My Great Grandfather, George Albert Champniss, was born in Southwark on 1st March 1840. He died in 1926 aged 86. I have found him in every census - always in the UK! He was variously a jewelcase maker, a beer seller, a photographer, a cowkeeper and dairyman! His obituary in the local paper states the following:
He had been a seafaring man and could yarn by the hour of incidents in an adventurous career in many seas. He ascribed his life at sea and the regular tot of rum which he continued ashore as the main causes of his extraordinary vigour.
I just don't know whether he totally made up these stories or whether he could have been a sailor for a short while between censuses. Does anyone have any tips for helping me to find out? I did have a researcher look at some medals he proudly wore at two coronations (Edward & George) but he thought they were just civic memorabilia.
I would love to know whether he was a teller of tales - or the truth!!
He had been a seafaring man and could yarn by the hour of incidents in an adventurous career in many seas. He ascribed his life at sea and the regular tot of rum which he continued ashore as the main causes of his extraordinary vigour.
I just don't know whether he totally made up these stories or whether he could have been a sailor for a short while between censuses. Does anyone have any tips for helping me to find out? I did have a researcher look at some medals he proudly wore at two coronations (Edward & George) but he thought they were just civic memorabilia.
I would love to know whether he was a teller of tales - or the truth!!
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