Smith family in Oxfordshire

[wonderingwandering]

I am researching the Smith family in Oxfordshire, I have been told that one branch of my family were travellers and, with the name 'Smith', this branch seems to be likely candidates.
I have a Joseph Smith married to Alice Ann Smith (nee Lock) living in Witney, Oxfordshire, in the 1891 census.  Their children were William, Joseph, Dorothy, Henry and Alice.

Further back the Smith family is in Shipton-under-Wychwood and Bladon (Bleinheim). 

I'm a beginner at geneology research, but I understand these names - Elizabeth, William etc - can be quite common gypsy / traveller names.

How can I find out more about my family, whether they were travellers, and, if so, where they hailed from?  TBH I think there may also be a German / Jewish connection from what I have been told during my early research. Would this tie in in any way with this branch?

Confused.com! But eager to learn more and grateful for any help. 

[suzard]

Hello and welcome to RootsChat

If I am looking at the correct family then there is no sign of the family being travellers
(William & Elizabeth were very common names in all walks of life)

Is this your family?

1891
Bridge St Witney
Joseph Smith Head M 32 Grocer Ramsden Oxon
Alice Ann wife 42 barton Oxon
William Phillip son 8
Joseph Clarence son 7
Alice Elizabeth daughter 6
Dorothy Mary daughter 4
Henry Coulsby? son 2
children all b Witney
RG12 1176 146 25

if this is the correct family then Joseph Smith (father)was a farmer in 1901
1881 He was a Grocer's assistant at High St Bishops Waltham
1871 with widowed mother Elizabeth -she was described as "deceased Farmer's wife Landowner"
1861with parents William Clark Smith 0cc Farmer of 90 acres-born Bladon Oxon & Elizabeth

Do you have full census ??

Suz

[suzard]

No sign of Alice Ann Lock's family being travellers either

Suz

[wonderingwandering]

No sign of Alice Ann Lock's family being travellers either

Suz

Thanks for looking Suz.  Over the last day or so I have found an illegitimate child further back in the family and think that is where the travelling side of the family came in... Though I am still not sure if there may be other travelling branches in the Oxfordshire area (the German names are a mystery too).

[suzard]

No sign of Alice Ann Lock's family being travellers either

Suz

Thanks for looking Suz.  Over the last day or so I have found an illegitimate child further back in the family and think that is where the travelling side of the family came in... Though I am still not sure if there may be other travelling branches in the Oxfordshire area (the German names are a mystery too).

Do you refer to an illegitimate child of Jane M Hine??

There is no indication of Jane M Hine's family being travellers either??

Suz

[wonderingwandering]

No sign of Alice Ann Lock's family being travellers either

Suz

Thanks for looking Suz.  Over the last day or so I have found an illegitimate child further back in the family and think that is where the travelling side of the family came in... Though I am still not sure if there may be other travelling branches in the Oxfordshire area (the German names are a mystery too).

Do you refer to an illegitimate child of Jane M Hine??

There is no indication of Jane M Hine's family being travellers either??

Suz

No, not her.  I can't really go into it further because a number of the descendants on a family tree I have found at Ancestry.com are presumaby still living.  I will post more generally about the family story though as it is really interesting!

[Susan Smith]

Wandering Wandering,  Hubby has Smiths and may be from Oxfordshire,  Witney, Standlake etc,  His Dna Matches seem to suggest strong links to Romany Gypsies.

Perhaps you are related somewhere,   do you have an Ancestry Tree and have you DNA tested?

Sue Smith

[Susan Smith]

Just seen its an old post,  hope Wandering Wandering,  you still pick this up.

Sue

[kathbn]

Hello yes there are SMITH Gypsy in oxford around Banbury a Wisdom Smith married
Elizabeth Gentle they had several children this is all I can help with at the moment they
married around 1800 hope this helps kath          kathbn