Simpsons

Hi, I have been told my grandmother, Caroline Simpson, was born in the Greyhound pub, Sutton Stop, I know the Simpson brothers were bargees in the late 1800's. Can anyone help please? Paul.

Paulguy. Welcome, not heard of Caroline, if you look at post 53 on the slough thread there's a Simpson boat, they had a boat yard at Tusses Bridge. or you can goto google, Type in data basis Canal boat register Simpson.

Paulguy - There was a Caroline Anne SIMPSON born at Foleshill, Warwickshire (now part of the city of Coventry) in July 1872. She was baptised at Walsgrave on Sowe (now part of Coventry) and the christening records show that her father Enoch was a boatman living at Hawkesbury Lane, Walsgrave. The mother was also called Caroline. Using Kaga's information this ties up with a boatman called Enoch SIMPSON who in 1879 gave his address as the Jolly Colliers Inn, Sowe Waste. This pub used to sit next to the canal at what is now Woodway Lane, Coventry. The canal was altered over the years and then the M6 motorway was built so it was not obviously a canalside pub anymore. It was knocked down a couple of years back after lying empty for a few years. This pub was only a few miles down the canal from the Greyhound Pub at Hawkesbury Junction (Sutton Stop). This Caroline Simpson appears to have lived, married, and died within a few miles radius - could this be your relative? Regards. Roger

Thank you, Not Local, my grandma died in 1963 in her eighties, so the dates don't go, but her father was Enoch and a boatman at that time working on the Hawkesbury canal, confusing, appreciate your help, Paul.

Hi Paulguy. What was your grandma's married name?

Non local. Thanks from me too, helps me too, I had no idea of this thread, or we could really talk family tree. So paulguy, we are far distant related, if you go to register of boats you will see the Simpsons had ten boats. Enoch had one of them, he also had the Jolly Collier at one time, I think they worked the boats and the pubs to suit the family. They were boat people, distinct from barge people. And they were a very large family. My niece has our family tree, I was going to ask her were Caroline fitted in but our good friend Non-local has supplied it. My granddad was Arthur Simpson and his wife died in 63

Paulguy - IF your grandmother was MRS Caroline Simpson and her husband, your grandad, was Enoch Sidney or Sidney Enoch Simpson then there is a story to tell. Did your grandmother die in Coventry?

Hi Not Local, did you get my post yesterday, what is the story to tell?

Paulguy, sorry didn't get anything yesterday although your first post was repeated a couple of times and was then taken off. There is a story if your grandmother's married name was Simpson.

Non Local, Hi. Think you could be right about a story, like to help out with this, I have no idea where to start, so would like some advice. Annewiggy is helping me but wondered if you got something from the church. Believe there was some upheaval in the family in the mid-late 1800s, would welcome some advice please, Kaga. P.S. did you get your car fixed?

Non local, Just re-read the thread, does the story need to go on e-mail, protect Paul?

Hi Kaga - I did not follow this up with Paul before because he did not confirm that his grandmother had married into your family rather than being born a Simpson. The first Caroline Simpson I found for him was the wrong one, but still obviously from your family. I am just guessing that Paul's grandmother was born Caroline OLDHAM at Tusses Bridge in 1881. Her father was John OLDHAM and he was a boatman. At the 1891 Census she is on her father's boat at Worcester, and at the 1901 Census she is at Blisworth on her father's boat. On 5 August 1901 Caroline OLDHAM married Sidney Enoch SIMPSON at Foleshill. The banns had previously been read at Walsgrave on Sowe Parish Church because Sidney resided within that parish. Sidney Enoch SIMPSON appears to have been born as Enoch Sidney SIMPSON in 1879 at Foleshill. His father was Thomas SIMPSON who was a boatman. His mother was Mary. At the 1891 Census Enoch Sidney is with his mother, father, and family at an address shown as 'Aldermans Green, Sharratts Row'. At the 1901 Census he is shown as living at Sowe, in the Parish of Hawkesbury. By this time he is living with his brother George H. SIMPSON and sister in law Selina SIMPSON. Both George and Enoch Sidney are described as coal miners. They live two doors away from Thomas SIMPSON, described as a canal boat owner, and his wife Elizabeth. Having flipped his christian names Sidney Enoch appears at the 1911 Census with his wife Caroline. They are living at Tusses Bridge and he is shown as a Coal Miner Hewer. No great mysteries I am afraid, but hopefully this does explain Paul's initial enquiry about his grandmother having been born on a boat near to Sutton Stop. I know I have read somewhere that the boat families favoured stopping between Tusses Bridge and Sutton Stop when a baby was due because the local midwife would call daily to the boats moored in this location. If this Caroline is Paul's grandmother then there is every possibility that she was born on the boat. Kaga and Paulguy, hope this helps. Regards. Roger PS Kaga, I thought you must be psychic because I have been at the garage at Sutton Stop again today - this time taking my wife's car for service. I had a rather brisk walk along the canal bank this frosty morning.

Thank you Roger, this confirms the birth dates and marriage dates I have of my grandparents Sidney Enoch and Caroline Simpson. You said in a previous post there is a story to tell about my grandma, appreciate if you could tell me what it is, regards, Paul.

Paulguy - sorry not really a story just as I have said above, a collection of facts from the various censuses which support your information that your grandmother was born on a boat at Sutton Stop. The only bit that is a story is the bit about the expectant mothers trying to make sure their boats were moored by Tusses Bridge so that the midwife could visit, presumably because there was a midwife who lived close by and who was was prepared to visit the boat families - I have heard that a couple of times but don't recall who told me. I didn't put this explanation on before because I could not see what your response had been to the previous messages. Your distant relation Kaga Simpson is your best source for further information about your family. Regards. Roger

Ok thanks