Simpsons

I have only come up with the same info as Notlocal. It is difficult to tie them all up as there are many Simpson's on the boats and around that area. The only thing I have found is that both Kaga and Paulguy, you are descended from boating families from Oldbury but I think you have to go a long way back to find the connection. Possibly Thomas Simpson who was born in 1780, still alive in 1761 aged 81 a retired boatman.

Roger, thanks for all the information you to Anne, I was expecting a big scandal, as we lived about six doors away from Enoch's descendants and was told they had no connection to our family and the two families never acknowledged each other. Mystery?

Kaga and Paulguy - as Anne says there were lots and lots of Simpsons around Aldermans Green some of whom were born in Oldbury, Staffordshire. In addition I have noticed that a fair few of them were licensees of pubs. John Simpson kept the Bird In Hand in 1863 and Mrs Hannah Simpson kept it from 1866 - 1868. The Jolly Colliers was kept by Enoch Simpson between 1879 - 1880 (he was also a limeburner) and Thomas Simpson kept it between 1888 - 1900. George Simpson kept the Miners Arms in 1880. Regards. Roger

Thank you Roger, useful information, much appreciated, I can't go back any further than the five Simpson brothers who in 1879 were all registered as boat owners, but I can't find who their parents were, any Ideas how to find out, regards, Paul.

Little bit more information paulguy. In 1881 Thomas and Mary, Enoch's parents, were sub-postmaster and grocer at a shop next door to the Rose and Crown in Bell Green. Do you know that the 5 Simpson registered as boat owners were definitely brothers. There are a lot of Simpsons around at that time but not all in the same family.

Yet a bit more info for Paulguy and Kaga - Thomas Simpson was born in Oldbury, Worcs in about 1837. He was married on 15 October 1874 at Foleshill Parish Church to Mary Elizabeth Grant. She was described as a spinster and he was described as a widower. His occupation was 'boatman'. His father was John Simpson, described as 'not living'. Thomas's first marriage appears to have been to Eliza Lenton, born in 1840, the daughter of Thomas and Selina Lenton of Walsgrave on Sowe. She and Thomas were married on 19 July 1860 at Walsgrave on Sowe. Eliza died in 1873 in Foleshill.

Thank you Anne, I now know who Thomas's father is. It seems a coincidence that Sidney Enoch's wife Caroline Oldham was from the same place, Worcester and moved to Hawkesbury as did Thomas.

Francesb, I have sent you a private message regarding your long lost relative, Frank, since it is not particularly Coventry-related. However, I can also tell you that Alfred Brown did serve in WW1. His regimental number was 15324 and he served in Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Royal Berkshire) Regiment. He was at his mother's house in Harnall Lane West at the time of the 1911 census and gives that as his home address when he joined the army in 1914. Interestingly, he lists his wife as living at the Paynes Lane address. Perhaps they had separated? He was wounded in the left arm at Loos in 1915 while "burying dead" and discharged in 1916.

Kaga, what is it I need to be protected from?

Hello May I join this topic as I've only just registered ? I am descended from John Oldham and a search for him brought me to this site. His daughter Mary Selina was my great grandmother, born in Lentons Lane and remained there for her whole life after marriage to Harry Moore, he was a miner, but they had previous connections to boat men or bargees, I'm not sure. I'm using ancestry.com to find the facts that I have so far. Recently visited their addresses in Lentons Lane and the local cemeteries on the off chance of finding graves but 60 years has left no evidence on the ground. Any connection with their canal history would be much appreciated.

Hi John, welcome to the forum

John, did you visit the little graveyard behind Lentons Lane Baptist Church? I did some research a few years back regarding Coventry blitz deaths and the minister there got a local lady to show me the exact family graves I was looking for - they relate to the 1940's and earlier. There are still lots of families living in the area that have descendants who were either miners or off the boats. There is another older cemetery called Walsgrave Cemetery which is accessed from Woodway Lane, at the very far end, almost against the M6 motorway. In pre-second world war years the canal was very close to this cemetery before it was straightened out. The coming of the M6 in about 1970 also altered the local roads. There used to be a canal side pub at the M6 end of Woodway Lane called the Jolly Colliers which is mentioned elsewhere. The road which is now across the motorway from Woodway Lane used to be a continuous route directly through to Lentons Lane - it still is if you are on foot. A look at Google Maps or similar will explain better. If you think that your family were boat people just look for births alongside the canal, often somewhere between Coventry and London. If you are interested, the results of my Coventry blitz research are recorded under the 'Members Articles' section of the forum, you access it top left. It is article Number 21.

The marriage certificate of Harry Moore and Mary Selina on ancestry shows Harry's father's name as Isaac, a boatman. In 1901 he says he is a stone quarryman but he is living next to the wharf. This article is from 1888 CET which names his boat as the Shamrock.

Thank you.

Thank you Anne, I'm building up the picture including Isaac and his family. This is an interesting piece of news.