Circus Clown Dorset.

[lizzie booth]

I am searching for a Thomas Breakingbury who was a Clown in a Circus in 1875. I cannot find him on the1871 census. On his Son's Birth certificate they were living in Minchington, Sixpenny Handley. I have drawn a blank on searches I have done. Can anyone help please.

[ninakin]

Hi Lizzie,

Would you happen to know birth place and year or any other information?

Ninakin.

[Paul E]

Hi Lizzie

Welcome to Rootschat!
Have you found Thomas on any other censuses?  This might help locate him in 1871, if you can supply details

cheers

Paul

[casalguidi]

Would it be this family from the 1881 census that you are looking to track back?

1881

69 New Street, Andover, Hants

Elizabeth BREAKINGBURY head wid 26 charwoman b.Downton Wilt
John T son 6 b.Devonshire
Fred son 4 b.Herefordshire/Hertfordshire
James son 2 b.Andover Hant

RG11/1263 folio 50 page 44

Casalguidi

[Aragina]

Hi,

It might be an idea if you write to Worlds Fair the magazine for Circus people at http://www.worldsfair.co.uk/wf/subscribe.php. They have given me lots of information about my own circus ancestors.

As Circus people moved around a great deal they could be anywhere and  Census are open to error.  My own Bishops were mistranscribed as Birkett.  It really does mean  thinking outside the box when looking for those elusive circus ancestors.

Also do you know which circus he was with in 1875 or any other date. You could always write to http://www.shef.ac.uk/nfa/index.php which is the circus freinds association, they are too very helpful.

Good Luck in your search

regards

Jenny

[Paul E]

Hi Jenny

On the subject of which...
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,36197.0.html

Paul

[casalguidi]

Hi Lizzie

Could this be Thomas' marriage?

Thomas BRAKENBERRY
Elizabeth COOTE or COOK
Hastings registration district
June quarter 1874
Ref: 2b 36

If so, there should, hopefully, be some further details on the marriage certificate ie. his age/occupation/father's name & occupation.

Best wishes

Casalguidi

[deryk]

I just happened to look at the Lizzie Booth entry and it is the same info I am researching. There are a couple of new hints to check on as I had come to a standstill in my research.

Going back I did find a reference to a Martha Breakingbury in the Jarrow records.

I am trying to confirm that there were three brothers Fred, James and John. Anyone have anything further on that?

[Valda]

On the 1891 census after Elizabeth Breakingbury remarries James Richardson and goes to live in Kewstoke Somerset, her son James is recorded on that census as James Brackingbury. Looking at earlier censuses there seems to be quite a potential range for the spelling/mispelling of this surname from examples such as Brakingbury, Brakenbury Brakenberry, Brackenbury, Brackingbury, to the e spelling variation, so I think it pays to have a flexible approach to how the surname might be spelt in records.
It would be useful to know Elizabeth's maiden name.
Regards
Valda