Mr E.A. Roberts, Charcoal burner

My mother-in-law obtained a copy of a newspaper cutting from the Gage library some years ago about Charcoal burning in the Forest of Dean. It is dated 3 Sept 1930 and mentions Mr E.A.Roberts of Longhope who believed he was the last charcoal burner in the Forest. She strongly believes this could be her great uncle, I have done a little research into her family and her grandmother Kate E. Roberts (born Plump Hill 1877) did have a brother called Edward born c.1893.
Kate and Edward's father was Charles Roberts b abt 1856 and their mother was Sarah Ann Smith (abt 1856 Mitcheldean. I believe Charles was the son of Thomas Roberts and Charlotte Nelmes.
I would love to be able to tell her that Mr E.A.Roberts was indeed her great uncle.

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1911
ROBERTS EDWARD M 1893 18 Westbury on Severn Gloucestershire
+others

1901
Charles Roberts abt 1857 Guns Mills, Gloucestershire, England Head East Dean Gloucestershire
Sarah Roberts abt 1857 Mitcheldean, Gloucestershire, England Wife East Dean Gloucestershire
Alfred Roberts abt 1890 Plump Hill, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean Gloucestershire
Edward Roberts abt 1893 Plump Hill, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean Gloucestershire
Lily Roberts abt 1897 Plump Hill, Gloucestershire, England Daughter East Dean Gloucestershire
Selina Roberts abt 1891 Plump Hill, Gloucestershire, England Daughter East Dean Gloucestershire
William Roberts abt 1886 Guns Mills, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean Gloucestershire

1891
Charles Roberts abt 1856 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Head East Dean Gloucestershire
Sarah Ann Roberts abt 1857 Mitcheldean, Gloucestershire, England Wife East Dean Gloucestershire
Alfred Roberts abt 1889 Plump Hill, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean Gloucestershire
Alice Roberts abt 1881 Gunns Mills, Gloucestershire, England Daughter East Dean Gloucestershire
Henry Roberts abt 1877 Mitcheldean, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean Gloucestershire
Hubert Roberts abt 1884 Gunns Mills, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean Gloucestershire
Kate Roberts abt 1878 Plump Hill, Gloucestershire, England Daughter East Dean Gloucestershire
Selina Roberts abt 1891 Plump Hill, Gloucestershire, England Daughter East Dean Gloucestershire
William Roberts abt 1888 Gunns Mills, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean Gloucestershire

1861
Thos Roberts abt 1812 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Head East Dean Gloucestershire
Charlotte Roberts abt 1816 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Wife East Dean Gloucestershire
Celina Roberts abt 1848 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Daughter East Dean Gloucestershire
Chals Henry Roberts abt 1857 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean Gloucestershire
Joych Roberts abt 1854 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Daughter East Dean Gloucestershire
Richard Roberts abt 1842 Flaxly, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean Gloucestershire
Tom Roberts abt 1845 Flaxly, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean Gloucestershire

Year 1856
Month Nov
Day 30
Parents Surname ROBERTS
Child Forename(s) Charles Henry
Father's Forename(s) Thomas
Mother's Forename(s) Charlotte
Mother's Surname
Place of Residence Abbenhall [sic]
Occupation Wood collier
Officiating Minister J. Davies
Event type Baptism
Memoranda
Notes The childs name is a correction written over what may have been Thomas Charles
Register Reference P1 IN 1/7
Page No 87
Parish_Chapel Abenhall

1851
Thomas Rebert abt 1813 Flaxley, Gloucestershire, England Head East Dean Gloucestershire
Charlotte Rebert abt 1818 Flaxley, Gloucestershire, England Wife East Dean Gloucestershire
Anthony Rebert abt 1838 Flaxley, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean Gloucestershire
George Rebert abt 1850 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean Gloucestershire
Richard Rebert abt 1842 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean Gloucestershire
Selina Rebert abt 1848 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Daughter East Dean Gloucestershire
Thomas Rebert abt 1841 Flaxley, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean Gloucestershire

Year 1837
Month Mar
Day 27

Groom Surname ROBERTS
Groom Forename(s) Thomas
Groom Age at Marriage
Groom condition
Groom Rank or Profession
Groom Residence Hundred of St. Brevals [sic]
Groom Father's Surname
Groom Father's Forename(s)
Groom Father's Rank or Profession

