Gypsy - Family History & Genealogy Message Board

Re: GYPSY (GIPSY) RODNEY SMITH: Evangelist b. 1860

mccrackenronnie — 2013-05-21 13:42:38Z

Hi, I am very interested in any info re the great Gipsy Rodney Smith. I do have the autobiography and book of sermons. He was a great evangelist and brought thousands to heaven in GB and USA. This generation should know more about him.
Ronnie

Re: Nicholls and Smith and Williams

lindaperkins60 — 2013-05-15 18:50:26Z

James and Olive Nicholls were my grandads grandparents, one of there sons were Milford Samson Nicholls, my grandads dad. My grandad was John Nicholls, one of eight children of Milford and his wife Sarah, they lived in Lorenco Road Tottenham, where my mum Ethel Nicholls was born, i love reading anything about the Nicholls family

Re: Do you know any Wells, Hicks, Stanley or Coopers?

sarahhglas — 2013-05-10 03:36:58Z

I am a hicks. my middle name is hicks. my father'sfamily trained horses

Re: Gypsy Blood

hellocat2500 — 2013-05-02 16:33:33Z

I would begin looking into trade... that is where you will probably have a lineage. Most early gypsies were names Tinkers or travellers.. which ancestors originate in Ireland. However, the European blood could indicate that your gypsy lineage could go as far back as the middle east.. and that of Eygpt because of where The Lifestyle began.. as nomads. This lineage settled in parts of Europe especially Hungary, Germany, and then Ukrain and England including Ireland and Scotland. The trades line is the most important because it is passed down through the generations to each first born boy or all children for that matter. they were married young and their lifespan was to mid 30's. No a days you can find different named gypsies as well. Such as "Travellers"( mainly Ireland based) "Romani" (Mostly Hungarian, Austrian, Romania) But both same similiar stature and of course lifestyle.

My lineage were performers.. and died out in the Second World War with Hitler killing many family members and families as most bands travel together related or not.

My freinds' lineages are tinkers.. they evolved into roofers and pavers..

so i would start there. I hope this helps.. also explore ancient Gypsy language "Cant" Shelty" are there names. there may be something in your family history that can match u that way.
also beware.. because gypsies were "all" family but in reality were not family by blood. Note to self.. :)

Good luck in your quest! there is a site you can go to called Romani.com or at least there used to be.

take good care!

Re: Looking for any info on Wharton, Boswell, Cooper, Smith, etc.

duffett11 — 2013-04-27 19:20:19Z

My great grandfather was Henry Lovell, wife was Ellen Leach.
I do believe that my Great great grandfather married a woman from Spain, my Great Great grandfather was a sea captain who bought his wife back to Wales to live.
We believe the Spanish wife was a gypsy.
I have been trying for years to try to find my dad's family, its like looking for a needle in a hay stack

Re: Looking for any info on Wharton, Boswell, Cooper, Smith, etc.

HaScalia — 2013-04-22 05:26:23Z

Lematina was my greatgreat grandmother. I think carnation was her sister. My grandfather was Dewey Boswell. His father name was David Boswell. Legation a last name was Lovell. Some of the smith lived in Chicago when I was young. We are probably related.

Re: Looking for any info on Wharton, Boswell, Cooper, Smith, etc.

duffett11 — 2013-04-21 15:03:17Z

Hi, my nan was Carnation Lovell, she was married 1st we believe to Joe Cross, we think she had a son from this marriage.We think there was a son from this union. After Joe's death she married a Thomas Peter Jones, They had 3 sons Thomas, John and Arthur, she was taken ill with cancer, and Arthur was put into the care of a foster parent, Mrs Taylor, who later became Mrs Lowe. I do know Carnation had a sister called Lemontine. On the death of Carnation we were told the parents of Joe Cross came and took the little boy to live with them. Carnations parents were Henry Lovell, mother was Ellen Lovell nee Leach or Leech. Do you think they are members of your family? Chris

Re: Traveller or gypsy baptisms

Baskerfield — 2013-04-17 08:58:26Z

Hi Jade,
Thanks for the suggestions, I've sent them an email.

Re: Traveller or gypsy baptisms

Jade_Bignell — 2013-04-16 23:50:22Z

Hi sending it to these guys is probably best. They list lots of Romany BMDs and a bunch of other info.
http://romanygenes.com/
http://gypsyjib.wetpaint.com/

Re: rose lee

Aaronf_goodlad — 2013-04-13 15:46:18Z

Wish i could help more all i know is she was my fathers great grandmother dont know much more sorry

