Roberts Family Tree - Funfair - Circus

[kalia]

Hi

I am currently tracing my family tree and I know they were part of a funfair I am trying to find out what the funfair was called and for any other information which you may have we would be very grateful, the information I already know is listed below.

George Henry Roberts born: 10.09.1884 - died Sept 1963
Thomas W Roberts born: 1st december 1882 - died unknown

These are both brothers and on their census for 1901 they are both listed as being in Holy Cross & St Giles in Shropshire as visitors there occupation is down as travelling showmen

They were both born in: Wolverhampton, Staffordshire

In 1911:

Thomas W Roberts Census for 1911 lists him as a home address in Walsall - occupation again is travelling showman
George Henry Roberts: I can't find a census for 1911 for him

Could the reason I cant find a Census for George and any more censuses for Thomas after this date be because this is when they started living on the road?

Family Life:

Thomas married a Hannah Jones and I believe they had 3 children - Florence, Thomas And William Roberts I can find that these were all born but nothing else.

George Married an Emma Deeks in 1915 - they had a daughter named Rosina Dorothy Roberts born 1920-1999 she was listed as being born at The Fairground, Six Ways - Kings Norton - I have researched six ways but can't find anything

Georges Wife Emma - her father was Richard Deeks he is listed in the 1911 census as a travelling hawker address was down as eccles, lancashire so it looks like Emma and George may of met on the fairground.

My Great nan was Hannah Roberts she used to read the tea leafs for them on there fairground

What I do know is when they started they worked with the Pat Sharpe Fun Fair, they ended up renting side shows from them and then as they grew they bought there own merry go round and started there own fun fair but we cant seem to find out what the fun fair was called.

I have very old family members most of who have passed away now but would tell us stories of how one couison went on a job with there dad and when they got there the roberts fair was there and they got told to go the ticket office and say who they were and they would get in for free so they did and they got in for free and got all the rides for free to.

So we know they were friends with the Roberts Fair & Pat Sharpe fair - we did look into it being the roberts fair but there surnames used to be Collins and changed to Roberts.

I was hoping you may be able to help me with the name of this fun fair or point me in the right direction of where to look.

Thank-you

[cati]

Hi Kalia and welcome to Rootschat

A good starting point would be the National Fairground Archive at Sheffield University:  details here: www.nfa.dept.shef.ac.uk

As your family was associated with Wolverhampton and Pat Shape's funfair, you may also find these useful:

The local historian Ned Williams has written the  book "Fairs and Circuses in the Black Country" and "Midland Fairground Families" - unfortunately both of these are out of print, but should be available via interlibrary loan. 

Ned is a mine of information on fairground families: his website is at www.nedwilliams.co.uk

www.lostwolverhampton.co uk is a local history site for Wolverhampton and the surrounding area: it has an active forum which often discusses local people and characters.

[Spidermonkey]

According to this page http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/kingsnortonhistory King's Norton had an annual 'Mop Fair' with fairground attractions etc which used to be held on The Green.  The webpage also has a couple of links to local resources which might be of use to you.

[kalia]

Thank You Cati & Spider Monkey I will check out those links now really appreciate it

[cati]

Hope you find something out: do come back and let us know!

[nanny jan]

Hi,

"Thomas W Roberts Census for 1911 lists him as a home address in Walsall - occupation again is travelling showman
George Henry Roberts: I can't find a census for 1911 for him

Could the reason I cant find a Census for George and any more censuses for Thomas after this date be because this is when they started living on the road?"


There are no more UK census records available after 1911.

Nanny Jan

[cath151]

There is a reference to a funfair here, Smethwick was part of KingsNorton.
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=36185&strquery=funfair

Cathy

[kalia]

Hi Cath Thankyou for that I have been googling like mad for a place called six ways and just couldn't come across with anything this must be something to do with it as Rosina Roberts was down as being born in 1920 at the fairground Six Ways so this must have something to do with this, thankyou

[ethellikesbicester]

Hi Kalia

Thank you for your post.
I am researching my mom's aunt Nellie Deeks who was a sister to Emma. Her father was Richard Deeks a showman. Her mother was Elizabeth Horton.
We knew Nellie as Helen. She was very mysterious about her family and both my mom and grandmother knew nothing about her family background. She never mentioned anything about them.  I have started researching her and have got her birth, marriage and death certificate.  They all tally with the correct date of birth. However, she was registered as Deeks but her marriage certificate shows her as MARTIN in 1947 with Deeks as her maiden name . Her father Richard is also known as Martin.
Have you done any further research on Richard Deeks? I can't think why father and daughter would change their surname. Did the rest of the family do this as well?
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Karen