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Some Special Interests => Travelling People => Topic started by: Neil Davies on Friday 03 June 16 00:38 BST (UK)

Title: Searching for my Romany roots.
Post by: Neil Davies on Friday 03 June 16 00:38 BST (UK)
So the cats out of the bag and it turns out my Great Grandfather was a Romany. I dont have much to go on as i can not afford to pay for census subscriptions. The only info I have is his name William Cooper, a possible brother called Fred Copper, a sister called Leah Cooper a daughter called Goyce Cooper who married Hugh Allan Davies. He also had a son whom died sometime in the 70`s. A Grandson called Michael Cooper. Settled in North Wales but i think came from the midlands. I know it weak, but i hope some one can help me.
 Thanks
Title: Re: Searching for my Romany roots.
Post by: Cas (stallc) on Friday 03 June 16 00:42 BST (UK)
Welcome to Rootschat 😀

Possible marriage, any good ?

Marriages Dec 1947   
Cooper    Joyce E    Davies    Holywell    8a   1163    
Davies    Hugh A    Cooper    Holywell    8a   1163   

Cas
Title: Re: Searching for my Romany roots.
Post by: Cas (stallc) on Friday 03 June 16 00:58 BST (UK)
www.freebmd.org

Try this site to search for relatives.  There seems to be a possible birth to this couple in Holywell born 1950 G. A. Davies, cannot name as still maybe living.

Good Luck


Cas
Title: Re: Searching for my Romany roots.
Post by: Annette7 on Friday 03 June 16 01:42 BST (UK)
Cooper is such a common surname we will need a little more about Joyce.

The marriage to Hugh Allan Davies shows her as Joyce E. Cooper - do you know what the 'E' stood for?   I note he died in 1990 in Cheshire - where/when did Joyce die?   Roughly when was she born?

You need to be able to try and pinpoint her birth entry to start.

Annette


Title: Re: Searching for my Romany roots.
Post by: tonepad on Friday 03 June 16 06:53 BST (UK)
Familysearch.org is free and gives extracts of census data.

I can access the Ancestry website at my local library for free with a library card.
Then able to email census sheets to myself.
Title: Re: Searching for my Romany roots.
Post by: Neil Davies on Friday 03 June 16 10:59 BST (UK)
Yes Hugh A Davies is my Grandfather, Geofferey Davies is my father. Joyce my nana died in 2010. She was in her early eightes, 81/83 I think, possible death place is Chester. Thanks for all your help!! Im pretty sure the E in my nanas name stands for Elizabeth, which also could of been her mothers first name
Title: Re: Searching for my Romany roots.
Post by: Cas (stallc) on Friday 03 June 16 13:10 BST (UK)
Looks a good possible

Marriages Jun Qtr 1928   
Cooper William J    Shone    Hawarden    11b   462   
Shone Elizabeth A    Cooper    Hawarden    11b   462    


Births Mar Qtr 1929   
Cooper Joyce E  MMN  Shone   Hawarden 11b 302   

Another child to couple possibly more on FreeBMD

Births Mar Qtr 1932   
Cooper Ronald H (Howard) MMN Shone Holywell 11b 244

Deaths Mar Qtr 1975   
COOPER RONALD HOWARD born 6 Feb 1932.  ALYN/D SIDE 24 101

Search FreeBMD for marriage of Ronald in Holywell Mar Qtr 1955 to * Jones cannot name as poss living. Think M Cooper was their child born same Qtr/year in Chester reg district

Cas
Title: Re: Searching for my Romany roots.
Post by: Cas (stallc) on Friday 03 June 16 14:08 BST (UK)
Death year out but only as good as informant, was born 1902.

Have found Elizabeth with family on last census unable to post details due to copyright. Will post details of family in 1901 census.