Re: Black Dutch

jenifersrosess1 — 2013-04-06 10:28:33Z

I was wondering if you can either help me, to see what people's my Black Dutch is from, or point me in the right direction, on how to locate this information.
My ancestor who had the Black Dutch is:
Surilda F Eddings (Eddins) (She was the 4th generation of Eddins in America, and the ancestor's before that, were "Eden" last name in Europe).
Surilda's parent's were:
John Eddings (Eddins) b:1798 NC, d:1874 MO John's mother was: Elizabeth "Ann" Kirk b: 1768 NC, d: 1804 NC.
Rebecca Mason b: 1803 NC, d: 1847 MO (Rebecca Mason's paternal lineage were all Ralph Mason's, for 3 generations in America).
Rebecca's mother was: Elizabeth Strickland b: 1755 NC, d: 1850 TN.
An interesting story, my sister heard years ago, from our family, about our black Dutch from Surilda F Eddins:
My sister said our Black Dutch ancestors were an ancient Germanic people, from the Black Forest region. Supposedly, our ancestors had lived isolated on an island, North-East of the Black Forest. At some point, some had left and travelled West, through the Black Forest. Some of these had went by sea to America.
What my Dad had told me about Surilda F Eddins: My Dad said Surilda F Eddins parent's were part Black Dutch. They were small in size; darker skin and they could not speak English.
I believe , the Black Dutch most likely will be from the Mason's lineage.
Jenifer Bice (Bias)

Re: Black Dutch

jenifersrosess1 — 2013-04-06 10:28:04Z

Re: Searching for Gypsy James Smith

Armittace — 2013-03-29 21:55:46Z

This is a similar story to my own story of my ancestor James Smith...he was also known as Cherokee Jim Smith because he was a Cherokee mixed-blood. I believe he is a descendant of Cherokee Traders Richard or Abraham Smith, both sons of Richard Smith & Agnes Cocke. Cherokee Jim lived in TN and AL and probably parts of GA, but other than an application for Cherokee citizenship that his granddaughter did in 1896, I have no information on him. His son was David Editon Smith. David married Sarah Gallymore. Their daughter Sarah Ann Smith married William Patterson Grider and they are my ancestors. Any help would be appreciated on this line.

Re: POSSIBLE GYPSY ANCESTORS (ENGLAND) - WHERE DO I START?!!

Annie465 — 2013-03-26 12:06:03Z

Yes that site as been blocked by Wetpaint for unknown reasons, denying the members interests, There is another site at this address... http://gmb3.wetpaint.com/ on wetpaint that is run by the same person.

Re: Stokes graves, Forest Home Cemetery, Forest Park, IL

Angeliquestokes — 2013-03-26 05:00:24Z

funny this man with this birthday is my husbands dads info but he was married to his mom in 1950.. strange world lol

Re: POSSIBLE GYPSY ANCESTORS (ENGLAND) - WHERE DO I START?!!

Angeliquestokes — 2013-03-26 04:56:38Z

My husband was raised believing he was Gypsy but his dad walked out when he was about 9 and never came back.. We think we may have found his dad but to late the person we found that seems to be his dad is dead:( He has a name and birthdate, he and all his siblings were born in different states his mother said it was because they followed the carnivals and wintered in Florida. Looking at birth records fathers name says the same but his place of birth changes. His mother told us the used two alias Tennis and Stevenson I believe one of the name is his dads mothers maiden name. His dad have several sisters and brothers how ever the only two names he can remember are Eli and Steve or Stevie. His mom met his dad in Tacoma Washington in or about 1950. Any ideas where we can go from here? Thank you

Re: POSSIBLE GYPSY ANCESTORS (ENGLAND) - WHERE DO I START?!!

Angeliquestokes — 2013-03-26 04:49:54Z

This site is blocked?

Gypsy Blood

TiaGray17 — 2013-03-24 01:22:51Z

I am searching my families roots in England, Scotland and Ireland. I am trying to find out if my family were or are Gypsies. I have the surnames Ayers, Little, Bassett, White, Knowles, Sprague and more. I know that surnames do not always indicates Gypsy blood. I have had DNA testing done and my DNA says that I am European, however I cannot see where the South Asian comes in. I know that Gypsies had different trades but would they have been able to keep them if they were forced to relocate to America. Any help would be great.

Re: black dutch and english gypsies names who were deported

Ryalla — 2013-03-20 21:57:57Z

Dear Donna, the following is an inscription on a gravestone at Harby, hope it will help in your search, kind regards, Ryalla. In affectionate memory of Thomas KING, who died July 19th, 1840; aged 60 years. Also Susannah wife of the above who died Feby, 27th, 1828; aged 52 years. May angels guard their sleeping dust, / Till Christ shall come to raise the just; / Then may they wake with sweet surprise / And in their Saviours.. image rise.

Szymon Czobko

chopperc40 — 2013-03-15 03:05:25Z

Can I please have a look up for passangers records for the UK or USA. Szymon Czobko apparently came to the US in abt 1909 to work from Poland and returned home in time for WW1. He came again between abt 1921 and stayed abt 5yrs to work. He was a brick layer in New York and a farm hand in Minnesota. I searched records on Ancestry but could only find his passage with family in 1930 to Canada. He could of possibly went to US between 1918-1921, but that was during the civil war. I honestly dont think he would of left his young family to fend for themselves in Belarus at that time.

thank you in advance
crystal

Chopko, Chobko, Czobko

chopperc40 — 2013-03-15 02:09:05Z

Hello, I'm looking for information on th Czobko(Polish spelling) family from Malaryta in the district of Lachowce in Belarus. Samuel(Szymon) Czobko came to Canada in 1930 with his family. Chobko was the spelling on naturalization documents and the last name was changed to Chopko later.

