Hello David, My interest in George Higgins and Miss De Voy began with an excerpt from Earley's Crewe Almanac of August 8 1891 reporting the death of 'Professor' Higgins the Crewe aeronaut, killed at Kirkstall. I hadn't looked at the 1891 census for Crewe and realised that he had been actually living in Crewe as the licencee of the Lord Nelson Inn. I had found what I think to be him in the 1881 census in Paddington, a carman aged 27, born Wiltshire, with wife Elizabeth, aged 28, born Paddington, and daughters Elizabeth and Rose, 3 and 2, respectively, both born Paddington. George Higgins also appears in the 1891 census, this time he's 33, born in Highworth, Wiltshire, with wife Elizabeth, aged 34, and daughters Elizabeth and Rose, aged 13 and 11 respectively. The place of birth and age are different to the Crewe census, however I've come across census entries before where a person away from home is entered as being present, and the other variations are not unusual. The entry of Lily Higgins, daughter aged 14, born in Notting Hill London seems to confirm that George the carman is the aeronaut, as in 1881 a Lily Higgins aged 4 and Charles Higgins aged 6, both born Paddington, are living with their widowed grandmother Ann Higgins in Dinton, Buchinghamshire. The woman who turned up after Higgins's inquest, claiming to be his wife, said that they had four children. These would seem to be Elizabeth, Rose, Lily and Charles, all born Paddington. The inquest on George was attended by his brother Charles. A George Higgins was born September 1851 in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire which is probably our George, as Bigstrup is in the Aylesbury district. He probably lived in Wiltshire for a time as a Charles Higgins, probably his brother, was born there. It is probable that the woman who turned up at Higgins funeral, claiming to be his wife with four children and also that she was Emily De Voy's sister, was telling the truth. As I mentioned before Higgins's marriage appears to be that in Kensington March 1875 to Elizabeth Mary E. Eldridge or Elizabeth Beechey, suggesting that one of these was Emily's real name. There were Emily Eldrideges and Emily Beecheys born in the London area, one of whom might be her. It's very probable that Emily would marry after the death of George Higgins and this might be the way to look for her. I hope you can make sense of all this and I'd like to know if you come to any further conclusion. Don Tomkinson ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Railton" <railton.david@btinternet.com> To: "'Don Tomkinson'" <don.tomkinson@lineone.net> Sent: Friday, November 29, 2013 5:11 PM Subject: RE: [CHS] DE VOY > Don, > > Thanks for your interest in my query. Here, attached, is what I have so > far. > I am now concentrating on finding Emily's family and information about her > stage career. > > Regards > > David > > -----Original Message----- > From: cheshire-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:cheshire-bounces@rootsweb.com] > On Behalf Of Don Tomkinson > Sent: 29 November 2013 16:44 > To: CHESHIRE-L > Subject: [CHS] DE VOY > > The escapades of 'Professor' George Higgins and Miss De Voy make > interesting > reading in the British Newspaper Archive. Higgins was originally a carman > in > London before he became a balloonist and parachutist performing with Miss > De > Voy on a trapeze below a gas filled balloon. He experienced hair-raising > incidents, one of which involved the death of an assistant, until he > finally > killed himself near Leeds in 1891. Miss Emily De Voy gave evidence at the > inquest and claimed to be the wife of George Higgins. She was given a > sovereign from a collection to help with the funeral expenses. It was said > that she was due to appear that night at the Theatre Royal. Strangely the > next day a woman in deep mourning appeared and said that she was actually > the wife of Higgins, whom she had married in 1880, and was the sister of > Emily De Voy. She was given 12s.6d., the balance of the collection. > > In the censuses Higgins's wife is named as Elizabeth but I can't find a > marriage to a De Voy. It sounds very much like a stage name. > > In 1875 a George Higgins married Elizabeth Mary E Eldridge or Elizabeth > Beechey. Is this a clue? > > Don Tomkinson > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > CHESHIRE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes > in the subject and the body of the message >

Does anyone know if you just buy credits on FMP do you get the same search options as you do when you have a subscription? I bought credits on FMP and I'm trying to access a death or Will for William Henry Jones who died 26 Dec 1927 Moss Hall, Woodchurch Lane, Prenton, Birkenhead. It tells me there is no record yet I have found info on another site so I know it exists. What's the scoop....... Thanks, Marg >From the Beautiful British Columbia Cariboo Region, Canada

