Paxford family, Oxfordshire

[zingari]

Hello, I'm trying to find out if the Paxford ( some of my distant relatives) family of Oxfordshire were Gypsies .My great grand mother was Mary Ann Paxford , married to Francis G Smith in 1874 ..I am fairly sure that from my family stories and the apperance of my Grandmother and Father that the Smiths /Paxfords were of Gypsy origin. All my research leads me back to Headington Quarry/ Stonesfield/Woodstock /Idbury  in Oxfordshire.I can trace my Smith line back to about 1700 in this area and the many Paxman families go back to 1567 in Witney but I'm not sure how to proceed from here . I'm fairly new at reseach.Info I have - Mary Ann Paxford , born 1854/57 in Idbury is possibly my great grandmother. Many Thanks for any help you can give .

[lizdb]

What occupations do the family give on the various censuses?  And what addresses? Often it will specify a caravan or tent.

[suzard]

Looking at the census Mary Ann Paxford was not a gypsy/traveller neither was Francis G Smith

this looks like Mary Ann with her family in 1871
25 Devon St Duddeston Nechel Birmingham
Henry Paxford head M 38 gas stoker Stoneyfield
Sarah wife 37 Stoneyfield
MARY A daughter 17 Tobacco Pouch Maker Stoneyfield
Louisa daughter 14
Francis G son 12 scholar
Elizabeth daughter 9
Henry E son 6
Ellen daughter 2
RG10 3151 19 31
it seems the Mary Ann Paxford who married Francis George Smith was born Stoneyfield -she is not the Mary Ann Paxford who was b Idbury

and Mary Ann when she was married
1881
1 Back of 122 Inkerman St Aston Warwicks
Francis G Smith Head 30 Railway Porter Stoneyfield Oxford
Mary A wife 28 stoneyfield oxford
Anne L daughter 5
Frank son 3
Elizabeth daughter 1
children all b Birmingham Warwicks
RG11 3028 116 27

Suz

[suzard]

Here's details from the Parish register of their marriage
Ashted St James the Less Warwicks
Francis George Smith 24 Bachelor occ Labourer 42 Dolman St father William Smith (deceased) occ Labourer
Mary Ann Paxford 22 spinster address 42 Dolman St father  Henry Paxford occ labourer
married after banns by Joseph Byrchmore (Minister)
witnesses Thomas Griffin & Ellen Griffin
all signed



Suz

[suzard]

if mary Ann Paxford (married Francis George Smith) is your Great Gran could you post who is your Grandmother??? We can check for you then

how have you got back to 1567 when you are not certain if mary Ann is your Gt Gran -and if she is it looks like you have been following the wrong mary Ann???

Suz

[Dundee]

Mary Ann's family in 1871:

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KD8L-ZST

Debra 

[suzard]

 Hi Debra - that's the same census I posted previously

Do you agree that Mary Ann Paxford who married Francis George Smith is the one b Stoneyfield -and not the one born Idbury (her father was benjamin)

Suz

[Dundee]

Mary Ann always says she was born in Stonesfield and named her father as Henry, so I am guessing she was born in Stonesfield and her father was Henry 

Debra 

[zingari]

Hello suzard and Dundee - Sorry -I had forgotten that I had started this thread- thank you for your info. Yes - my G Grandmother was Mary Ann Paxford born in Stonesfield- married to Frances G Smith my G Grandfather. Their eldest child was Annie Louisa Smith-my Grandmother .MaryAnn's parents were Henry Paxford and Sarah Moss.I'm still researching various strands of my ancestors - with the Smiths I'm pretty sure I can go back to Daniel Smith b 17771 and I believe his father John Smith b1740.Beyond that I need to look at more Parish registers. The most elusive so far is Jane Moss ,Sarah's mother . I havn't found Sarah"s birth entry but I believe (from another family contact ) that her father is not listed..Jane had several children  ( no father shown ) then she married an older man and had more children. I think I've tracked her in her old age but she is a slippery lady to pin down. Thanks again  .