Hello,
I have carried on plugging away with William Cartwright (d. 1910, Wigston). He always claimed he was born in Newark in 1866, although he lived in an area of Leicester known as the Newarke in the 1880s. He never married my great-great-grandma Ellen Dobson (first child born in 1890), but it has been speculated that he had a brother, Richard. Both men were chimney sweeps, and Richard continued to live at 27 Gray Street in Leicester following William’s move to Wigston.
A newspaper article from 1892 records William Cartwright of Wigston and Henry Cartwright of Leicester, both chimney sweeps, who had stolen two fowls. Richard did indeed have a son named Henry, whose mother’s maiden name was Griffiths (born in West Bromwich in 1875). Can anyone find a marriage record for a Richard Cartwright and a Jane Griffiths prior to 1875? If a father can be identified for Richard Cartwright, it’s entirely possible that my William might be located too.
However, a daughter, May Phyllis Cartwright, was born in 1893, with her mother’s maiden name stated as Miller. She is on the 1901 Census with Richard and Jane in Leicester. The 1891 Census states that Richard has a cousin named Jane Jackson, aged 10, born in Lincolnshire.
William Cartwright maintained his birthplace as Newark on the 1891 and 1901 Censuses, while Richard Cartwright changes his. He seems to be born around 1854, saying in Manby (?) in Lincolnshire (1911), Sheffield (1881) and Nottingham (1891 and 1901). William can’t be found before the 1891 Census, other than his military records from 1885 and a newspaper article from 1884, both while living at 27 Gray Street in the Newarke in Leicester.
I’d appreciate any help!
Adam
