Granny Hicks/Janet Hughes

[Al16]

Hello all,

I am researching my husband's family tree but have hit a bit of a wall with Janet Hughes/Hicks (also seen spelt Janette) B: 1870 D: 1974.  I will give a bit of background to her and the family.

I know her birth was never registered as I have a newspaper clipping from a story about her turning 100; it stated she was upset she wouldn't get a letter from the queen because of this.

I have her on the 1939 census with her husband Joseph Isaacs B: 1861-1940. At this time they were living in the encampment at South Crofty, Carn Brea. This remains a gypsy site in present day. I also know from the newspaper clippings that she had 17 children and as a child she travelled between Cornwall, Herefordshire and Southampton so would have stopped in all the counties between. I know the family continued to travel to Somerset as my father-in-law did this as a child. I can't find her on any previous censuses, I have tried searching using her children's names but no luck. There are a few Janet Hicks in Cornwall on the 1881/91 census but very difficult to know if this is her. Both her and her husband Joseph are in a shared grave at Gwennap church and I have burial records for them both. This is a link to her in our public tree on Ancestry https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/person/tree/63884068/person/162202815006/facts

What I would really like to find is her parents. My husband's branch of the family don't have this information but considering the number of children she had I wonder if anyone has researched her with any more success?

If anyone is able to help I would be most appreciative.

[osprey]

if you check the free search on the 1921 census, the family is in Redruth.
Joseph is born 1876 in Taunton & Jane 1882 in Dorchester Dorset. Children Alice b. Bristol 1905, Tom b. Redruth 1909, Louie b. Dorset 1911, Mathew b. Redruth 1913, Joseph b. Par 1915, Elizabeth b. Redruth 1916, Sam b. Redruth 1918, Polly b. Redruth 1921.

When did they marry? You have a date on the tree for the marriage that is after the death of Joseph.
Do you have a copy of the marriage certificate to confirm names of their fathers & their occupations?

The 1939 register gives a date of birth for Janette of 19 Aug 1880 which is more likely than 1870 given that there was a daughter born in 1925. 

[osprey]

marriage could be this one in 1921
Janette Hughes dec qtr 1921 Redruth vol 5c pg 453 with Joe Hicks the only other name on the page. You can get a copy of the cert from the GRO.

https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/login.asp

[heywood]

I just typed that list out too 

There is a birth for Alice Isaacs, b 1905 Bristol but she has mother’s name White.

Thomas Isaacs 1910 has mmn Hughes though.

The census would be more informative perhaps.

[crisane]

Given that there seems to be some confusion as to Janet's date of birth has this one been eliminated?
Births Sept 1/4 1885 
Janet Hughes registration distric Sturminster Dorset 5a   245

[heywood]

Possibility here

1891 1762/74 has
Janet Hughes b Blandford, Dorset
Parents Charles and Alice and several older siblings.

Address Caravan of Gypsies in North (?) Down Wood, Thorverton, Devon

[osprey]

was just looking at the same census, Heywood. Looks a distinct possibility. I think I've found a baptism for at least one of the children.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:WCQF-SPZ

[osprey]

baptisms in Dorset
East Lulworth 8 Dec 1869 Harry son of Charles & Alice Hughes, travelling clothes pin makers
Folke 16 Feb 1874 Athaliah daughter of Charles & Alice Hughes, gipsies.
Fontmell Magna 26 Oct Cinderella daughter of Charles & Alice Hughes, in a van, travelling gipsy

birth reg Cinderella Hughes dec qtr 1882 Shaftesbury vol 5a pg 231 mmn Franklin

the Sturminster birth reg for a Janet has - for mmn , so could be an illegitimate child

[Al16]

Thank you all for the replies.

The marriage we have on the tree is incorrect, think it was inherited when we imported them from another tree. When I noticed it I was confused how someone got  married 20 years after they died.

We think the 1920 marriage is potentially no them but coincidentally a Joe Hicks marrying a Janet Hughes although the location does match up. We have their first child as born before this marriage. Also Joseph Isaacs is definitely an Isaacs not Hicks. It seems Janet used the Hicks/Hughes name interchangeably.

The 1921 census is helpful thank you it is possible that Janet wasn't sure of her actual age but is documented as being 104 when she died and the 1882 birth is closer to the Charles and Alice family which we have as possibilities for her parents.