Wilson Family

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The Wilson Family History

This is a small part of the history of the Wilson “Fairground” Family who are one of the O;dest established Fairground Families in Britain.

I have also placed information about some of my other Fairground Ancestors such as Botton, Gess, Matthews, and my wifes family the Rosaires (Ross) Circus Family.

I was also involved in a BBC Documentary some years back called “Family Ties ,A Lions Tale, that traced my G Grandfather’s Journey through life as an Animal Trainer and Fairground Roundabout Proprietor & Showman. You will see images from this show.

Emily Wilson’s Wedding to Jack Barron,Gt Yarmouth

Marion & her Uncle Reuben JW Wilson b1905

Phylis Duffy Wilson b1878 & Arthur Wilsonb1879

Reuben JW Wilson b1905 & Brother Edward Wilson

Maud Matthews ,Reuben JW Wilson & Eliza Allport

Marion Wilson at Peckham on the Gondola Switchback

Frank Wilsons family LtoR Billy,Daisy,Frank,Rueben,Caroline

Arthur Wilson married Phyllis Duffy in Ireland

Wilsons Machines

Henrietta Saunders Wilson’s Flying Motors

William & Henrietta Saunders Wilson’s Gallopers

Henrietta Wilson's Gallopers

Reuben John William Wilson b1905 Family

Reuben jw Wilson was the son of Frank “Lorenzo” His father passed away in 1911 and his mother Caroline Matthews wilson a few years later. His Brother Edward and Billy were sent to live with William Wilson at the Rendezvous Peckham and Reuben was sent to stay with his mothers sisters and husband Joseph Allport in Birmingham where Reuben had a private education.Discontent with his life after his Aunts had passed away he decided to take to the road in the family traditon.He was around 15 years at the time and when he asked his uncle Joe Allport for his inheritance that was stored away he was denied it.So he enlisted the help of John Joe O’Neil (Pat O’Neils father) and a couple of hardy backup men and broke into the stores. Unfortunatley the fairly new Walkers Dobies had been sold on and replaced by a well worn Savage Gallopers set and Foster engine “John Bull” from Bishton’s. He set out travelling and quickly made his mark around Londons East End and made friends with everyone including the local underworld that gave him access to open more private fairgrounds. He met Caroline Botton the oldest daughter of James Botton of Battersea,Wardley St and Farnborough. They got married in 1927 but unable to break her news to the family as she was one of the main stays, continued living with for another year until she broke the news.

Reuben and Caroline had three sons Francis Edward b1929, James Reuben b1932, and Reuben John b1940. They made winter quarters at Woodstock where Reuben an accomplished boxer ran an amature boxing club that included sons Frank and Jim, eventually they stayed with her father and the rest of the Botton family at The Green, Orpington, Farnborough.

In 1959 Bottons purchased The Pleasure Beach Gt Yarmouth and The Pleasure Beach Skegness. Reuben and Caroline went to Gt Yarmouth with brother Albert and together the families set about the upgrading of the Park.

Everybody had good words for Reuben. He was a keen golfer a member of a local masonic fraternity and past president of the Amusement Caterers Association (ACA) and loved his wife Caroline dearly.

Reuben passed away in 1987 in Gt Yarmouth