Bride Surname NELMS
Bride Forename(s) Charlotte
Bride Age at Marriage
Bride Condition
Bride Rank or Profession
Bride Residence Hundred of St. Brevals [sic]
Bride Father's Surname
Bride Father's Forename(s)
Bride Father's Rank or Profession

Licence or Banns Banns
Date of banns
Signature or Mark Both sign
Witness 1 Mark of William Manning
Witness 2 Amelia Nelmes
Other witnesses
Officiating Minister J. Sell Curate
Event type Marriage
Memoranda
Transcriber's Notes
Register Reference P1 IN 1/10
Page No 10
Parish_Chapel Abenhall

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Thanks for the additional info, I forgot to mention Kate was born Elizabeth Kate.

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Name: Edward Arthur Roberts
Year of Registration: 1893
Quarter of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar
District: Westbury On Severn
County: Gloucestershire
Volume: 6a
Page: 257

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My Grandfather is Edward Arthur Roberts and we believe he was in fact one of the last charcoal burners of the forest. My mother is his daughter Mavis. I have not long started tracing the family tree and would love to see a copy of the newspaper clipping.

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who's this....???? this is Graham Pamelas son

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He is my Grandfather...? My mother was pamela roberts, married my dad Archie Mcintyre means your my distant relative :)

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Edward Roberts is widely known as the last charcoal burner in the Forest - his son Freddie did give a demonstration on this at the Welsh Heritage Centre in the 70's - I have photos on my facebook page if you would like to see them, along with some other Roberts family photos(Jo Wozencroft). BTW I am the grandaughter of late Dorothy Wozencroft (nee Roberts) who was sister to Pam & Mavis.

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Mr Roberts may well have been the last private charcoal burners in the Forest but Charcoal burning took place in the Heywood Plantation adjacent to Cinderford during the 2nd World War.There were 4/5 metal kilns approx 15' high and 10' diameter situated alongside the track leading to the keeper's lodge at Edge Hills.The produce was used in the production of explosives as part of the war effort.I believe there is charcoal burning currently taking place in the Soudley Valley area.
Maurice

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I read your message of Friday July 10, 2009, on the Forest of Dean website.

I am in the process of researching a friend's family history. Her grandmother was Lilian Ada Roberts born 1896 at Plump, East Dean. Glos. Her brother, Edward Arthur Roberts was born at Plump Hill about 1893. The siblings were part of the large family of Charles Henry Roberts and Sarah Ann Smith.

It is possible that E.A.Roberts, Charcoal Burner, was my friend's great uncle.

In your message you mentioned that you have some Roberts photos on your facebook page. I am on facebook also. If you would you be kind enough to let me view the photos, I would appreciate the favour.

Jennifer MacPherson

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Hi Jennifer,

There are a few people of your name on facebook, therefore would you friend request me please. You'll then be able to see my photo's. I'm adding some more which will be of interest to you, including one of my great grandmother Roberts.

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Hi Jo,

Have sent a friend request. Hope I chose the right person.
Jennifer

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I am researching an Alfred (Pat) Roberts a charcoal burner and Beatrice Roberts, and it sounds vry much like the same family. Did Alfred or Beatrice have a father called Moses. I don`t have much information or dates yet. alfred would be a great grandfather. I would appreciate any help, especially any photographs. I am a face book user if that helps.

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Jo, I am the granddaughter of Idris Roberts (m Doreen Cooke), elder brother to Dorothy, first born of Edward Roberts' children. I think that makes us cousins - of god knows how many time removed/apart/distanced :) My mother was Idris' daughter and she is friends with, and meets regularly with, Janet (her aunt), the youngest of Edward Roberts' children. Janet was brought up by her sister Dorothy in place of her mother, Edward Roberts' wife, as she died when Janet was young. I would love to see the Roberts family photos you have to show them to my mum, as she and her brothers were fostered at an early age and might like to know something of their father's background/family from those who were close. Mum's birthday is the same day as her mother's, and it's coming up very soon, any photos or memories would be very much appreciated as something to add to the day. Shall I use facebook (I'm AcerWalk) to see the family photos? Thanks. Sarah

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Mr E.A. Roberts, Charcoal burner (General)

ROBERTS Abenhall /Plump Hill

ROBERTS Abenhall /Plump Hill

Edward Arthur ROBERTS 1893