She was still performing in 1895.  A newspaper report in the Luton Times and Advertiser 07 June 1895 says she was born in London but is living in Manchester. Joy ________________________________ From: David Railton <railton.david@btinternet.com> To: "cheshire@rootsweb. com" <cheshire@rootsweb.com>; THEATRE-UK@rootsweb.com; THEATRICAL-ANCESTORS@rootsweb.com Sent: Saturday, 30 November 2013, 9:50 Subject: [CHS] Emily DE VOY Thank you to all the many people who have responded to my query about the balloonists and parachutists, Emily DE VOY and George HIGGINS. I now have all I need about their family histories up until 1891 and about their aerial adventures. All I need now is to know what happened to Emily after 1891 and about her stage career. A summary of the story is as follows: George Higgins, a farm labourer from Buckinghamshire, had two children by an unknown lady and later had a relationship with Matilda Dovey by whom he had another 4 children. George then left his second 'wife' at home in London and became landlord of the Lord Nelson Inn at Coppenhall in Cheshire. With him to the inn went Matilda's sister Emma Louisa Dovey. Emma was also in show business using the name Emily De Voy. While at Coppenhall George and Emma/Emily put on ballooning and parachuting displays for the public. George was killed in a ballooning accident in 1891. At the inquest Emma/Emily claimed she was the wife of George. A day later Matilda turned up also claiming to be his wife. Matilda went on to live in Tottenham, marry a printer and have further children. Nothing more is heard of Emma/Emily. The only clue is that on the day of the death of George Higgins she cancelled an appearance she was due to make at the Theatre Royal, Leeds? So, I still have an interest in finding what happened after 1891 to Emma Louisa Dovey/Emily De Voy. David  ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to CHESHIRE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Thank you to all the many people who have responded to my query about the balloonists and parachutists, Emily DE VOY and George HIGGINS. I now have all I need about their family histories up until 1891 and about their aerial adventures. All I need now is to know what happened to Emily after 1891 and about her stage career. A summary of the story is as follows: George Higgins, a farm labourer from Buckinghamshire, had two children by an unknown lady and later had a relationship with Matilda Dovey by whom he had another 4 children. George then left his second 'wife' at home in London and became landlord of the Lord Nelson Inn at Coppenhall in Cheshire. With him to the inn went Matilda's sister Emma Louisa Dovey. Emma was also in show business using the name Emily De Voy. While at Coppenhall George and Emma/Emily put on ballooning and parachuting displays for the public. George was killed in a ballooning accident in 1891. At the inquest Emma/Emily claimed she was the wife of George. A day later Matilda turned up also claiming to be his wife. Matilda went on to live in Tottenham, marry a printer and have further children. Nothing more is heard of Emma/Emily. The only clue is that on the day of the death of George Higgins she cancelled an appearance she was due to make at the Theatre Royal, Leeds? So, I still have an interest in finding what happened after 1891 to Emma Louisa Dovey/Emily De Voy. David

As an observer of this thread I have been fascinated with the story,well done to those diligent researchers who found out the details. Gill Sent from my iPad On 29 Nov 2013, at 16:43, "Don Tomkinson" <don.tomkinson@lineone.net> wrote: > The escapades of 'Professor' George Higgins and Miss De Voy make interesting > reading in the British Newspaper Archive. Higgins was originally a carman in > London before he became a balloonist and parachutist performing with Miss De > Voy on a trapeze below a gas filled balloon. He experienced hair-raising > incidents, one of which involved the death of an assistant, until he finally > killed himself near Leeds in 1891. Miss Emily De Voy gave evidence at the > inquest and claimed to be the wife of George Higgins. She was given a > sovereign from a collection to help with the funeral expenses. It was said > that she was due to appear that night at the Theatre Royal. Strangely the > next day a woman in deep mourning appeared and said that she was actually > the wife of Higgins, whom she had married in 1880, and was the sister of > Emily De Voy. She was given 12s.6d., the balance of the collection. > > In the censuses Higgins's wife is named as Elizabeth but I can't find a > marriage to a De Voy. It sounds very much like a stage name. > > In 1875 a George Higgins married Elizabeth Mary E Eldridge or Elizabeth > Beechey. Is this a clue? > > Don Tomkinson > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to CHESHIRE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

The escapades of 'Professor' George Higgins and Miss De Voy make interesting reading in the British Newspaper Archive. Higgins was originally a carman in London before he became a balloonist and parachutist performing with Miss De Voy on a trapeze below a gas filled balloon. He experienced hair-raising incidents, one of which involved the death of an assistant, until he finally killed himself near Leeds in 1891. Miss Emily De Voy gave evidence at the inquest and claimed to be the wife of George Higgins. She was given a sovereign from a collection to help with the funeral expenses. It was said that she was due to appear that night at the Theatre Royal. Strangely the next day a woman in deep mourning appeared and said that she was actually the wife of Higgins, whom she had married in 1880, and was the sister of Emily De Voy. She was given 12s.6d., the balance of the collection. In the censuses Higgins's wife is named as Elizabeth but I can't find a marriage to a De Voy. It sounds very much like a stage name. In 1875 a George Higgins married Elizabeth Mary E Eldridge or Elizabeth Beechey. Is this a clue? Don Tomkinson

