To avoid the sigma, when moving to Wales, Boswell often became Williams and Lee may have become Evans, but have not seen anything written about that change. I know Matilda Evans was registered with the mother’s maiden name being Bass and Aran (Perran) Evans was Voss. From those I concluded they were both Boswell without saying so. The other two children were not the same, so I cannot narrow down the search, though think their mmn could be Williams as Catherine’s mother was a Williams. Searching for a Williams in Wales is like the needle in a haystack. Earlier and different census records, have Catherine and brothers, all being Boswells, living with Williams grandparents in Machynlleth while parents attended fairs. In one census they were Boss rather than Boswell.
When Daniel married Catherine, his father was Edwin Evans and when he married Martha Jane Williams in 1917 he was Edward Evans (deceased). That could be a hearing, or transcription error, or his real name could be Edward. Edwin claims to have been born in Brecon and Zubilee/Subie was born in Hereford. She nor her siblings were formally registered, so it is only christenings and census records.
If he was actually born in Brecon and Edwin’s parents were travellers, it may not be registered, with the baptism being elsewhere. Even when registered it is difficult to identify them. Where they were born, may not be where they the birth was registered, as between the two they could have travelled miles. Daniel, the son of Daniel, was baptised in 1901 aged 4 years near Swansea, but the census says he was born in Pontypridd. At present, I have not been able to pin down a birth registration.
On Rootschat I was offered this Christening:
Zubilee Lee . 12 May 1839 . Elmley Castle, Worcestershire
Father's Name: Sampson Lee . Mother's Name: Ederifee
GS Film: 1042169 . Digital Folder: 008069912 . Indexing Project (Batch): C04858-3 . System Origin: ODM
It would seem Ederifee’s father was a Buckland, a name that crops up linked with the Lee family.
I wonder if Zubilee was the name give and Subie the name used. Who registered the death would offer the name she was known by. Daniel’s son Aran was born and registered Perran, baptised Perin Lee and died Aran, as that was how he was known.
There is an issue, which I have not resolved: Her christening in 1839 does not accurately match with the census records; 1881 says 33 so birth 1848 and 1891 says 40 so birth 1851. The same census records say Edwin was 1-2 years older, so 1846 and 1850. But going from the christening, his birth year would be 1837-8. I accept there can be small inaccuracies with estimating the birth year, but not 9-12 years. They were illiterate, he certainly was, and they did not always tell the truth. The census records are the right family, as one daughter was witness to Daniel and Catherine’s marriage. From the 1881 census I know of four children; Urena, Delenda, Angelus and Daniel (transcribed as David). It is likely there were more children, living with relatives, or they had simply flown the nest as the eldest Urena was 14. There are possible candidates from a quick GRO search, but they need to be cross-checked against baptisms. Until the library reopens, I am using Family Search, so cannot see images that would give occupation etc.
My Evans search was to find a little more about them as they married into my family; but out of interest I went deeper and wider. The Williams family were hawkers, so I assume they knew each other from the fairs. My search has stuck on the generation before in trying to find a John Williams from Newcastle in Emlyn, but wonder if all the families are related if I can go far enough back, maybe all being Lee and Boswell. The Williams family were fishermen, fish mongers and had fish and chip shops. In being a travelling showman, Daniel Evans was a public amusement caterer, with Catherine and their children assisting in the business. But in other records he was a peg maker, tin worker (winter months) and later a fish monger. Then from your knowledge, he went back to the fairs.
I don’t know if you are aware of
http://romanygenes.comA Rootschat member directed me to it as Daniel Evans and family are mentioned, just the 1901 census. I have more census records and at some point I will forward them to Romanygenes. I had a hunch Catherine Evans was a Boswell and found her listed among the Boswells in Wales page. Although there is an Evans page, it has many called Daniel, but no Edwin. The website uses Flash, so if it does not load, click on the space and request to load appears, click yes.
