S.J.DAY
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Copyright RomanyGenes 2007-2020 Design and Web Layout S.J.Day All Rights Reserved
Pictured right is Sidney Herbert Smith b 1892 Wiltshire
he married EtheI Hettie Doe b1891 Binstead Hants.
The marriage took place 17th July 1914 at Fareham Church
Hampshire, to the very far right sat on the chair with legs
dangling and ginger hair is a very dear friend of mine
Eileen Orchard nee Smith daughter of Sidney Smith and Ethel
Doe. Eileen was born 1924 and is today 83 years old and still as
sharp as a pin !, she gave me this photo which she had done in
oil paints from the original ,she has had several photographs
redone in oils and has them framed and adorning her walls.
When I first started researching Romanies Eileen contacted
me after seeing my details in the Romany Routes Journal and
asked if I could help her as she does not have as Eileen put it,
"one of them they machine thingy's" she already had a mass
of info and records for her Smith and Doe families and also other
Travelling families not just from the Forest but from way back the areas encompassed many Counties including:-
Sussex/Surrey/Berkshire/London/Gloucestershire/ and even Ireland and Wales ! So all in all she had done an amazing amount of research and all with out a "machine"! We have been friends ever since and we still chat and discuss any new leads or finds I might come across.
The oldest ancestor of Eileen's is Nipton or Neptune Smith b Wiltshire , this Neptune had more than one partner Including a Smith woman, space and time would not allow me to include all the in depth genealogy of Eileens family as it crosses and weaves back and forth between so many Romany families ,so I will just give an outline for reference. Eileens mother's parents were Rose Ruth Jeff who married Nehemiah Doe , Rose Ruth was the daughter of Mathew Bland (but also used Jeff name)and Naomi Jeff.
This was confusing at first as Elizabeth Bland wed a Mathew Jeff ! we suspect they were sister's and were using both surnames when it suited them ! whilst Nehemiah's parents were William Doe and Naomi Pateman ,William being the son of Francis Doe b 1778 Wimbledon Surrey and Amelia Early b1780 Woodale Berkshire. And Francis being the son of another Francis Doe b 1758 and Elizabeth Etherton?. Just to add a little more confusion I have found Mathew Bland and Naomi in the 1861 and 1871 Census in
Dorset using the surname Burden or Burton see below:-
(Thanks to Leslie Doe)for Francis Doe b 1778 birth place)
2. 1861 Census, RG9-1339-24-11 Canford, Dorset.
"Name Age Birthplace Relationship Occupation
Ananias Burden 43 Downton, Wiltshire, Head Umbrella Maker
Naomi Burden 40 Ashelton, Wiltshire, Wife
Phebe Burden 16 Chosley, Berkshire, Daughter
Walter Burden 14 Pelley, Hampshire,Son Umbrella Maker
Ruth Burden 12 Morton, Berkshire, Daughter
Silas Burden 9 Woolsbridge, Dorset, Son
Ancelina Burden 7 St Giles, Dorset,Daughter
Ananias Burden 2 Redlynch, Wiltshire, England Son
1871 Census details:-Census, RG10-1985-31-30 Corfe Mullen, Dorset
Pictured below are members of the Doe family camped in the New Forest
Eileens mum Ethel Hetty Doe age abt 18.
Since this article was wrote
(Eileen sadly passed away in June 2016 aged 92, I will miss our chat, farewell old friend god bless.)