I'll have a go - you should be able to see my email and reply to me with the attachment. Adrian Bruce -----Original Message----- From: cheshire-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:cheshire-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Margaret Cambridge Sent: 28 November 2013 16:47 To: Cheshire List Subject: [CHS] Dating a Steam Powered Truck .... I could send the picture off list if anyone thinks they may be able to date the truck. ...

Music (voice/instrumental) teachers were habitually referred to as 'professor' in Victorian times. It doesn't imply academic credentials, but was more of a courtesy title, like cooks in country houses being referred to as 'Mrs' even when single. Lynda Burke, nee Chetwood > > > >

At 09:31 27/11/2013, you wrot :Dear David, I noticed a 'show bizzy' family of De Voys in Liverpool in 1871, all born London Father Albert , 34 is a vocalist, as are two of the children and 9 year old Henry is a dancer! In the 1881 they are back in London, in Lambeth and the Father gives his occupation as 'Pantomimist' Unfortunately no sign of an Emily De Voy. There is also an Emily Agnes De Voy born in Wells, Somerset in 1871. Best of luck, Lyn >The 1891 census includes the following: > > > >Lord Nelson Inn, 60, Mill Street, Coppenhall, Crewe > >George Higgins, head, single, 39, aeronaut + publican, b Bigstrop? >Buckinghamshire > >Emily DeVoy, boarder, single, 22, aeronaut, b Kings Cross London > >Lily Higgins, daughter, 14, b Kings Cross London > > > >I have found details of George and Emily's exploits parachuting from a >balloon and George's accidental death later the same year. One of the >newspaper articles suggests that Emily was George's sister in law but I >think that is a mistake. I am now trying to find more about Emily. I have >found an Emily Devoy later living in Birkenhead and dying at Southport in >1956 but that is not her. I have also found earlier census showing an Emily >Devoy of the right age who was born at Newport Monmouthshire which could be >her although I doubt it. > > > >Does anyone know what became of Emily after 1891? Maybe her occupation was >more show business than serious aeronautics and maybe De Voy was a 'stage >name'. > > > >David > > >------------------------------- >To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >CHESHIRE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without >the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > >----- >No virus found in this message. >Checked by AVG - www.avg.com >Version: 2014.0.4259 / Virus Database: 3629/6871 - Release Date: 11/27/13

David, I have gleaned the following from FMP. Bear with it. I think it may be worth a punt re George HIGGINS. Emily however remains elusive. 1851 Census: HO107 piece 1721 folio 55 page 23 Has Thomas Higgins, Dealer, shop k/pr living in Bigstrup, Haddenham, Bucks with wife Ann, 23, occ. 'All Work', and 2 children Charles 4 and Mary 2. 1861: RG09 piece 864 folio 45a page 2 Ann 33 still living in Bucks (8 Gibralter, Cuddington) with children Mary 12, George 9 Ag Lab, Lizzy 7, Anne 4, Jeremiah 1. No Thomas. 1871: RG10 piece 1410 folio 51 page 20 Gibralter, Cuddington: Thomas 53, Fowl Dealer & Ann 44 Lace Maker, with children Annie 13 Straw Plaiter, Jerry 11 Ag Lab, Fanny 7, William 4 1881: RG11 piece 1471 folio 53 page 20 11 Gibraltar Lane, Cuddington: Ann, widow 54, Charwoman with Fanny 16, William 14, Charles Gd son 6, Lily Gd daur 4. Both Grandchildren born Paddington 1891: which you quoted: George Higgins 39 born Bucks Bigstrop, Emily Devoy etc ., Lily Higgins 14, dau, born Notting Hill. Not all entries match exactly, but enough of them do to make it all a reasonable possibility. I have to say that, if this is the Higgins family, 'Professor' in the newspaper report seems unlikely and it points again to George being an entertainer and adopting the title. Good luck with this one. Ruth

Are there any 'experts' on steam powered trucks? I have been sent a picture postcard of a steam powered truck with the name Hy Jones & Sons Haulage Contractors of Birkenhead on it. Two men are also in the picture which may, or may not, be my Henry Jones and his brother. Henry and his sons were team owners/contractors/carters in Birkenhead and I wonder if after Henry senior died the sons eventually bought trucks. I could send the picture off list if anyone thinks they may be able to date the truck. Many thanks........ Marg >From the Beautiful British Columbia Cariboo Region, Canada

