HODGE,WEBB,DOCURA,HARRADENCE info

[bedfordshire boy]

"Webb" is an occupational name, meaning "weaver". As such there probably were gypsies with the name - but there were even more non gypsies also with the name.

Following your logic, Roger, that gypsies tended to intermarry, which I have found to be largely true, then the Docwra, Hodge, Cross and Witherow names that the Webbs in this thread married must be gypsies also.

In my experience I think it's very improbable

"I think they were gypsies, you just haven't found the evidence" is not an argument that I buy!

David

[Redroger]

Time will tell David, in the meantime I'll get the crystal ball working!

[bedfordshire boy]

In 1851 there were 26,000 odd Webbs living in England. 1,150 of them lived in Cambs. Were they all gypsies? No chance!

I don't doubt Roger when he says his specific Webb family in Bottisham, east of Cambridge near the Suffolk border, were gypsies. But the Webb family from the Gamlingay/Guilden Morden area in west Cambs and into adjoining Hunts and Beds had been there from the beginning of the 1700s. Hardly what you'd call "travellers".

Generalising with a fairly common name like Webb can lead to faulty deductions.

See the thread at http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,416579.0.html. regarding the Smith family, gypsies, in Cambs and numerous other counties ie they moved around a lot, with exotic Christian names. So were all Smiths gypsies? Hardly.

David

[Redroger]

No David, but many Smiths were and are. Regarding the sedentary nature of the Webbs in Cambridgeshire, my mother's family Ayres a well known gypsy surname had been sedentary in Cambs particularly Bottisham since before 1700. Certainly sedentary, and equally certainly of gypsy origin, it's not where you live, it's in the genes as they say.I think it would be more accurate to say that the Webb's and other people marrying into families with known gypsy surnames might themselves also be of gypsy origin.By the way, I had no idea whatsover that Ayres was a gypsy surname until I started researching through this site.Where I live now, Bournemouth/Poole there are very many sedentary gypsies, in 200 years time they will still be of the same ethnicity.

[WhiskyMac]

Not wishing to spoil the fun folks......

But would it be a good idea to raise this as a separate topic and allow this thread to get back on track. 

WhiskyMac

[bedfordshire boy]

Jaxy has got a lot of information to digest and evaluate. Doubtless if she has any follow up points she'll post again, possibly as a new thread as this one is getting a bit convoluted, with a number of families being covered.

Whether or not her Webbs were gypsies or of gypsy origin is relevant. Bouncing ideas around is an integral part of these boards which can sometimes lead you in interesting directions. Sometimes they lead into a siding, sometimes when you think you've hit the buffers someone comes up with an idea which removes them, and you're steaming ahead on the main line. Who knows what's the right track.

David

[Redroger]

Good point David, but remember the Buffers are on the front (and rear) of the locomotive, it's the buffer stops that you hit! If you do you face discipline procedures unless there was a very good reason for the collision.

[Duggie Romsey]

Hi Jaxy

I'm new to Roots Web - happened to notice your search for ancient Hodges! I'm Doug Hodge & have done quite a bit of research into the family.  I note that Selina mentions that your William (b 1842) was the son of William Hodge b 1816.  This William was my great great grandfather. He married Mary Edwards from Dry Drayton in 1840. Thay had seven children.  As you have heard he died in 1885.  Mary died in 1895.  Your William had a brother called Edwin b 1853.  Edwin moved from Great Gransden to Radlet in Hertfordshire to become a metropolitan police officer - his son Silas Edwin was my grandfather.

Back to William b 1816.  Selina was spot on - William was the son of William (yet another one!) b 1769 eldest of 5 children of William (!) Hodge & Elizabeth (nee Staffford). He married Dinah Toms in 1795.  Dinah died in 1709 & they had no children. He then married Edith Wagstaff in on 5th December 1813.  William & Elizabeth were married in 1768.  William was born in 1741 one of 6 children of Mark Hodge & Bridget Sergisson. Mark & Bridget married in 1733.  Mark was the village wheelwright & was the son of John & Anne Hodge.  John was also a wheelwright as was his father John (we believe he may have known Oliver Cromwell who lived just up the road in Huntingdon where he was MP). Mark was born on 4th November 1706 & died in 1760.  Bridget died on 20th December 1782.  We're not sure where Bridget came from but there may be a Scandinavian connection.
Hope this helps
All the best - feel free to get in touch - email:  (*)
DOUG

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[arthur1]

Hello i am new to roots chat my name is paul webb , have read with interest comments re Webb's of bottisham. My family have lived and are still living in bottisham/lode since the 1600s and possibly before this, to my knowledge we were not of the travelling persuasion, we were carpenters and wheelwrights. I am researching my family tree so if i can be of any help pls ask.