As an incorrigible seeker of unusual and interesting characters who appear in the censuses (I confess this is not entirely unrelated to research for my bi-monthly column called Roy's Ramblings in Practical Family History magazine), I have become rather interested in a character called JOHN WATKINS HOLDEN, who appears in the 1911 census as a lodger at Bournemouth, aged 68, born at Worcester. John clearly had an advanced sense of humour, since in 1911 he describes himself as "Very much married" and he gives his occupation as "Wizard of Ye United World, Public Entertainer". I first came across this man in the census of 1881 at St Pancras, where he appears as "The Queen's Magician and Wizard of the Wicked World". His then wife Jennie is down as "Balard vocalist and good cook" and they have a daughter Grace, aged 7, whose occupation is "Auti Spiritualist known as uzita". Really got you hooked now, haven't I? In 1891 John is living alone at St Pancras, though still married, as a lodger and described as a "conjuror". Not really quite in the same league as "The Queen's Magician and Wizard of the Wicked World", is it? I couldn't find his wife or Grace, the daughter. In 1901 John is in Clerkenwell, apparently has a different (and much younger) wife called Bertha and appears to have started another family. Whatever happened to Jennie or Jenny? John is now described as a "Society entertainer", while Bertha comes from some place in Northamptonshire called Rothwell. Obviously, this man was one hell of a character and led a very colourful life! Does anyone recognise or claim him? -- Roy Stockdill Genealogical researcher, writer & lecturer Newbies' Guide to Genealogy & Family History: www.genuki.org.uk/gs/Newbie.html "There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about." OSCAR WILDE

There appears to be quite a full account of J W Holden's life here .... http://bit.ly/d1vzFa Roger On 24 May 2010 19:51, Roy Stockdill <roy.stockdill@btinternet.com> wrote: > As an incorrigible seeker of unusual and interesting characters who appear > in the > censuses (I confess this is not entirely unrelated to research for my > bi-monthly column > called Roy's Ramblings in Practical Family History magazine), I have become > rather > interested in a character called JOHN WATKINS HOLDEN, who appears in the > 1911 > census as a lodger at Bournemouth, aged 68, born at Worcester. > > John clearly had an advanced sense of humour, since in 1911 he describes > himself > as "Very much married" and he gives his occupation as "Wizard of Ye United > World, > Public Entertainer". I first came across this man in the census of 1881 at > St Pancras, > where he appears as "The Queen's Magician and Wizard of the Wicked World". > His > then wife Jennie is down as "Balard vocalist and good cook" and they have a > daughter > Grace, aged 7, whose occupation is "Auti Spiritualist known as uzita". > > Really got you hooked now, haven't I? > > In 1891 John is living alone at St Pancras, though still married, as a > lodger and > described as a "conjuror". Not really quite in the same league as "The > Queen's > Magician and Wizard of the Wicked World", is it? I couldn't find his wife > or Grace, the > daughter. > > In 1901 John is in Clerkenwell, apparently has a different (and much > younger) wife > called Bertha and appears to have started another family. Whatever happened > to > Jennie or Jenny? John is now described as a "Society entertainer", while > Bertha > comes from some place in Northamptonshire called Rothwell. > > Obviously, this man was one hell of a character and led a very colourful > life! Does > anyone recognise or claim him? > > -- > Roy Stockdill > Genealogical researcher, writer & lecturer > Newbies' Guide to Genealogy & Family History: > www.genuki.org.uk/gs/Newbie.html > > "There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, > and that is not being talked about." > OSCAR WILDE > > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > ENG-WORCESTER-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >