This is the transcription of my brother's writings. George finally lived in Station Road, Knowle and named his house, not surprisingly, "Salisbury".
GEORGE SNOOK (1840-1923)
George Snook was born in Salisbury, Wiltshire, and came with his parents and brothers to live in Birmingham, although not directly.
George's father was Samuel Snook, who had various occupations; and his mother was Caroline. Samuel had been born near Salisbury about 1812, and Caroline in Somerset according to the 1871 Census. The actual place of birth was illegible, but could have been Nailsea. George was evidently the eldest of the family, his parents having married early in the same year that he was born.
The Marriage Certificate reads:
"On 19 February 1840, at the Parish Church of St. Thomas in the City of Salisbury in the County of Wiltshire, Samuel Snook, Bachelor, of Full Age, Innholder, of St. Thomas, Sarum, son of Martin Snook, Fariner, was Married to Caroline Chinn, Spinster, of Full Age, daughter of Joseph Chinn, Innholder, by Licence, according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Established Church, by John Greenly."
The Certificate was signed by both parties and witnessed by George Thomas Chinn, S. Snook, Joseph Batchelor and E. Chinn. All were literate.
The Birth Certificate of George Snook reads:
"On 27 November 1840, at St. Thomas, Salisbury, George, a Boy, son of Samuel Snook, Innkeeper, and Caroline, formerly Chinn. Registered by the Mother, of the Beast Market, Salisbury, on 30 December 1840, before William Sutton, Registrar for the District and Sub-District of Salisbury, in the County of Wiltshire."
From the evidence of such records as are available, it seems that the Snooks left Salisbury in 1849-50, much the same time as the Toveys had left Winchcombe, but the Snook family apparently spent some years in Wolverhampton, and may not have reached Birmingham until the late 1850s. They were certainly there by 1861, as is evidenced by the Census listing taken in that year. I also detail the residual names taken from the 1871 Census, which shows differences in some of the birthplaces, and also that by then most of the family had left home.
Census of 1861
Ref. RG-9.2170 District 6 Schedule 23 Court 6 (?or 1) Stone Yard, Deritend, Birmingham Samuel Snooks (sic) Head, Marr: 48 yrs Coal Dealer Caroline " Wife " 50
George Son U/Marr 20 Horse Hair Curler
Martin " "16 Coal Dealer's Carter
Samuel " " "12 Scholar
James 10
All were said to have been born in Salisbury, excepting
James, born Wolverhampton, Staffordshire.
Census of 1871
1 Back of House, Stone Yard, Birmingham
Samuel Snook Head Marr 58 yrs Jobbing Cart Keeper
born Maidens Bridge, Wiltshire
Caroline Wife Marr 60 born Somerset (?Nailsea)
James Son U/Marr 19 Carter Born Wolv'hampton
Both Stone Yard and Chapel House Street (mentioned later) are names of thoroughfares which still exist, and are near Rea Street, although there is now little or no residential property remaining, and the back-to-back housing was swept away years ago.
We have already examined the record of the marriage of George Snook and Mary Ann Tovey (see page 33) on 13..................
