Genealogy Chat

Thanks Tracie, have got a bit side tracked lately. Info very much appreciated. Christine

Elaine, I would go for the salesman unless you can't find anything else!! My g Grandfather was a 'journeyman' - which meant he worked for someone else !!! maggie

my grand mother was Mary ann Robinson and we were led to believe her family were Romany. on the marrieage certificate no father is listed. She may of course have been illegitimate. The family seem to think that she was cut off from her family for marrying out. Anyone know of a Robinson family

Christina, is there any possibility he wasn't Romany at all but people thought he was? The name Reuben Golding sounds as if it is likely to be Jewish. Mind you I didn't think Ellis was a Romany name either so it's not to say that he couldn't be - it may just be another possible avenue to explore.

I have some ancestors called ROMAINE can anyone tell me if this is a Romany name please?

Hi all, I have come across a wonderful photo of a family of "gipsies" in a Somerset country lane - c1890. I am happy to scan copies if anyone would like it - please email me direct with your addy. Sue

I'm looking for Parkers Shropshire, my grandfather said that his uncle was a gypsy or lived with gypsy's, he was a horse dealer, not having much luck as i don't have a first name so i'm having to trace all males that i find for a connection. Could it be a gypsy surname? Can only find traces for Boswell's , Lee's etc . Paula

Hi .My family on my Mum's side apparently were Rom. My Grandad was a Smith. My Grandmother was a Georgina Birchall..I think that is how it was spelt. They were distantly related. My Gran told me the families finally settled in Reading. Some of the family were drowned in the Reading Floods. My Mum wanted to call me Lavinia,a family name? but Gran objected and I was called Sandra instead...a pity because I much prefer Lavinia. As children we were taught many things which I have learnt were the Rom way of doing things. The family were from Berkshire but I know nothing else about them .One thing my Gran taught me was how to cook hedgehog!!!!!!something I have never done...I would love to learn more about the Smiths or Birchalls.

actually it was me not my husband that added the above!!!

Hi Sandra I have replied to you direct as there is also a Lavinia Smith in my traveller family.

From the romany families that I have known I would guess that research would be best done without too much reference to the gorjio way. the families that are still coherent seem to have a phenomenal spoken tradition of family history (unfortunately this will mean suspending rigour in favour of a good tale, but thats often why we do this genealogy thing anyway). there are a good number of romany websites. the patrin is a good starting place http://www.geocities.com/Paris/5121/patrin.htm it has links to many international sites. there is a fairly substantial u.s. romany comunity that are very web literate (and often outrageously rom-christian) try to engage with someone in chat rooms who is prepared to ask her/his relatives about who they knew. dont forget that as travelers it is not too far out of living memory when they would have been in comunication with the european families, perhaps meeting at fairs and cutting across national boundaries with a shared language.

Hi just found this board ,, I have found in my family history search many were travellers,hawkers .dealers with some romanygypsy connections I am interested in Whatnell's and variants with links to Boswell -Lee-Heron-Smith yvonne

Hi, I am looking for any information on John Kearns. I think he came from Ireland at the beginning of the 1800s and he married Elizabeth Griffin in Stafford in 1835. Occupation "Hawker". I have never found him on any record or census since apart from listed on his sons marriage certificate as "Traveller". If anyone finds anything I would be delighted! C

My Gt Gt Grandfather was the last traveller in my family, and was of Romani stock his name was Joseph Towman, and he changed his name to Livingstone, as he was an orphan and taken on by an old couple, though didn't officially adopt him. My Grandmother Mary Hamilton was also said to be of Romani stock on her mother's side and had a brother called Jimmy who was a horse dealer. They were said to be of the Gitano Gypsy stock (Spanish). My Grandfather Daniel Livingstone used to make the old Bow Top Caravans and sell them. ** All were born in Northern Ireland. For anyone wanting to know more about Romani History and Traditions ths is a good site, it called 'Patrin' which means 'Leaf; in the Romani language: http://www.geocities.com/Paris/5121/patrin.htm **Romany and Traveller Family History Society 6 St James Walk South Chailey, East Sussex, BN8 4BU, ENGLAND The Romany and Traveller Family History Society in Britain aids those searching for information on their Romany ancestry. The society is building a bank of information with members help to assist those searching for details of family background and travelling life. The society issues 4 journals, Romany Roads, per year. (can also be found on the Patrin site) Web: http://website.lineone.net/~rtfhs/ Also this is a great site on MSN, which has message boards in which many Romani and traveller families post regularly.. such as LEE'S and BOSWELL'S. http://groups.msn.com/TheGypsyCommunity If anyone wants to know anything about Rroma History and the origins etc I will be glad to help! If the above site links don't work... got to Google and type in 'Patrin'.... for MSN message boards 'Gypsy Community' Kushto Bok! Risha

My Grandmother had a very dark and swarthy skin and long black hair. She always said that she was descended from the original Gypsy Gray (whoever that was). When I found and sent for her parents (i.e. my Great Grandparents) marriage certificate (1876), it gave the brides father as George Gray a Cattle Dealer. They were living in South Elmsall, Yorkshire at the time. Does anyone know whether Cattle Dealer sound like a possible for gypsy please? Chrissie

Hi all. I have the following names in my family,from the Scarrott/Fudge (travellers/fair ground),which is part of my family line, but by default rather than birth Theodore (Ted), Richard ----Summerville, Ramage, L'avale, King and Lester they've cropped up as an A.K.A. Not too sure when/why each name was used but may explain apearences and disapearences for some of you. Joan

dose any one no anything about The Beech (Beach) family. The branch I'm affter ran a Fair in Brentford London near Kew bridge. I am trying to contact a living relly as well as traceing the history. As I beleve One of the 2 Williams from around 1892 was my Grandfathers father.( and did not know it.) I think it was William Sr as his son would of been only 16/17 and my g/grandmother was in her late 20s. She whent on to Marry the man who gave his name to my Grandfather.

I have been looking for a birth ref. for William George Beament born c1847 Crewkern Somerset. He is George Beaumont on the 1881 census in Birmingham, occupation weaver of horsehair. Some very kind people on the tips board found him for me on other census returns as Bennet, and then I found out he was commonly known as Bill Bennet. His grandaughter says that he had dark swarthy skin, very dark eyes and hair, and a wide nose. He reminded her of a gypsy in the way that he dressed and always had a caravan and horses. So I'm taking a wild guess here that he might have been a gypsy!!!!!!!! Has anyone found the name connected to a travelling family by any chance? Mandy

Hi all, I am looking for GARDINER/GARDNER/GARDENER at Red Skin Village, Croydon/Mitcham, around 1800 onwards. I have a rellie born in a tent on Mitcham common and on the 1901 census i have rellies in tents in chelsham. By what i know my great grandad was the first to live and buy a house.

My Great-Grandfather David Conway when he was living in Hanley Stoke-On-Trent in the 2nd half of the 19th Century,befriended the famous Evangelist known as Gypsy Smith.he was actually named in Gypsy Smith.s original Autobiography.In the later editions he simply refers to 'my friends in Hanley.My Mother said her Father told her that he never met a finer man. Regards William Russell Jones Cefn Mawr Wrexham.