Cornish Mystery

[deb usa]

Hi MJP

Thanks for that ... I will keep the link too as I am always confused when it comes to the 'relationship' area.

Glad you enjoyed the read 

Deb

[JAP]

Hi HSD,

I guess that on your visit to the CRO you will be trying to find out anything you can - including anything about the name change (SLACK to SMITH).

You say that the name change happened between 1858 and 1861 (and that you suspect 1861).  I am wondering why?

Dates which have seemed likely to be connected to Ann SLACK (birth Truro, Dec qtr 1842; from IGI daughter of George SLACK & Amelia) might be pertinent?

It has been suggested that Emma Barton SLACK (birth Truro, Dec qtr 1861; from IGI listed as SLACK or BURTON, daughter of Joseph SLACK or BURTON and Ann) and William Francis B SLACK (birth Truro, Mar qtr 1867) were her illegitimate children.

There are two deaths which seem to be these children - Emma Burton SLACK age 8 and Francis Bassett SLACK age 3 (deaths Truro, both Sep qtr 1870).

So, assuming that they were children of Ann's (still a hypothesis), then it seems that the name SLACK was still being used in the Sep qtr 1870.  Though it could, of course, just be that the Registrar knew the children as SLACK and insisted on that name.

But the marriage in the Dec qtr 1870 which seems to be that of Ann (still a hypothesis) is under SMITH - marriages Truro Dec qtr 1870; Ann SMITH and Francis BASSETT appear on the same page.  Francis appears with wife Ann in the 1871 census (there's still a loose end as the birth of daughter Annie BASSETT, age 7 in the 1871 census, has not been located).

HSD, I wonder whether you have the birth cert of your George (George SLACK, births, Truro, Mar qtr 1852)?  Or any other certs relating to George SLACK/SMITH & Amelia, or their children?

It would be good (but expensive!) to be able to see the complete details (including informant) on each and every certificate of George SLACK/SMITH & Amelia and their children!  And all census entries for all of them.   There might just be some little clue hidden away somewhere!

Regards,

JAP
PS: Deb, did you ever mention who was the informant on the birth cert of Mary SLACK, 1858 which you obtained?
PPS: HSD, it would also be interesting if you could post some info about the gravestone inscriptions you mentioned. 
     

[deb usa]

Hi Jap

Nice to 'see' you again.

Re: Mary Slack/Smith birth cert.

Born; 23 July 1858, Union Street, Truro
Father: George SLACK   HAWKER
Mother: Amelia SLACK formerly Carmarton
Informant: George SLACK, father

Mary was their youngest child , so it seems that up to 1858 they were using the name Slack, but he is a HAWKER on the birth cert  and not a coach builder...so maybe he registered the children under SLACK but was already
using the name SMITH in public.   

On George and Amelia's marriage cert they were married in the Register Office in the district of Truro Union (13 Jan 1842). I wonder why there was no church wedding?  (George Slack and his father William Slack were coach builders)
Amelia KNORTTON/Carnarton's dad is Charles, a tanner.
(residence at time of marriage ..Calenick street. I wonder if the move from Calenick street to Union street  was a move 'down'in the world?)
witnesses to their marriage were: W. Robert Penrose and Christopher Matthews.

regards
Deb

[JAP]

Hi Deb,

The date of the total change of name from SLACK to SMITH does seem to be quite difficult to pinpoint.

Similarly the date when George's occupation changed from Coach Builder to Hawker (additional birth certs of his children might help?).

It certainly does seem that there was a difference between use of the SMITH name in everyday life vis-a-vis sticking with SLACK officially (the latter perhaps imposed on the family by the local Registrar and even the clergy).

As far as I can see, the first recorded usage of the SMITH name that we have to date is in the 1861 census.  But SLACK continues in the births and deaths of the illegitimate children of their daughter Ann (if such she was, and if such they were) until Sep qtr 1870.

All very interesting.

JAP
PS: SLACKSMITH is a name I seem always to have been aware of in Australia!  I wonder what its origin is!
PPS: It is interesting that HSD's Dad had heard of the name change.  I wonder whether any other descendants of George SLACK/SMITH might have heard further details of the reasons ...

[Highspeeddeath]

Hi All,

I'm off to Truro to the County Records Office tomorrow, meanwhile why did George (b1802) leave London. My father seems to remember hearing that George travelled down here with a friend and that that friend settled in mid-Cornwall. Was that one of his brothers? - Charles or John? Was he running away from someone or thing? Maybe an earlier wife because when he married in 1842, he was 39 which in that era was quite old to be putting down roots. Also, was Ann born shortly after the marriage? I need to re-read the paperwork I have to see if my Grey matter is reading it right. Meanwhile, Slack, not a common name in the country, let alone the county, was still figuring in procreativity in the 1860-70s. Polygamy??

Lets see what I can unearth in the morning 

HSD

[deb usa]

ummmmmm

I cannot find George Slack in 1841.

 I thought this may give us a clue as to where he was and what he was doing before he married Amelia Carnarton.
As a matter of fact I cannot find any of the Slack family in 1841.
I even used an older DOB for George as he was baptised along with his brothers in 1803.

Deb

[deb usa]

hi again

I am adding this little snippet of info because of the family names mentioned..
(the info comes from Colleena who posts on the 'Travellers Boards "  )

"Maria Boswell ( married Christopher Penfold) in 1909, she was the sister to Abraham Boswell my great grand Father,
I came across a reference to a civil court case which was reported in the paper "The Cornishman" dated Sept 1907 where a Abraham Boswell had given evidence on behalf of his sister Maria/Griffiths/ Boswell, who's was taken to court by a man called Slack, with whom she had been living with for 15 years.
That's all I know at this stage, I made inquiries and without an actual date, it means hiring a researcher, so maybe a packed lunch and a trip to the UK maybe the go, all interesting stuff this..."

The Boswells and the Penfolds are both Romany gypsy families.... George Slack changed his name to Smith (a well known Gypsy name) and changed his occupation to 'hawker".

I have no idea how relevant this may be but it involves some of my family ...
Maria BOSWELL, mentioned in the article above, married Christopher PENFOLD (this was his 2nd wife)...
Amelia and George Slack/Smith had my Mary , b 1858. Mary married John PALMER and had my Bessie Palmer... okay this is where it gets interesting ...

Bessie PALMER married Thomas PENFOLD.....

My Thomas Penfold and Christopher Penfold were BROTHERS.

it is strange that I have Slacks who became Smiths  and changed occupation to hawker and within the same family we have a  Palmer/Smith marrying a Penfold , and a SLACK that gets involved with a BOSWELL who then  marries a Penfold.

BTW Maria BOSWELL's brother was in prison for many years ....

Okay ...as I said I have no idea if this is relevant as the years in which this took place do not seem to match up but maybe all info regarding the SLACKS should be mentioned here.


deb

[Highspeeddeath]

Hi All,
Since my last post, I have visited the County Records Office in Truro and also visited the Family History Centre in Truro during which time I managed to dot a few I's and cross a few T's.

If my digging is correct, and some of you may already have found this out, George Slack was married in Truro in the first quarter of 1842. However, we believe that according to an earlier Census record, he was also married whilst living in Holborn though the name of his spouse is not clear.

Now I have to find out if they are one and the same person and if records can be found in the Holborn area to substantiate this.

Will be back when I have more............


HSD

[deb usa]

Hi HSD

Nice to see you! I have just looked through the 1841 census and there is this:

Mr Slack 40    born Middlesex, London
Mrs Slack 40
living in Ossulstone, a div of Holborn
HO107/673/1 fol 19 pg 30

The enummerator has filled in other  people's occupations.... but there is nothing for Mr and Mrs Slack.... I wonder if this is Our George and 1st wife, trying to lay low.  

Thanks for checking all the records . I look forward to hearing from you again.

Deb