The 1891 census includes the following: Lord Nelson Inn, 60, Mill Street, Coppenhall, Crewe George Higgins, head, single, 39, aeronaut + publican, b Bigstrop? Buckinghamshire Emily DeVoy, boarder, single, 22, aeronaut, b Kings Cross London Lily Higgins, daughter, 14, b Kings Cross London I have found details of George and Emily's exploits parachuting from a balloon and George's accidental death later the same year. One of the newspaper articles suggests that Emily was George's sister in law but I think that is a mistake. I am now trying to find more about Emily. I have found an Emily Devoy later living in Birkenhead and dying at Southport in 1956 but that is not her. I have also found earlier census showing an Emily Devoy of the right age who was born at Newport Monmouthshire which could be her although I doubt it. Does anyone know what became of Emily after 1891? Maybe her occupation was more show business than serious aeronautics and maybe De Voy was a 'stage name'. David

I've been reading with interest the discussion about Henry Jones team owner and at the same time something has been niggling my memory and then I remembered. I have a postcard of what I believe to be a steam traction engine along with two men, one in the cabin the other standing beside the engine, on the side of the engine is a sign that reads Hy Jones & Sons, Haulage Contractors, Tel. 249 Birkenhead. There is a tray on the rear full with what may be coal or perhaps just rubble. I wouldn't like to guess at a date but on the rear of the postcard is inscribed 'Puzzule for young Bill, find the charriot'. I think the Bill referred to could well have been my Grandfather who was born in 1895 and grew up in and around Birkenhead, the postcard was found among his possesions after his death in 1963. If Margaret would like to contact me off list I will happily send her a scanned copy of the post card. Sue Australia

<<snipped>> I have an ancestor who was a 'Contractor' and built roads and a harbour in Scotland. I am still not sure exactly what his job consisted of. His son was an engineer so I think the Father was, too. <<snipped>> I would interpret that as the father being responsible for the employment of men and machinery (and horses!) to construct the things (or parts of things) according to a specification / plan previously agreed with someone. He is paid a sum of money from which he has to pay for the construction - wages, raw materials, etc. He therefore bears a considerable financial risk. He then has to hand over the road / harbour, etc. in working condition (assuming that's the contract) I would not think the father was an engineer himself - the government(?) engineer would have planned the route of the road (say), and the contractor would employ engineers to supervise the work. And the contractor in his turn would be supervised by the government(?) engineer. Certainly on railways, the engineers and contractors were very much separate people - the names of Stephenson, Brunel, etc (the engineers) survive, whereas the names of the contractors (with a few exceptions perhaps such as Brassey from Cheshire) tend to be known only to specialists. Now, having said all that, my understanding is fairly general on this and all sorts of exceptions might occur, especially on smaller projects where people might double up on roles. Adrian B

You don't give any dates? There was a report on the Highlands and one recommendation was to improvement. Roads were built, with many bridges, harbours were improved and complete new villages with harbours were built. The Caledonian Canal was built near here. Thomas Telford was of course very active in much of this work but there were others involved. There were a series of reports Commission for Highland Roads & Bridges, 4th Report, 1809 Commission for Highland Roads & Bridges, 9th Report, 1821 Seem to be one every year Scotland is well served with online resources, these reports are on Am Baile along with a lot more http://www.ambaile.org.uk/en/ You might find your ancestor's name there or in other records. If you can mention of any places then the National Library of Scotland has most old maps of Scotland online, lots of things on ScotlandsPlaces which links to the RCAHMS Canmore and SCRAN. Martin Briscoe Fort William martin@mbriscoe.me.uk -----Original Message----- From: cheshire-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:cheshire-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Mrs L. McCulloch Sent: 24 November 2013 16:42 To: cheshire@rootsweb.com Subject: [CHS] Horse Teams Ruth, I agree with Marjorie. I have followed the discussion with interest. Never worry about veering off topic. Regards, Lyn PS I have an ancestor who was a 'Contractor' and built roads and a harbour in Scotland. I am still not sure exactly what his job consisted of. His son was an engineer so I think the Father was, too. It's not easy to find out exactly what people did. ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to CHESHIRE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Ruth, I agree with Marjorie. I have followed the discussion with interest. Never worry about veering off topic. Regards, Lyn PS I have an ancestor who was a 'Contractor' and built roads and a harbour in Scotland. I am still not sure exactly what his job consisted of. His son was an engineer so I think the Father was, too. It's not easy to find out exactly what people did.

