James Arkinstall showman

[lizdb]

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!

[lizdb]

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

[lizdb]

'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.

[PillyP]

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