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Spencer/Onions family-Aston

  • Thread starter Thread starter jlhearn
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jlhearn

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My ancestor Joseph Spencer was christened in St Martins, Birmingham on 31 Jan 1800. He had a sister, Elizabeth who was baptised in 1802 in the same place. Their parents were Benjamin and Betty Spencer.
I am trying to ascertain whether this is the same Joseph Spencer who married Mary Ann Onions in 1820 at St Martins. I am unable to determine what became of Joseph as I can locate his wife with children in all census returns up until her death. the youngest child, Edwin was born in 1837 (1841 census). Mary Ann moved with her daughters and grandson to London by 1851 and a Joseph Spencer is listed in Brum in 1851 living in Court Allison St alone. He was a Journeyman/Carpenter which agrees with the few documents I have i.e. the marriage certificate of Joseph Onions Spencer.
I'd really appreciate any advice which may assist with my research of this family. Many thanks,
Jan
 
there was an Onions (O'nions) family, as they called themselves, living on College Rd., Perry Common, in the early to late 70's...
One of their kids was a friend of my younger brother.

Many of us ex-Aston families were moved to Perry Common in the late 60's/early 70's.
 
That sounds very interesting. Does that mean that the Aston area has now been redeveloped? MaryAnn Spencer , nee Onions, lived in Darwin St in 1841 with her children. I have been in contact with Roy and graham Onions who live in Brum and are descendants of Mary Ann's uncle..
Jan
 
There was a shop up at the top of Wheeler Street in Lozells in the 40s and 50s run by a Mrs Onions. I think it was a paper shop
 
Just browsing and I came accross your thread. I was at Marsh Hill Boys Technical School with a Kenneth Onions who always insisted his name was pronounced O'nions. His birth year would be the same as mine, 1948. He was there from 1959 until I think 1965. He and his family lived in Aston, very close to the City Centre.
Any help ?
 
In the 50s there were Onions at 157 and 159 Bromford Lane. Mr Onions had a small shop and next to it were Nancy and Raymond.
 
When I was a nipper in Aston during the thirties into the war Mr Spencer had a grocery shop on the corner of Gladstone Street and Church Lane. He used to sell us kids cheap broken biscuits and one day I went into the shop to get some and he'd sold out. When I suggested he break a few good one's for me he seemed to find this very funny, can't think why. Regards, David.
 
hi dave
i also remember him and the shop do you remember the old lady whom used to make the toffee apples and they cost a penny; to buy she stuck them in her house front room window
you would see the aples and the sign as you walked passed also on saturdays you would be out on the street early and dashing up to virtualy every car pulling up
and asked the owner are you going to the match and if he said yes you would say i will look after your car mate whilst you are there for a tanner 6d
but you never did really wait and watch over his car but you would always be on sight by 4-30 just bfore the mach had finished standing there for the owner to come back
some times you would be locky to make two bob ; yet alone 2/6d half a crown you may even up with a tanner and nip over to spencer bor his bag of broken bits or the old ladys
toffe apple and when you cunch through the toffee he dammed apple was bad cor; those were the days dave and what about the shoving of trying to get down the lane
to the onion fair especialy on the night times ;after noons was not to bad but the night times was havoc trying to get hrough on the pavements
did you ever scour the grounds on the sunday morning when they was moving off looking for that dropped penny or that odd bit of a chalk orniments that because you never won one or the odd coconut left behind from the fair people or going down and asking to the fair people do you want any help in taking down the stalls hoping he would say yes and get two bob off them
those were the days ; dave oh how that area as change the old church lane and gladd gone theres no commutity now i am afraid ;
best wishes astonian
 
David and Alan I can remember mom buying my toffee apples from someone in church lane but I can't remember who from?. Jean.
 
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