Lovell Archives - Geneageek

Looking for Lovell 2

I’ve recently come into possession of two helpful books with regards to with the LOVELL line I’m tracing – The Family Tree of Major and Susanna Lovell by Josephine Tombs and The Family Tree of Daniel and Violetta Lovell by Eric Trudgill.

Although these books are mainly just a recorded lineage of the families with a few anecdotes/explanations thrown in, it has shown that my research so far has been sound and given me a few clues as to where to research next. Unfortunately, the cover pic is NOT of Major & Susanna (photography in their day being rare of course), but rather a descendant, Patience LOVELL and her husband, Christopher SMITH (the second cover picture is of descendant, Jane MONAGHAN).

If you’re researching gypsy ancestors, it’s worth checking out whether the Romany & Traveller Family History Society has published anything on your family.

I have also just downloaded a digital copy of My Ancestors were Gypsies by Sharon Sillers Floate which has been very interesting so far.

Looking for Lovell

Carnation LOVELL was born into her gypsy family in Willenhall, 1889. Finding her family has led me on a bit of a run around over the years and I have decided I need to find some solid records and check my information is correct so far (a previous post can be found here).
She appears on the 1891 census with her parents (Matthew and Maria LOVELL), and elder brother Chandos, living in a gypsy tent in Darlaston, Staffordshire.

She reappears on the 1901 census, living in a caravan on Sneyd Lane, Bloxwich, as Carnation FLETCHER with brother Chandos, younger sister Elizabeth and what appears to be her mother listed as married to Eli FLETCHER. All the children and Maria now carry the name, FLETCHER.

1901Fletchers — 1901 Census – Fletchers/Lovells

I started to wonder if this was the same Carnation. Carnation’s birth certificate cites her mother’s former name as Maria ANSLOW. Her marriage entry to Eli (7 years after their appearance as a family unit on the census) also records her as Maria ANSLOW, spinster. So, this is clearly the same woman. This also indicates that Carnation’s parents were never legally married. This makes me curious about gypsy marriage customs – was this usual? Was Eli a gypsy or not?
I am yet to find Carnation in the 1911 census. I’m presuming her name was mistranscribed but all the variants I’ve come up with so far have given me no joy.
Instead, I have decided to gather more family records and information about gypsy life paint a clearer picture of Carnation’s life in my mind.

Next Steps:

Find Carnation in the 1911 census
Research gypsy ancestors

Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves

My first post of this blog mentioned that there were gypsies in the family. The gypsies are part of my husband’s maternal side and there’s been a bit of a breakthrough.

Carnation LOVELL was the daughter of Maria ANSLOW and Matthew LOVELL. She can be found on the 1891 census as a baby in a gypsy tent under Porkus Bridge (probably Porkets or Portius Bridge), Darlaston. They appeared to be travelling with 3 other families, all with the surname, Smith.

By 1901, Maria had taken up with a new man, Eli FLETCHER (whom she eventually wed legally in 1908). It has been very difficult to find other records of Carnation’s father, Matthew.

Matthew died in Bloxwich, 1896 and the earliest record I have with him, is his son’s birth certificate in 1883. I have not been able to locate him on any other censuses. Part of the problem appears to be the interchangeability of gypsy names. However, a wall may about to be broken down. I received an email from a fellow researcher (my mother-in-law’s cousin) saying that an author has contacted her about a book he has written concerning Matthew’s great grandparents. I can’t wait!