1811 Info 2d for Elizabeth Crompton
Paulina and Joseph Cariss
Paulina's third marriage to Joseph Cariss
Paulina married Joseph CARISS in the third quarter of 1872. (GRO ref: Stockton 10a
129)
Joseph CARISS is illusive. Cariss, and its derivations, are predominantly East Riding
names centred on Easingwold. One possible birth, from FreeBMD, is 28 March 1813, with a
christening on 17 May 1813 at St Peters, Leeds. There is no obvious reference to either
Joseph or Henry Cariss/Carriss/Carass/Carrass in the Ancestry 1851 or 1861 census index.
In 1871 Joseph CARISS, a travelling showman, is living with his first wife in his
travelling van in Thornaby, Stockton.
A Joseph CARISS married Elizabeth Ann MITCHINSON in the fourth quarter of 1861 (GRO
ref: Stockton 10a 97).
Left: An 1899 map locating Red Rover the site of the 1871 Cariss caravan
1871 Census Sun/Mon. 2/3rd April 1871
Source: FHL Film TNA Ref RG10
Piece: 4900; Folio: 42; Page: 30; Sched: 127
Dwelling: Red Row, Travelling Van
Place: Thornaby, Stockton, York NR, England
Name Rel Mar Age Occupation Birthplace
Joseph Cariss Head M 44 Travelling showman Yorks, York
Elizabeth Cariss Wife M 36 Yorks, Guisbro[ugh]
Joseph Cariss Son 12 Scholar Yorks, T??mour
George Cariss Son 8 Scholar Yorks, Thornaby
Helen Cariss Dau 7 Scholar Yorks, Stainton
Henry Cariss Son 5 Scholar Yorks, Stainton
1811info2d, sheet 2
A search of the 1881 census index for 'Showman' reveals some 20 families, but no
Cariss. There is no obvious reference to Joseph and Paulina CARISS. This probably reflects their
travelling showman caravan life style, in that they were never 'discovered' by the
enumerator. The 1891 census shows that the enumerator had already taken the census of the houses
on The Sands, recording them several pages before the caravans.
1891 Census Sun/Mon 5/6th April 1891
Source: FHL Film TNA Ref RG12
Piece: 4105; Folio: 17; Page: 28; Sched: 177
Dwelling: Sands (Caravan)
Place: St Nicholas, Durham, England
Name Rel Mar Age Occupation Employ Birthplace
Joseph Cariss Head M 79 Travelling showman Unemployed Yorks, York
Paulena Cariss Wife M 54 Yorks, -
Henry Cariss Son S 24 General labourer Employed Durham, Painshaw
Mary J Watson Serv S 22 General servant dom - Northumberland, Newcastle
James Stephenson Vis S 18 General labourer Employed Yorks, -
Richard Barrett Serv S 19 Groom -
John 'unknown' Vis S 54 Groom Employed Gloucestershire
Henry CARISS, born in the third quarter of 1866, (GRO ref: Stockton 10a 40) is
his child by his first marriage.
Left: An example of a showman's caravan, built circa 1910
The final two pages of the enumeration show three other travelling showmen families,
living on the Sands: the Stunits(?), the Neweys and Palmers. It is interesting to note
that whilst the head of each family is described as a 'travelling showman', the
males of working age were generally 'general labourers'. Although these caravans
are sited at The Sands, the traditional Durham Showground meadows owned by the Freemen of
Durham. Aged 79 it is not known whether Joseph Cariss was part of the 'Show' or
the caravan was being used as an 'open-house' community of travelling people who,
perhaps, used the caravan as a base from which to find itinerant work.
1811info2d, sheet 3
Above: An 1894 map of Durham, scale 1:2500, locating The
Sands.
1811info2d, sheet 4
The Easter Fair
Above left: Crowds and roundabout in 1904 Above right: Larger attractions in 1904 Below left: 'Shuggies' swing boats in 1904 Below: Helter skelter and 'side' stalls in 1927
The article, from the Durham Advertiser, suggest that there was a tradition of holding
sports on over the Easter Bank Holiday. It is assumed that the showground rides were part
of this tradition and that the Cariss caravan had found its way to Durham as part of the
ritual.
The contemporary photographs, from 1904, of the crowds and number of stalls testify to the
Easter Fair's popularity.
Click on the image to open a 568kB A4 landscape image of The Sands in 2011 in a new
window. Author
1811info2d, sheet 7
Paulina, a widow for the final time
In the 1901 census Paulina, now aged 65, was living with her daughter and son-in-law.
1901 Census Sun/Mon 1st March/1st April 1901
Source: FHL Film PRO Ref RG13
Piece: 4626; Folio: 43; Page: 21; Sched: 112
Dwelling: 36 Craister Street
Place: Stockton-on-Tess, Durham, England
Name Rel Mar Age Occupation Status Birthplace
Thomas Cook Head M 36 Labourer in shipyard Employed Durham, Stockton-on-Tees
Madalina R Cook Wife M 36 York, Hull
Paulina Cariss M-i-L Wid 65 York, Nafferton
Lavinia Thomas N-i-L U 16 General servant Employed Durham, Stockton-on-Tees
Above: A map locating Craister Street in 1899
1811info2d, sheet 8
It is interesting to place Craister Street in the 1899 industrial development of north
Stockton. It is assumed that the rows of terraced house, each with their small backyard, accessed
by the back passage, and extension perhaps containing the outside lavatory, were built to
accommodate workers in he Stockton Forge Works, the railway Engine Works, the brick and tile
manufacturing workers and the Portrack Iron Works.
This area of north Stockton is nearer to the village of Norton than the shipyards where Thomas
COOK worked. After his early death in the second quarter of 1902 at the age of 38 (GRO ref:
Stokesley 9d 412) his widow Madelina took borders also shipyard workers. Stokesley is to the
south-south-east of Stockton on the edge of the North Yorks Moors.
1911 Census: Sun/Mon 2nd April/3rd April 1911
Source: TNA Ref: RG14 PN29569
Reg. Gen. Ref: RG78 PN1717A En.Dist: 23 Sched: 74
RegDist: Stockton SubDist: Stockton
Dwelling: 36 Craister Street
Place: Stockton, County Durham
Rooms in dwelling, other than scullery, landing, lobby, closet, bathroom: 4
Years married:
Children: Alive , dead none
Name Rel Mar Age Occupation Status Birthplace
Madelena Rosetta Cook Head Wid 46 Yorks, Hull
Paulena Cariss Mother Wid 75 Yorks, Nafferton
Andrew Bowman Board S 52 Shipyard Labourer Durham, Walker
John William Bowman Board S 23 Shipyard Labourer Durham, Stockton on Tees
Mary Robinson Thomas Adopt 3 Yorks, Thornaby on Tees
This census shows that, though now widowed, Madelena had been married for 28 years but had no
children born alive. Paulina declares being married for 20 years with four children born alive,
three of whom have subsequently died.
Mary Robinson THOMAS was born in the second quarter of 1908 (GRO ref: Middlesbrough 9d 707)
.
Paulina CARISS died in Middlesbrough in the second quarter of 1915, aged 76. (GRO ref:
Middlesbrough 9d 790)
Whilst the green belt that surrounded the Craister Street terraced
rows has remained, the area has been developed into an estate of modern three bedroomed
house, with an average house price of £150000 (2011). Again, whilst the boundary roads
many street names have been changed and the 'street' replaced by 'road'.
Craister Road is a development of ten houses and flats.
Left: Craister Road in 2011
This page was created by Richard Crompton
and maintained by Chris Glass
