Boswells in South Wales

[centralscrutiniser]

Thanks Cat one. I don't think they're the right ones, our Frederick was definately born in Workington and Charlotte Howe, Radnorshire according to the census, and should be a bit younger but will have a look. thanks again.

Pooker, thanks for the suggestion. I've found a fair bit of good information on Romany through googling, it's this one gypsyjib site that seems to have some info on the exact people I'm looking for that I can't access without an invitation.

[CatOne]

Well if they arent the same ones it must be one heck of a coincidence there being two Frederick and Charlotte Boswells with a daughter Maria born c1873/4 Wellington Shropshire and having a daughter Annie and son in law Lloyd Roberts! 

ps. from helping to look for romany families in the past on here, I know they often change their year and place of birth

[centralscrutiniser]

There's that much on there? I haven't looked at the actual doc but if you got all that it might be right then. From what we know though Frederick should be about 40 in 1881 - would they have changed their age by that much?

Or, possible it's his parents? Doesn't fit with the children etc but still.

[centralscrutiniser]

Blimey, thanks for this - we hadn't seen this form before. Certainly looks like a strong connection, and the childrens ages seem to be about right but Charlotte should be 43 not 63, and Frederick should be about 41 not 80. I think it might be his father, as our Frederick was born in Cheshire.

Definately looks like the same people though. Can you make out what the professions say? I think Frederick says 'cutter and grinder' and Lloyd seems to be something along the lines of 'milk-something'.

either way, thanks again!

[CatOne]

Cutter and grinder - milk seller - and Charlotte is a machinist (seamstress written after)

I think the ages are probably a mistake, maybe the enumerater couldn't read the forms if they were completed by the family so guessed what they said, or they could have been misheard, or maybe they just didn't want to tell the truth, I've read that a lot of people used to be suspicious of the census.

Regarding Frederick's birth place being Staffordshire, I did see, on earlier censuses a Boswell family in Staffs that were Cutters and Grinders, with a son named "Frith" Could he be Frederick with a more "English" name or maybe a relatives family anyway....

[welsh lady]

Have you Fredericks birth cert as you seem to know he was born in Cheshire?

From the fantastic Romanygenes site there is a book mentioned
The Genealogy of the Romany Boswells by Robert Dawson

Well worth buying a copy

Welsh Lady

[centralscrutiniser]

You've got a talent for reading the handwriting!

It does seem that they must be the same people. I wonder how they managed to get into showbusiness over the intervening 10 years?

I'll have a look for this family in Staffs.

Thanks

[centralscrutiniser]

Hi Welsh Lady

I don't know he was born in Cheshire for certain, I'm just going off the 1891 census. We only found we had a link to these people a couple of weeks ago so have practically nothing on them at all.

I've heard about this book - if I see a copy anywhere it sounds like it's worth a read.

[CatOne]

I see Maria married Frederick Charles Butcher in Methyr Tyfil in 1893, do you have her in 1901? RG13/5009 Folio 144 Page 17

I think if you get one of the children's birth certificates or Frederick and Charlotte's marriage certificate, it would confirm if Burns is Charlotte's maiden name and not a previous married name, as the Burns family haven't been traced on any census yet - Maria's birth seems to be registered in Wellington Shropshire in 1872.

Is this your Frederick's death, seems to be correct by year of birth -

Frederick Boswell March 1900 Pontypridd 11a 363 age 59

and Charlotte -

Charlotte Boswell December 1895 Pontypridd 11a 323 age 59