Hello Ruth I am glad you veered off topic. I have no interest in the JONES surname but found your post very interesting. Best wishes Marjorie Ward Derbyshire, UK

Adrian, I don't have a definitive clarification to give you. My in-depth research is on an 18 mile stretch of a Midland Railway link between Bourne Lincs. and Saxby, Leics. Three contractors were employed here under the overall direction of Midland's chief engineer and were drawn from three areas, London, Manchester and Eccleshall, each with their own engineer. Each section required both tunnels and cuttings. I have photographs showing horses being used on the construction which was completed in 1893. But I have found no references as yet to owners or hiring of horses. >From a book written about an earlier Rutland/Northamptonshire railway line (1875) I learned (under the heading of 'Machinery and personnel arrive') that contractors brought in: '. 120 railway horses, highly trained to the specialised work, while a large number were also hired locally, as required, for general haulage.' 'Scores of trucks, trolleys and wagons were brought to the works.' '. huge machinery was hauled along narrow country roads .' Reports of 'lanes being blocked, as up to 18 pairs of contractors' horses, each pair with its own handler, struggled to take a single locomotive on a wagon several miles from the nearest station to the works . three days to convey such an engine 5 miles.' J. Ann Paul, '3000 Strangers', pp38-39, Nostalgia Collection, 2003 The implication here is that horses were owned and handlers employed by the contractor. But whether the contractors owned the horses or hired them is still unclear in my mind. It is the long distance from the contractors' bases to the site of the works that puzzles me. Plus the 'highly trained to the specialised work' clause which adds another dimension. I just need to know more. An opportunity to delve into Midland Railway accounts in Derby might help. I'm beginning to think we are now veering off-topic a bit - Henry Jones in Birkenhead is a bit far away. Henry was certainly based near a Railway Station but he may never have been involved with line construction. So if anyone wants to contact me further perhaps it should be done off-list. Ruth ----- Original Message ----- From: "Adrian Bruce" <abruce@madasafish.com> To: "'Ruth J'" <ruthgenda@btinternet.com> Cc: "'Cheshire'" <cheshire@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, November 23, 2013 4:42 PM Subject: RE: [CHS] Team Owner (Henry Jones) > <<snipped>> > Teams of horses were USED - not owned - by navvies building railways. I > suspect that the vast majority of owners of these teams were the Railway > Companies themselves. > <<snipped>> > > For what it's worth, the teams of horses used in railway construction > would > have been owned (or sometimes hired? Maybe?) by the contractors > undertaking > the work, not the railway company owning the line under construction. > Certainly in later years, the railway company would have been its own > contractor for small projects. > > Adrian B > >

I hope you keep this on list. If you do take this off list I would like to be Cc'd please. >From what you have written Ruth it seems to me the railway had their own teams of horses but would hire extra teams with handlers if they were needed. I think Henry Jones & Sons benefited from this type of construction. Just for interest.......when the Canadian Pacific Railway track was being built between Ontario and British Columbia in 1885 it is said 5,000 horses were used and 300 dog-sleds!! Marg >From the Beautiful British Columbia Cariboo Region, Canada ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ruth J" <ruthgenda@btinternet.com> To: <abruce@madasafish.com> '. 120 railway horses, highly trained to the specialised work, while a large number were also hired locally, as required, for general haulage.' 'Scores of trucks, trolleys and wagons were brought to the works.' '. huge machinery was hauled along narrow country roads .' Reports of 'lanes being blocked, as up to 18 pairs of contractors' horses, each pair with its own handler, struggled to take a single locomotive on a wagon several miles from the nearest station to the works . three days to convey such an engine 5 miles.' J. Ann Paul, '3000 Strangers', pp38-39, Nostalgia Collection, 2003 The implication here is that horses were owned and handlers employed by the contractor. But whether the contractors owned the horses or hired them is still unclear in my mind. It is the long distance from the contractors' bases to the site of the works that puzzles me. Plus the 'highly trained to the specialised work' clause which adds another dimension. I just need to know more. An opportunity to delve into Midland Railway accounts in Derby might help. I'm beginning to think we are now veering off-topic a bit - Henry Jones in Birkenhead is a bit far away. Henry was certainly based near a Railway Station but he may never have been involved with line construction. So if anyone wants to contact me further perhaps it should be done off-list. Ruth

<<snipped>> Teams of horses were USED - not owned - by navvies building railways. I suspect that the vast majority of owners of these teams were the Railway Companies themselves. <<snipped>> For what it's worth, the teams of horses used in railway construction would have been owned (or sometimes hired? Maybe?) by the contractors undertaking the work, not the railway company owning the line under construction. Certainly in later years, the railway company would have been its own contractor for small projects. Adrian B