Lovekin/Stanford/Smith -Sussex/Kent

[Steve Abley]

Hi Jackie,
Thanks for the offer of looking at your pdf. I don't want to sound ungrateful but my research is mostly on the Abley line except where it crosses into other families like Wildy then I will research parents and list siblings of the person marrying into the Abley's, I might have made that sound more complicated than it is!
I found both the research and the story behind Thomas Wildy and that of his father Benjamin fasinating and will continue to enrich it as I uncover new facts. That said I would love to have a photo of Ellen as she is direct offspring of Mary Ann Abley.
As far as my thoughts on Romany links, I am leaning toward the nays on this. Benjamin a labourer all his life was recorded in 1841/51/61 and 71 census as living in the Stroud area. There is no doubt that Thomas travelled especially in his early years selling his umbrellas but also I think to escape from his first marriage. Later settling down in Cincil Street, Lincoln where he died.

By the way how do you go offlist?
Steve

[kerryb]

Hi Jackie

I too have this family in my ancestry. One of their daughters Helena or sometimes Lorraine married James Harmer my 2 x grandfather. I am currently working on trying to find birth certificates for all the children and I am beginning to wonder whether there are actually 3 different sets of children. Helena and William have Emily as Emily Rawlins (yet another surname to contend with!) the later children seem to be John and Emilys.

I am awaiting Bertha's birth certificate to see what that says but as Emily was at home with her father for the 1861 census I just wonder if John was actually 'married' to someone else for the older children?

So far I have only ever managed to find a baptism for Florence/Flora in 1870, none of the other children seem to have been baptised.

Anyway I would be glad to hear your comments.

Kerry

[Hayley01]

Hi im also trying to trace family that were travellers, My mum was born in 1931 her father was George Stanford mother Florence Emily Stanford formally Chalfont, I know her father was a hawker and that my mum was born in Tunbridge Wells (Tunbridge rurrall).

Can anyone relate to this in any way?

[Hayley01]

Hi im related to the Stanfords they are Romany Gypsys, My mus mum and dad were Floence emily Stanford and her dad George Stanford, he later had a second marriage to Ann Stanford, im am trying to look up the family history as well so any help would be much appreciated.

[jackiewing2000]

Message for Kerry. After a year, had a Eureka moment -just been in touch with the grand daughter of Jessie Lovekin/Smith. Although she is in her 80's now - she said, yes, she has always known she has Romany ancestry. Looks as though our theory with all the clues was correct!

[kerryb]

Hi Jackie

One to put on the back burner for now then. every so often I get this family out again and chip away at it but at least we can understand why we can't solve it now!