RootsChat.Com

As already mentioned above Louisa (Elliott) and her brother (Thomas) seemed to visit their maternal grandparents at their house - 10 Henry Road, Shirley, Southampton.  Here Louisa and her husband Ernest Stammers were lodging at the 1901 census.  The census statess that other members of the travelling family were living nearby in their caravans.  I have met a lady who lives quite close to Henry Road and she tells me the land at the end of that road has never been developed (presumably where the caravans were in 1901)  There is now an application to build there.  I guess anyone who is having problems tracing members of the travelling families of Elliott and West at the 1901 census might be able to find them at the above at the time.  I've been endeavouring to draw up the family tree from Edward and Sarah down to Louisa, Solomon and siblings - seems virtually all have some descendants but still nothing on Louisa sadly.

Maureen

I searched the 1841 census for Edward and found him (terrible reproduction) I think with his family, siblings and parents, John and Jane living in Chorlton upon Medlock aged 11 years.  The age is right but I'm not sure - what do you think?

I think Alison's gt grandmother was sister to Louisa - the lady I am trying to trace to find out what happened between the census of 1901 and January 1902 when Ernest (her husband) says he is single!  About the Ipswich link - traditionally there was always a visiting fair in Bramford Road - it was still going on when I was a teenager - if only I had known then what I know now I would have gone looking for the Elliotts and Wests!!!  Jean hasn't joined us yet so I will e-mail her again.  Several of you seem to be gt gt grandchildren of Solomon and I know Jean is related too.

Maureen

Thanks for the reply - I have Louisa and Earnest's marriage certificate - her father Edward put his occupation as 'briciklayer' which seems strange! My grandparents were witnesses at the wedding (she being Ernest's sister) I have e-mailed Jean Coalport who has loads of info and press cuttings about Solomon - I hope to see she joins this thread.  An old aunt who was born in 1898 and died at the age of 96 remembered all her life going to a gypsy funeral and seeing a burning caravan - for some reason she was very put off looking like a gypsy refusing to wear a headscarf or large earrings all her life!!!  This would have been around 1902 which is when Louisa and Ernest seem to have had a parting of the ways.  There is a Louisa Stammers shown dying tht year in London following childbirth but this is a completeloy different family and just a very confusing  happening. Louisa is listed in several of the Elliott family trees but surprisingly no one has heard anything about her - I fear something rather unpleasant may have happened - can't find any trace whatsoever of Louisa after 1901 which seems strange and, as I said - Ernest's death is not registered at Kew.  I wonder whether he committed suicide and his body wasn't found but it was known he died on the date shown on his death card.

Just logged on to see if I could find anythng out about the Elliott and West travellers and I am very excited to see there is a link to the family in Ipswich in 1896.  My great uncle Ernest James Stammers married Louisa Elliott - daughter of Edward - in Ipswich in 1899 - could this link be how they met?  In 1901 they are living with Louisa's maternal grandparents in Shirley - by early 1902 Ernest enlists saying he is single and has no children - 1905 he goes AWOL July 5 1907 he dies - no mention of relatives on his death card and no record of his death at Kew.  Also can't find out anything about Louisa after 1901.  In view of the family links are there any legends which have been passed down about Louisa and Ernest?  I'd love to hear from someone - already in touch with Tracy.

Maureen