How to find a past trade/business?

[JWebb89]

Hi LarkSpur,

Excuse my ignorance but I'm not sure what that information means?

Those striked out details don't seem to match my Henry Munday.

I have him down as Henry Harold Munday born 1872 and his wife's name was Martha. 4 children, Henry AKA Harry Munday (my great grandfather) Alice Munday and Twins Cecil AKA Sid Munday & Edith Munday.

The striked out details you posted, are these of the owner of 67 Raynham Road?

Again apologies if I've missed something obvious!

Many thanks,

Joel.

[larkspur]

Hello Joel, and welcome.
I struck the details out because I first posted them, thinking this was the death of your Henry. On looking further and finding the probate of Henry J Munday I realised that his widow was not Martha. So the incorrect death. I then edited my post to show the details crossed out, with the explanation underneath.
 Had I removed them altogether someone else could have found them and made the same error as I did.
So your Henry is...
Births Mar 1872
MUNDAY    Henry Harold       
Woodstock    3a   689
Is this correct?

Modified
Is this his death
Deaths Mar 1924
MUNDAY    Henry H   
age 52   
W.Ham   (Registration District)
4a   434    (Volume and Page )

Marriages Mar 1900 
Munday    Henry Harold       
W. Ham    4a   183   
Surridge    Martha       
 W. Ham    4a   183    

[JWebb89]

Hi LarkSpur,

Apologies that makes sense now 

Yes that does seem to be the correct Henry... Although it isn't as straight toward as that. I'll try to briefly explain but this is probably something for a new thread.

The story passed down:

My great grandfather told my grandfather, my grandfathers brothers, my father and all the family this...

He was born Henry Munday in Somerset 1892 (52 Bath Road to be exact). He was always know as 'Harry'. I'll refer to him as 'Harry' going forward.

Harry told the family that when he was younger, his father was a gambler and lost a lot of money on a ship returning from India where he was working - he planned on buying a large store when he got back to Blighty but because of the money he lost could only afford a small tobacconist in Walthamstow.

Because of his father, Harry ran away from home and lived with gypsys - he was so fond of them that he took their surname (Webb) and also married a gypsy girl (Alice Stone - my great grandmother).

Harry had a younger brother named Sid (again a nickname - my uncle told me his real name was Cyril but I now believe it was Cecil from the documents I found). Harry stayed in contact with Sid after he ran away from home but none of the other family. We also know Sid had a twin sister but that's about it.

Up until a few weeks ago this was the story that the family knew of Harry - no idea who his parents or other family were, literally nothing and it's always been accepted that we would never know.

Then a friend of mine started helping me do some digging. This is what we have found...

Please see the attachments - the first two from 1901 - shows Henry Munday and wife Martha at the bottom of the first page and their son Harry at the top of the second page. The next is the 1911 census showing his brothers and sisters including 'Uncle Sid' and Sid's twin sister 'Edith'. But no Harry? Why... Well it matches up with the story that he ran away from home... All well and good.

The next problem is Harry's marriage certificate to Alice.

Notice he has put his name as Henry Morris? There was a rumour he picked up Morris from a doctor that looked after him when he first ran away from home but no evidence of that - he has also put Henry Morris as his fathers name.

Witnesses: Arthur and Phoebe Webb (no mark - they were illiterate = gypsys? That's the story). Where as Harry did have an educated hand. We have also come to the conclusion that Harry actually added Webb to his surname at a later date too. Why? Who knows...

Sorry for the MASSIVE explanation and there is probably more I've missed - as I said I should really start a new thread!!

Thanks for reading,

Joel.

[JWebb89]

Sorry I've just discovered I cannot attach the censuses or certificates as they are too big! If you'd like to see them in happy to send via email if anyone is interested 

[larkspur]

I have looked at the census' in question. Rootschat has a policy and we cannot post up anything on the 1911 census.

My goodness, aren't family stories wonderful. With my own, and there are quite a lot, they contain about 60% correct information, it is always fascinating to unearth the truth in them.
I will have to get back to this later as my family are demanding attention at the moment 

[JWebb89]

Haha absolutely!

Thanks for the tips LarkSpur, much appreciated.

This thread has gone a little off topic from the subject but never mind lol. All the best with yours hopefully we'll speak again soon.

Joel.

[jbml]

My grandmother grew up in Walthamstow and I've been doing a fair bit of "background" research on her life.

The running away to be with the gypsies rings true - there were some regular gypsy camping sites in and around Walthamstow.

You might like to get in touch with the Vestry House Museum - they are very big on the local history of Walthamstow, and you never know what they might turn up. They've got a stunning photo archive, too ... and they might even have a picture of your "small tobacconist in Walthamstow" for you.

[JWebb89]

Oh wow that's great, thank you for the heads up jbml! I will do that.

All the best with your research, never know our histories in Walthamstow may meet at some point

[ScouseBoy]

Quite apart from searching on line web sites,   you could also go to your local archives and records office.  Ask to see  old telephone directories or  Commercial Directories in print.