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Hi,

An interesting one for which I need help with please?

Tracing the family tree of John Williams, 27/5/1846 Manchester to 24/10/1931 in London. He was also known as:
John Williams Craig, (any conbination)
He had 4 wives and 23 children.
What makes it interesting is his occupation. Acrobat, Tumbler Music Hall Entertainer/Professional
4th wife Amy Tidswell born 1888 in either Ash,Lancashire or Liverpool
3rd wife Amanda Marie Francios Noel 1867 to 1909, Paris
He travelled to America, Australia, New Zeeland, China, some of his children may have been born in America and Australia.

I do have information about his career.

I would be grateful for any info found.

Thanks
Madeleine Buckley

What are you hoping to find.......His descendants or his ancestors?

For what part of his life do you need help?

Is this him in the 1901 census:-

1901 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
68, Kennington Road, Lambeth, London, England


First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Gender Age Birth year Occupation Birth place

John Williams Cragg Head Married Male 54 1847 Acrobat Manchester, Lancashire, England
Amanda Williams Cragg Wife Married Female 34 1867 - France
Rosa W Cragg Daughter Single Female 15 1886 - United States
Francis W Cragg Son Single Male 0 1901 - London, Middlesex, England
Amand Noel Father-In-Law Widower Male 60 1841 - London, England
Marie Noel Sister-In-Law - Female 30 1871 - London, England

Kath. x

This looks like him in the 1911 census (note that Rosa now has birthplace as London). He has been married to this wife for under one year although I can't find a marriage for them:-

1911 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
68 Kennington Road S E, Lambeth, London, England

First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Occupation Age Birth year Birth place

J W Cragg Head Married Male Music Hall Profession 64 1847 Lancashire
J W Cragg Wife Married Female Music Hall Profession 34 1877 Lancashire
Rosa W Cragg Daughter Single Female Assisting At Home 25 1886 London Kensington
Frances W Cragg Son Single Male At School 10 1901 London Kensington
Alfred W Cragg Son - Male At School 8 1903 London Kensington
John W Cragg Son Single Male At School 5 1906 London Kensington

Kath. x

1911 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
68 Kennington Road S E, Lambeth, London, England

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Household Members
First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Occupation Age Birth year Birth place
J W Cragg Head Married Male Music Hall Profession 64 1847 Lancashire
Transcription
J W Cragg Wife Married Female Music Hall Profession 34 1877 Lancashire
Transcription
Rosa W Cragg Daughter Single Female Assisting At Home 25 1886 London Kensington
Transcription
Frances W Cragg Son Single Male At School 10 1901 London Kensington
Transcription
Alfred W Cragg Son - Male At School 8 1903 London Kensington
Transcription
John W Cragg Son Single Male At School 5 1906 London Kensington

He had been married under 1 year in 1911 so this must be another wife? He had 4 children with previous wives.
The new wife was Mrs J W Cragg so those are possibly not her initials.

Marriages Dec 1910 (>99%)
Bowen Amy L Lambeth 1d 811
Cragg John W Lambeth 1d 811
Whittaker Sarah J Lambeth 1d 811
Whymark Harris W Lambeth 1d 811
Williams John Lambeth 1d 811

Could this be the marriage just before the 1911 census? :-

First name(s) JOHN W
Last name CRAGG
Marriage quarter 4
Marriage year 1910
Registration month -
MarriageFinder™ JOHN W CRAGG married one of these people
SARAH J WHITTAKER, HARRIS W WHYMARK, >>>>>>>>AMY L BOWEN<<<<<<
District LAMBETH
District number -
County London
Country England
Volume 1D
Page 811

Could this be Amy's previous marriage:-

First name(s) AMY
Last name TIDSWELL
Marriage quarter 2
Marriage year 1898
Registration month -
MarriageFinder™ AMY TIDSWELL married one of these people
>>>>>HENRY LEWIS BOWEN<<<<<, ALBERT EDWARD ASBURY
District WOLVERHAMPTON
District number -
County Staffordshire
Country England
Volume 6B
Page 1162

Kath. x

Looks like it, so he must have married Amy Tidswell between 1901 and 1910.

EDIT Ah, that explains it Kathleen.

I think Amy Tidswell and Amy Bowen are one and the same (she was previously married to Mr. Bowen).

Kath. x

I wonder if this could be his first marriage:-

Cheshire Marriage licence bonds and allegations 1606-1905 Transcription

First name(s) JOHN
Last name CRAGG
Birth year 1847
Marriage year 1868
Marriage date 02 May 1868
Parish St. Elphin'S
Spouse's first name ANN
Spouse's last name SMITH
Bride's age 21
Groom's age 21
Place ST. ELPHIN'S
County Lancashire
Country England

Kath. x

Wonder if this is that Ann, Kath? Of course it proves nothing, she could just be saying she's a widow.


1881 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
334, Knutsford Road, Latchford (Cheshire), Warrington, Lancashire, England

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Household Members
First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Gender Age Birth year Occupation Birth place
Ann Cragg Head >>Widow <<Female 35 1846 Int On Money Warrington, Lancashire, England
Transcription
Annie B Cragg Daughter Single Female 8 1873 - Warrington, Lancashire, England
Transcription
Mary Smith Mother Widow Female 61 1820 - Hulme, Lancashire, England
Transcription
Mary Smith Aunt Single Female 29 1852 - Orford, Lancashire, England
Transcription
Phoebe A Hill Servant Single Female 19 1862 Gen Servt Dom Hanley, Staffordshire, England


I think this is her husband. He was a chemist/ druggist.


First name(s) JOHN
Last name CRAGG
Gender Male
Birth day -
Birth month -
Birth year 1840
Age 34
Death quarter 1
Death year 1874

Hi All,

To answer various questions:

I'm trying to find marriages for all 2nd and 4th wife, not forgetting Cragg was what we would now call a stage name and didn't turn up on census records until after his marriage to Amanda Maria Francios Noel

I've found a marriage in Manchester, 1863 for Carline Harrop and John Williams which may be his 1st wife

Amy Tidswell having a previous husband may solve the lack marriage details for Tidswel and Williams-Cragg

His last child Grace Cragg 1917 shows mother's maiden name as Tidswell

Can't thank you enough Guys!