Looking for SMITH family - Gypsy's ??

[Jay Cee]

My Greatgrandmother was MARTHA SMITH (born abt 1872) and came from a clan of Gypsy's named SMITH who lived in the Nottinghamshire or Staffordshire area.  They were headed by ESAU and HENTY SMITH who may have been her parents or grandparents.  The group were about 50 in number and owned their own land.  Does anyone recognise this family?

[Burto]

Hi Jay Cee,
Where abouts in Staffordshire/Nottinghamshire were your Smiths from?
I have Smith ancestors who moved from Staffordshire to Duffield to Aberdare to Duffield to Mansfield to Nottingham  so have often wondered about them although they had settled in Nottm by 1861.

[jorose]

Wikipedia has a mention of them, and says that Esau died in 1901, aged 92, and Henty in 1907:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Patch_Park

If you search for "Esau Smith" and "Black Patch" you'll find quite a bit of information. Also on Google Books there are some other mentions.

http://romanygenes2.webeden.co.uk/#/census19012/4527026664 has a list of some people who were at Black Patch Park for the 1901 census.  The widow Lavinia Smith, aged 91, may be Henty.

[CitizenSmith]

There's also a good book about the Black Patch Gypsy community by local historian Ted Rudge called 'Brumroamin'. Try Googling for stockists.

You can read about the book and its author plus see some photos of Esau's family here:

www.bbc.co.uk/birmingham/your_community/2003/09/romany/brumroamin.shtml

Sharon

[Jay Cee]

Thank you both for your help.  Is it possible to find out if Henty SMITH had children, if so, when.  My Greatgrandmother, Martha SMITH, born about 1872 and may have been one of her children.  Any clues?  Jay Cee

[social-butterflies]

hi jay cee
just found this info, but unsure if any help to you or not,......

esau (king of black patch) married sentinia smith (henty queen of black patch), had children eso smith d; 1924 staffordshire, cintamenta b;1848c arden wks, john buried 1909n aged 70yr uplands wks. not much unless it is your ancestors in which case every bit helps.
amanda

[Jay Cee]

Thanks aa1webb,

The Martha SMITH I am looking for is probably too young to be Henty's child.  I have a likely record of a Martha who was married in 1889 aged 17 years and had a father called John SMITH.  Could it be Henty's son John that you mentioned?  Did he have any children?  Can you tell me what the shorthand "buried 1909n aged 70 yrs uplands wks" means.  Where is Uplands?  Hope you can help. 

Regards Jay Cee

[An65]

Esau Smith b.cir 1809 died 1901 Jan-March Qtr West Bromwich District GRO index 6b 519 aged 92.

[social-butterflies]

hello jay cee,
really sorry but i didnt get a notice from here to say you replied so had no idea you were waiting for a reply. i will look through all my old junk and see what bits of paper i can find
might not be till tomorrow now, but truly sorry for delay
be a quick as family will let me be