Births Jun Qtr 1902 
Shone Elizabeth Augusta Chester 8a 424

Deaths Sep Q 1973   
COOPER ELIZABETH AUGUSTA born 6 March 1903 Holywell 8A 2266   

Cas
Title: Re: Searching for my Romany roots.
Post by: Cas (stallc) on Friday 03 June 16 14:59 BST (UK)
1901 census for family of Elizabeth born 1902
Hughes Houses, 3, Queensferry, Saltney (Flint), Chester, Cheshire, England

Thomas W   Shone Head, Married 43 Joiner,  St Martin, Shropshire, England   
Elizabeth   Shone Wife, Married   30 Hawarden, Flintshire, Wales
William L   Shone, Son   5   Hawarden, Flintshire
Dora   Shone, Daughter   3   Hawarden, Flintshire

Registration district   Chester
RG13/Piece number 3379/ Folio 26/page 18

**********
Marriage Jun Qtr 1894  Chester 8a 578
Parry   Elizabeth       
Shone Thomas William

EDIT: Have found the marriage, let me know if interested in details
Cas
Title: Re: Searching for my Romany roots.
Post by: Cas (stallc) on Friday 03 June 16 15:56 BST (UK)
Best to obtain marriage cert for William J Cooper, for info on father etc.  There are so many William John or James or other, difficult to pin down correct one.

Suggested DOB is June/Sept Qtr 1907, but there are still a few and POB Unknown.

Have not come across any Romany links since marriage

Good luck

Cas
Title: Re: Searching for my Romany roots.
Post by: Neil Davies on Friday 03 June 16 22:51 BST (UK)
Best to obtain marriage cert for William J Cooper, for info on father etc.  There are so many William John or James or other, difficult to pin down correct one.

Suggested DOB is June/Sept Qtr 1907, but there are still a few and POB Unknown.

Have not come across any Romany links since marriage

Good luck



Cas



This sounds correct as all romany links would od stoped when my great grandad got married. all, if any, links come from him only
Title: Re: Searching for my Romany roots.
Post by: charlie.green on Saturday 04 June 16 10:49 BST (UK)
There is a great Romani group on FB if you are on it with plenty of others to help you.Romany heritage family history.
Title: Re: Searching for my Romany roots.
Post by: Cas (stallc) on Sunday 05 June 16 09:22 BST (UK)
Best to obtain marriage cert for William J Cooper, for info on father etc.  There are so many William John or James or other, difficult to pin down correct one.

Suggested DOB is June/Sept Qtr 1907, but there are still a few and POB Unknown.

Have not come across any Romany links since marriage

Good luck



Cas



This sounds correct as all romany links would od stoped when my great grandad got married. all, if any, links come from him only



An acknowledgement of research found, would be nice, or even a simple thanks.

Curious to know why you think past links were severed with your GG grandfather Romany or travellers roots when married.  It is a broad statement, from my limited knowledge with what I have read..appear to be clannish and very family oriented.  Just my thoughts....


Cas
Title: Re: Searching for my Romany roots.
Post by: Neil Davies on Sunday 05 June 16 18:24 BST (UK)
The reason i though this was because it was only ever my great granddad (and gossip from the other side of the family who spoke about these roots). My Dads friends always joking with him about selling some pegs, i never got that "joke". My Mothers mother used to live by them when see was younger and was mortified when she found out my mum was marrying my dad, the son of Joyce, a Cooper. They had a bit of a bad rep by all accounts. I think that is why when my nan got married and became a Davies she tried to keep it hush for the sake of education and not getting abuse etc etc.  Anyway it turns out that it was my great grandfathers granddad, a James cooper born in 1851 was the last "pure" Romany in my line as we cannot find any records of his parents or siblings. He seems to appear from thin air on the 1971 census and married a "country" girl. So although i was wrong that my Great Granddad was the first one to marry country he was defiantly the last to try and keep his roots alive, but my Nana was having non of it.
Title: Re: Searching for my Romany roots.
Post by: Neil Davies on Sunday 05 June 16 18:29 BST (UK)
Sorry. I actually did messge people saying thanks, there was that many helping i was kind of shocked and must of got confused and missed you out. An amazing lady from here has helped me out alot and i have been busy looking through her research and trying to get my head it round and simplfy it. Didnt mean to be rude
neil