Help to find the name of Bulgo in Pembrokeshire

[Catie Francesca]

Hello,

I am compiling the family tree and have come to a halt.

I have two ancestors who were born in Pembrokeshire, and from the dates should be showing on the bmd index ... but they are not.

Idi Charles Henry Fuller Bulgo b 1857
James Barclay Bulgo b 1871

I think both of these men were illegitimate. 

There is a Charles Henry Fuller stationed at the Police Station at the Dockyard at the crucial time for Idi, and also a James Barclay living in Pembrokeshire at the time of James Barclay Bulgo's birth.

However, I have no clue as to who their mother may be.  There is no entry in the BMI for these men, and they do not show up on any census entry until they are grown.

Can anyone help?

Many thanks,
Catherine

[osprey]

Where did you get the places of birth from? Was it the transcriptionof the 1891 census?  I've had a look at the Swansea census where thye appear together. There are enumerator's amrks through the places of birth, but they both seem to have Peru in them. Not impossible given Swansea's trade with South America.

http://www.welshcopper.org.uk/en/copper-guides_exhibition_sources.htm

Do you have Idi's 1889 marriage cert to see what he says about his father?

Idi Bulgo june qtr 1889 Swansea vol 11a ph 1170 with Mary Bridget Kineally on the same page.

 

[Catie Francesca]

Hello,

I had obtained the place of birth from the 1891 census, and thought that the entry was Pembs rather than Peru.  It now looks like Peru to me though lol.

I haven't obtained the marriage cert yet - I will send off for it ASAP though.

Many thanks

[osprey]

think that would be a good move. I see 2 of the children are in the cottage homes in Cockett 1901 after the death of their father, mother and another child are in the workhouse. The archives in Swansea hold the records, so those would be worth investigation as well.

http://www.workhouses.org.uk/Swansea/

http://www.childrenscottagehomes.org.uk/accessing_records.html

[Catie Francesca]

Thanks for all the help - it is much appreciated 

[JackBasta]

Hi Catherine, I've just come across this post via google, and we're possibly very distantly related. My paternal grandfather was Jack Bulgo (changed his name to Davies in his teens), who was the eldest of 7 children who all lived in Swansea. There's only 2 of those 7 left alive now, but I'm still in contact with my great Aunt Beryl (she's over 80 now). One of my cousins traced it back and found some newspaper clippings about Idi Bulgo, and I seem to remember the clipping (I no longer have it) stated he had the nickname "the professor", and he was one of two brothers who came over from Peru in the late 1800's. I *think* that Idi is Jack's (and Beryl's) grandfather. The whole of our family is very dark skinned, and quite South American looking.

If I remember correctly, the newspaper clipping was from a local Swansea newspaper from around 1900, and I think it had something to do with a court case regarding his wife, and I think it was to do with events based around the Gower area of Swansea. It's been about 10 years since I saw it, so my memory is fading a bit. I'll ask around teh family to see if anyone else had a copy.

Let me know how you got on with the search, and any information you have about the Bulgos.

Thanks

Richard Rees

[Catie Francesca]

Hello Richard,

Many thanks for getting back to me 

Since I originally posted this topic I have found the newspaper clippings.  There are a few on-line and in them Idi is referred to as the 'Professor', 'Black Doctor' and 'African Medicine Man.

I haven't found a reference to Peru except in one census where there is a crossed out word which might be Peru.  Otherwise he is referred to as being from Haverfordwest - we may never know at this point.

I love reading the papers - he is very colourfully described at one point as: "Idi Bulgo, Green Dragon- lane, the African medicine man, who, with his picturesque costume, and the ring through his nose is a familiar figure in the town". 

Also as " A coloured man known as Prof. Bulgo, who carried on business as a herbalist on the corner of Mariner-Street. It is stated that Bulgo used to go about with a. ring through the lower part of his nose, attired in light gaiters and coat and a white top hat, and was known as "the black doctor."

I am keeping searching for his origins as new information seems to appear on the internet all the time.

I would be happy to share anything I have learned so far 

[JackBasta]

That's fantastic Catherine. Any info you have would be great. I think Idi would be my paternal great-great grandfather (tracing the paternal side all the way back). How are you related? I've spoken to my Dad (John Davies) and he has copies of what we have which he says he will get to you. Not sure how we do this - Private message our email addresses?

[Catie Francesca]

Hello,

Have PM'd you my email address