Family lived on canal boats

[Snape123]

How odd - so they went from DOWNES to STEVENSON? Im guessing it would have had to of been legally changed? Or could they have just written it down different on a census?

And that newspaper article is really interesting if it is the same Charles Bould I find things like that and back stories fascinating!

I think I may have made a bit of progress on the Theobald side:
So it looks like Henry Theobald born 03.04.1857 and Ellen Lydia Keane brn 1865 may have had 4 children not 2 as i previously thought:-
Ellen Theobald b 1897 Wolverhampton
William Henry Theobald b 02.10.1898 Canal Street, Wolverhampton. Died Mar 1899 Wolverhampton
Henry Theobald b 1899 Churchlawton. Died 1971 Bucklow
Ruth Theobald b 1903 Congleton

Henry Theobald b 1857 parents look to be:-
Thomas Theobald b 1823 Draycott, d 1943 Kidsgrove
Ellen Chapman b 26.04.1829 Chellaston, Derbyshire, d 09.11.1857 Middlewich
They married 19.06.1848 in Alvaston, Derbyshire and they appeared to have 8 children listed below:-
John Chapman/Theobald b June 1848 Derby
Frederick Theobald b March 1850 Draycott, d Dec 1930 Derby
Mary Ellen Theobald b 1850 Derby
Sarah Ann Theobald b June 1854 Derby
Henry Theobald b Apr 1857 Derby, d 1943 Kidsgrove
Eleanor Theobald b 02.08.1860 Derby, d 1941 Cheshire
Joseph Theobald b Sept 1863 Derby, d Sept 1892 Shardlow
Harriet Theobald b Mar 1865 Ockbrook, Derbyshire, d 07.09.1941 Odd Rode, Cheshire
Mary Theobald b Mar 1867 Odd Rode, Cheshire

[bbart]

Henry Theobald b 1857 parents look to be:-
Thomas Theobald b 1823 Draycott, d 1943 Kidsgrove
Ellen Chapman b 26.04.1829 Chellaston, Derbyshire, d 09.11.1857 Middlewich

Can you double check your typing, Snape? You have their last child listed as born 1867, so did Ellen die, and Thomas remarry?  Thomas' death seems a bit out of reach as well?

I'm trying to dig around old newspapers, so far have found the sad death of Joseph, but relying on the dates given. 

[Snape123]

Sorry! This is my bad! Thomas Theobald died in 1906 in Mickleover NOT 1943 (That was Henry!) and Ellen died in 1875 NOT 1857! Clearly need another coffee this morning! I even re-read it to check it all made sense 
Out of curiosity where are you hunting for newspaper articles? Is the an online archive for local papers? As I was wondering if I would have to go and look in person at the archives?
I have an article I would like to find but have very little to go off of other than a newspaper clipping of just a picture! It looks like my Nan sitting on one of their horses that towed the boat but would love to find the article it was for. Looking at her age its probably from the late 1930s.

[bbart]

At the moment, I'm digging through the British papers at Findmypast. 

Does the picture have any caption at all?  Can you think of any keywords I could search with (as in the name of the waterway, or some hint?)  I'm just heading off to bed, but will look in the morning, otherwise I'll have the coffee that you need, and be up all night! 

[Snape123]

Unfortunately it literally has nothing! They've perfectly just cut around the picture! I would imagine it would have been a local Staffordshire news paper, possibly the Staffordshire Sentinel? The family name at the time would have been BOULD....I will see if I can deduce anything else to go off of

[keyboard86]

Hi again, if you look again at the 1871 census, all the children were born prior to the marriage of John Downes to Hannah STEVENSON in 1871?
Keyboard86

EDIT The Mary Downes aged 10 in 1871 could be the baptism 5th January 1862 Stone, Christ Church Father John occ Boatman Mother Ann address Macclesfield

[keyboard86]

Hi all, really need a second opinion, their is a marriage 4th October 1880 Etruria, St Matthew of Mary Stevenson 19 address Etruria to William Bold 21 occ Boatman address Salem Street.
Grooms father Henry Bold occ Boatman, Brides father JAMES Stevenson occ Boatman, the witnesses  are what looks like Sabrina Stevenson & Thomas Bold, it is the Sabrina I need confirmation on?
Keyboard86

EDIT The 1881 census RG11/2724/71/28 suggests it is Mary, ( Large blob over her age ) but born Stone, at Etruria Locks, Stoke upon Trent, and she made up the name of her father at marriage?

[bbart]

I am going in the same circles you are, Keyboard!

So far, the only birth I have found for a Sabrina, born 1864 in Cheshire is:
Sabrina Downes, registration district Stockport, 1864 July quarter, mmn Gregory.

I suppose it could be possible Mary is a half/step sister to Sabrina, but.....agh!!

I am still hunting, though, don't feel alone in your confusion!

[keyboard86]

  Glad I am not the only one!

Oddly there is a SABINA DOWN 16 b Manchester ( Same place as Thomas ) shown as a Servant in Gladstone Street, Stoke upon Trent in 1881?
Census ref RG11/2729/70/24
Keyboard86

PS but that would mean Sabrina if her at the marriage of Mary 1880, changed surname from Stevenson to Down/Downes at census 1881?

  Gladstone Street is a short walk to Salem Street Google maps tells me.