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Some Special Interests => Travelling People => Topic started by: PillyP on Wednesday 25 February 09 14:23 GMT (UK)
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Hi,
Does anyone have any information, or point me the right way, on James Arkinstall b1872, Wellington, Shropshire. He was described as a 'Showman'. Although not directly related , he was a stepson to my great grandfather William Ball from Dawley, Shropshire. My cousin seems to remember him or his son at Welshpool about 1940's.
Thanks,
Pilly
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What have you got already? Presumably something to have a dob and occupation. Which censuses if any have you alreaady got him on?
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I have them in 1901 and 1911...don't have details with me at the moment. James, born 1872 was the son of Mary Arkinstall, nee Darrall. Her spouse Thomas Arkinstall was killed in a coal mine in 1869.
As James was born 1872, can't be sure of the father. he was described as a showman in 1901 and a travelling showman in 1911, if I remember correctly.
He married Alice Jones, she had a son in 1896 before they were married, registered as James Arkinstall Jones. He became James Arkinstall in 1901 census. That's about all I know so far. If James junior followed his father as a showman, then he was probably the one my cousin saw at Welshpool. She thinks he had a stall with china or similar for sale.
Pilly
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Here he is in 1891 - not a showman there.
RG12 2098 50 13
Charles Hay, Dawley
William Ball 66 Ironworker
Mary 53 wife bn Little Wenlock
John Arkinstall stepson 32 Coal Miner bn Lawley Bank
Noah Arkinstall stepson 36 Coal miner bn LB
James Arkinstall stepson 18 coal hauler bn LB
Annie Ball 12 dtr bn LB
Robert Ball son 10 bn Dawley
Sarah Arkinstall grandaughter 4 bn Dawley
Have you got the family in 1881 - free to search?
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1881
RG11 2635 92 2
Dawley
William Ball 50 Iron forge man labourer bn Dawley
Mary 44 bn L Wenlock
Ann 3 bn Dawley
Robert 6 mths bn D
John Arkinstall stepson 23 Iron Stone miner bn Wellington
Noah "20 stepson coal miner bn W
Jane "15 stepdtr bn W
Mary " 13 bn W
James " 8 bn W
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Very unclear - but it looks like Mary is a widow already in 1871. Certainly no hubby there. That fits in with the death you have in 1869.
1871
RG10 2807 67 18
Lawley Bank
Mary Arkinstall 34 widw? housekeeper bn Lit Wenlock
John H 12 bn Wellington
Noah 10 bn W
Sarah 6 bn W
MAry 3 bn W
Levi Darrell father 75 past work bn Litl Wenlock
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Thankyou..I have most of the records. I guess James wanted a better, safer life.
I wondered if there are any records etc of him and others . I don't know much about his occupation, except that he would have been a regular at the seasonal fairs held around that part of the country. I don't have any records with me, but I'm sure 'his' son James was involved with his father's business in the 1911 census I have.
Pilly
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Thankyou..I have most of the records.
Thats why I asked what censuses you already had, and you answered 1901 and 1911!
So he left mining and changed to "showman" (quite a change!) between 1891 and 1901 by the look of it. must be about the time he married and took on young James - so although less risky healthwise, one would have thought it was a risky move financially at a time when he was taking on commitments.
I wonder if wife Alice came from a "showman" family and it was his inlaws who got him into it?
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That's a good point! May be worth a trip down her line when I get a chance. Should be quite easy with a name like Jones and so near to Wales?
Thanks lizdb
Pilly
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The 1901 census is interesting, after JAmes' marriage to Alice.
He is still living at same address as 1891, Charles Lay Dawley, and William Ball, Mary his mother, and his Arkinstall brothers, and Robert Ball half brother etc next door. Is he still there in 1911?
So he certainly isnt a travelling Showman. It looks like the enumerator has added "exhib" next to showman - short for Exhibitor maybe?
Getting his and Alice's marriage cert will give her dad's name and occupation - which will be interesting to see what he did for a living, and will be the first step in tracing her Joneses! she says born Dawley, so seems to be a local lass...
Marriage
Ap/MAy/Jun 1900
Madeley ref 6a 1394
James Arkinstall
one of brides - Alice Ann Jones
at least she has a middle name!
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There are several Alice Ann jones born in Shropshire around the right time, but only one in Madeley reg district (I am thinking that covers Dawley, but dont know for sure)
Jul/Aug/Sep 1874
MAdeley ref 6a 634
Alice Ann Jones
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'81 and '91 censuses have more than one Alice Jones born Dawley at the right time on them, any could be her, as middle names not always given on census.
There are Alice Ann Joneses there, but not specifically born Dawley, and as I said there were several other ALice Ann's born elsewhere in Shropshire.
So I think it will be a case of getting her birth cert, or finding father from her and JAmes's marriage cert, as the next move if you did wish to trace more on her.
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It would be interesting to follow Alice back, I'll get there one day. The 1911 census shows James as a showman with 'travelling' in brackets. I haven't got the census with me so I can't see if they are still living next door to the others. As I am logged into 1911 somewhere else, I can't log in from here! I have looked for Alice Jones, but can't be sure, as you say the marriage cert. is the way forward.
Following your idea that Alice may be connected to showmen, I searched 1911 for Jones & 'Showman'. It did bring up two in Shropshire, but neither were recorded as showmen. I think it's still worth following that line though. By the way, Robert Ball was my grandfather, we still have his brass miner's lamp.
Pilly