Arthur Penfold : Traveller and Hawker

[KGarrad]

Priscilla was born 1876; Kathleen was born 1920.
Making Priscilla 44 at the birth.

Secondly, the 1939 National Register was not a census!
A census is a snapshot of who was where on a specified date.
The 1939 Register was later used, and updated, by the NHS until the 1990s.

[MacMahuna]

Of course, you are right!

[Mabel Bagshawe]

According to the 1939 Census there was also another daughter, Kathleen, who was born in 1920 but this would have made her mother Priscilla in her mid 50s when she gave birth to her . So many secrets in the family.

I think your maths is out. Priscilla b 1873, Kathleen b 1920, making Priscilla about 46/47 when she was born, which seems more within the bounds of possibility

Kathleen Penfold
Birth       23 Aug 1920
Baptism     18 Sep 1920 Plymouth, St Peter,
Religion    Anglican
Father    Arthur Penfold
Mother    Priscilla Penfold

Birth registered as Penfold, mmn Thompson.
Married as a Thompson

[MacMahuna]

Thank you.

[Beverley185]

Priscilla Thompson gave her birth date as 30 December 1876 on the 1939 Register but her birth was registered in the March Quarter 1878 so she was actually born in 1877.

[Beverley185]

I have uncovered more information regarding Priscilla Thompson.  She has a younger sister called Louisa who wrote a memoir 'Love Story of a Gypsy'.  She mentions her much older sisters Ria and Prissy and that they married brothers. Maria married Robert Penfold in Shirley, Southampton on 19 October 1893.  Robert had a brother Frederick who died in 1899 aged 21.  I noticed that there was a burial for another Frederick Penfold in the same month in the burial register for Kingston Cemetery in Portsmouth.  He is recorded as aged 20 months, son of Frederick Penfold.  I found his birth registered in South Stoneham now part of Southampton and he was the son of Frederick Penfold and Priscilla nee Thompson.  The address is where Frederick's sister Rachel was living with her husband Gerald Loyd Jackson so I know it is relevant.  On Frederick's death registration the informant was H Thompson, father-in-law who was Priscilla's father. 

[MacMahuna]

Thanks so much for the information about Priscilla's first marriage and child
I also found that she had another child previously unknown to me named John who was born in 1917 but only lived a short times so  seven children altogether.
Louisa married Andrew Stokes ( brother of Manfield who had married Louisa's sister Rose) but I cant find any children
I would love to read Louisa's memoir if you can give me a link, please.

[MacMahuna]

Priscilla Thompson gave her birth date as 30 December 1876 on the 1939 Register but her birth was registered in the March Quarter 1878 so she was actually born in 1877.

Yes, I have her birth certificate for 30 December 1877 at Vincent Street,  Southampton

[Beverley185]

I think Arthur Tubbs and Arthur Penfold are the same person and he has taken on Priscilla's married surname although I cannot find a legal marriage for her to Frederick Penfold.  Louisa's book was first published in 1950 and I managed to obtain a reprint of it about 25 years ago.  It isn't available online to my knowledge.  I am descended from Rachel Penfold.  Her mother was a Priscilla Thompson who
was a sister of Henry Thompson who married Maria Penfold.  Henry and Maria had one son Henry who married Caroline Saunders.