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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Northamptonshire => England => Northamptonshire Lookup Requests => Topic started by: I forget on Sunday 25 May 08 17:08 BST (UK)
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Hi there,
???
I am trying to find out more about my Grandfather, Walter SHERRATT. So far I know that his father's name was John. He married Sylvester HARRIS, who was a Romany gypsy though they lived in a house in Lincolnshire.
He was called a 'showman' and I presume he was also a traveller of some sort, certainly in his younger days.
I have posted on the Traveller board and have been given lots of wonderful info about Sylvester's side of the family, but nobody seems to know anything about the SHERRATTS.
The only index entry for the birth of any Walter SHERRATT that matches is in 1900 in Wellingborough. I have yet to get this cert (funding shortage!) but have been trying to see if I can find this Sherratt family in the 1901 census. If I find the family I feel pretty sure I can spot if they are likely to be the right ones. ie any 'settled' family with jobs like 'collier' or 'milner' are likely not to be correct.
Unfortunately despite trying every variant I can think of, I can't find them.
The only Sherratt I can find in 1901 in Northamptonshire (or anywhere else come to that) that seems even vaguely close is a John Sherratt age 69 who is living in a caravan and is a 'Galloping Horses proprietor'. ie he's too old to be Walter's dad, but could this be a relative? The Grandfather even?? (Little Welding, Kettering is the place)
Bearing this is mind, can anyone find anything better than what I have already in the 1901 census?
Also, I was wondering if anyone can find Walter's birth/christening in the Wellingborough area? I don't know if this is too big an area to search. If so, then let me know and I'll just have to get the birth cert and hope for the best! If this could be found then maybe this might help narrow the area to search the 1901 census. I know that the family may have moved away, but as Walter would have been a baby I'm hoping they may have not moved far.
Bit stuck, any ideas would be helpful. (I'm not local to the area, btw, so can't reach local libraries easily).
Cindy
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Hi Cindy
Have you tried Freebmd web site for Walter's birth.
I will have a look at Little Weldon and see if there are any more clues
unless someone else does it 1st. :)
Sandy
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Gosh that was a quick reply!
yes I have tried Freebmd, that's where I got the index ref for Walter's birth in 1900. I also checked another site, which I have paid for, as it has the full indexes, as I can no longer go up to the FRC, as its closed, and look at the books :(
This is why I'm pretty sure that this is the only one round the right date and in the general East coast area. However, I don't know if this is a travelling family and if the father is John.
If you come up with anything let me know, if not still let me know!
Thanks
Cindy
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Hi Cindy
You may already have this link
http://nt.net/whogan/tree/sherratt.htm
It says you may contact with queries.
Might help.
Sandy
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Hi Sandy,
Thanks for that, will do, though it initially looks more linked to the large concentration of Sherratts in Staffordshire, which I've noticed on the census.
Anybody got any more ideas?
Cheers
Cindy
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Might be a variation of
Sharrock/Sherrock/Sharrog these are found in Holcot
or
Shearhog which is found in Pytchley
Marilyn
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There are Sherratts in Higham Ferrers to this day.
Don't know how long the family has been here though.
At least 25 years,cos my son was at school with one of them ;D
Carol
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Hi All
Linking topic as a lot of information here also.
http://www.rootschat.com/links/03vm/
Sandy
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Thanks to Marilyn and Carol for their comments, I'll bear them in mind. (still searching btw).
Sandy, yup, you've spotted my post on the traveller board, :) its given me a huge amount to digest about the Harris family and associated (Thorpe Gray etc) but it seems no-one has anything on Sherratt.
But if anyone is linked to 'traveller' Harris's etc, do have a look.
(Walter Sherratt married Sylvester Harris)
Ah well, I'll keep trying...
Cindy
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Hi Cindy
You may already have this link
http://nt.net/whogan/tree/sherratt.htm
It says you may contact with queries.
Might help.
Sandy
This site is now located at http://sherrattfamily.com
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thanks for that, I think I have already contacted that site and there was no connection (at least back to 1880's), but maybe it may be of use to other Sherratt researchers.
Cindy
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Hi again!
I've been in contact with a cousin, who has done alot of work on the Sherratt line and she has them now back to Simeon Sherratt who married Ann - early 1800's. She has contacted me this morning to say that indeed there is Simeon's family on the Sherratt site, but without the info about John, (due to him having gone off to become a traveller I assume), which she said she hadn't spotted there previously.
She has now e-mailed re: Simeon, so you'll be hearing from her shortly.
Thanks again Whogan :)
Cindy
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Hello I was wondering if anyone had any family connected to the Harris family my mommys maiden name is Harris and she grew up on a caravan site and only knows bits and bobs about her background so I was wondering if anyone knew if Harris was a traveller last name as I have suspicions that my mommy is a traveller as she doesn't like to talk about her past and the caravan site she grew up in as had to leave there so if anyone knows any information about my family it would be helpful to get my mother to open up
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Hello Katherine
Not sure how you get her to open up, except to show interest and sensitivity about her memories.
She may have reasons for not talking and you may just have to accept it.
I would only suggest maybe getting photos out and having a chat.
Or asking if someone else in the family is interested in talking.
In the meantime you can just use what you have and do research like any family historian assuming nothing and looking for the evidence.
I found that as I did my own research that my dad who stated he was not interested, became interested as I found out stuff and would occasionally show him and ask about photos etc. But I never got a lot from him, but what I did I really appreciate.
Back to your question about the name Harris, yes it is a traveller name, but it is also a very common non traveller name too.
I’m not sure why you have picked my post but if you have reason to believe she is related to Harris families travelling in East Anglia then go to reply 7 in this thread where there is a link to a much more involved thread that includes Harris.
But I would suggest starting a new thread on the traveller board (which that link will take you to). Put what information you are certain of and I’m sure one of the experienced researchers will point you in the right direction.
There is even a book about the Harris families, but it doesn’t have much about my line.
Honestly I have found it easier to learn about researching family history by starting on my non traveller lines first as they are generally easier to find .
Good luck
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Hello I was wondering if anyone had any family connected to the Harris family my mommys maiden name is Harris and she grew up on a caravan site and only knows bits and bobs about her background so I was wondering if anyone knew if Harris was a traveller last name as I have suspicions that my mommy is a traveller as she doesn't like to talk about her past and the caravan site she grew up in as had to leave there so if anyone knows any information about my family it would be helpful to get my mother to open up
Hello Katherine and welcome to Rootschat.
You need to research in the same way that any of us do,start with your mother's birth cert (or grandparents info if you know it) and work back from there.
If your parents married then getting hold of their marriage cert may help.
Do you have your own birth cert,if not you may find yourself on https://www.freebmd.org.uk/ and you can get any certs for £11 from the official GRO site.
https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/
Carol