clan, so it would be hard to give you certain surnames. The most common were probably the Smiths and Hearns.

Do not think I have come across your research names in my research, but that doesnt mean a lot, there are many rom surnames which I havent looked into.

Sagey Hearn married Righteous Gray and settled in one village in Nthants, and can be seen there census after census, and the only real clues to their travelling existence lies in their names and in the fact that they were recorded on the Heron Pedigree by George Hall with the Journals Of The Gypsy lore Society many years ago. Some rom families settled quite early - so dont feel that just because you havent found them wandering in a tent that thats the end of the story. Im sure you will find it all out eventually. Good Luck!

[ernestine]

Thanks so much for that. I know from what Dad said about his mother that she had alot of the emotional characteristics of a romany. The loud mouth, cutting remarks, the wanderlust - which my dad picked up but I haven't. All the women in the hill line were tall i.e. over 5'2" I am considered tall for my family certainly for my mothers side who were no taller than 5'.... I am 5'4".

Thanks for all the info I will keep an eye on it and my lot were the lot censused in staveley. Originally from Old Hill.

Have a Happy Christmas