Samuel's parents were Pawel and Akilina. He is the youngest of four sons. All three were in world war 1. Two died in the war and the third shortly after his return. There was also a daughter Hannah who died in infancy.

After Pawel'S death, Samuel's mother had another son. I know Samuel and his step brother where raised by an uncle.

Any information on the family would be greatly appreciated

Traveller or gypsy baptisms

Baskerfield — 2013-03-13 20:25:58Z

Hi,
I'm transcribing some parish records which include some which have 'gypsy' entered as trade or profession. I'm guessing that there must be places I could put this information where it would be of use to researchers. Does anyone know of any databases?

Re: rose lee

leighandme — 2013-03-11 23:29:36Z

my grandad leonard lee was married to sheila lee they have lived in kent for years and years and hemell sheila lee died three and half weeks ago funeral is in kent monday 18th march leonard lee was related to gypsy rose lee would love to hear from anyone related leonard is in his seventies now and not in great health but still going would love to contact more relatives x

Re: Romany surnames - Southern England?

bigjack3439 — 2013-03-07 21:00:44Z

That's because you don't get out much

Re: could i have gypsy blood?

chas0575 — 2013-03-02 00:22:54Z

My autosomal DNA test came back 95% Western European and 5% from India. I have always had dark characteristics and am thinking it has to come from Gypsy blood. I have traced back all of my lines to the 1600's and they all originate from Western Europe. Where is this 5% India coming from? Very interesting!

Re: Elizabeth DIXON, Romany Gypsy

littlebazsbus — 2013-02-12 00:57:47Z

Hi have you get any other information of Elizabeth Dixon father or mother. My family are travelling show people not romanys and we have an elizabeth dixon in our family .

Re: Romany DNA study update

soraroxas — 2013-02-06 11:47:07Z

Sydney, Australia**

Re: Romany DNA study update

soraroxas — 2013-02-06 11:46:10Z

I meant Cooper** Gypsy DNA

Re: Romany DNA study update

soraroxas — 2013-02-06 11:45:13Z

How would I go about DNA testing to see if I have Cooler Gypsy DNA ? My ancestor John Cooper was born between 1780 - 1789 - in Binstead, Hampshire, and the Romani Coopers lived in Hampshire, right? Wondering if they could be related, and thus me too? I live in Sydney, Austria.

Clarence Joseph Speak 1902 Blackrod

johnspeak65 — 2013-02-03 15:19:27Z

Hi.You are asking about my Father.What information are you
looking for John

Re: scottish travelers

ronwhaley1066 — 2013-01-24 20:18:25Z

Hi,

In regard to your Baillie line, google the Yeltholme gypsies,Scotland. Baillie is one of the predominant surnames in the towns gypsy community.

Regarding the Wilson line, I have no known connection, but may have an idea for some further research. In my locality a number of 'travelling' Wilson's have settled in both the Stokesley and Guisborough areas of North Yorkshire, the former being my old work place and the latter, my home town.

I am researching Drummond,Todd and Anderson lines, as is my very distant cousin, Tom, which are proving to be a giant jigsaw puzzle and frustrating. Let me know how you get on.

Kim.

p.s my email is different from this one it's my dad's mine is kimwhaley1066@aol.com

Gypsy Violet Harris from Oxford

Totalrecall158 — 2013-01-22 23:38:07Z

At a recent family gathering, I found out that my grandfather's mother was a gypsy and I'd like to try and find out more about her and her family.

My great grandmother's name was Violet Harris, she married a man called Sidney Cross and they were always in and around Oxford.

If anyone has a relation to Violet and her gypsy heritage, then I would really appreciate hearing from you.

Re: Romany surnames - Southern England?

Suegagen — 2013-01-22 15:43:02Z

I came across your post quite by accident but it is of great interest to me as my family lived in Wardley Street. My great-great-grandfather was William Gagen, his wife Harriet Adelaide Bassett. I haven't been able to find anything on her family except that her father was David and he said his occupation was a bailiff (as given on her marriage certificate). Harriet was born about 1835. Do you know if Harriet and her father were related to your Bassetts? I have no idea what she looked like but I am told the children were dark with very dark brown eyes. My great-grandfather was described as 'swarthy' in his army records.

JONES family History poss Folkestone, Kent

lesleytaylor18 — 2013-01-21 21:48:08Z

I wonder if anyone out there has any family history information regarding the Jones family that lived in Folkestone, Kent. My Grandmother was Nancy May Jones (called Kit or Kitten also) and was born in 1889ish The family then lived in Folkestone and she had sisters Babs (not sure if her real name) Jess, (I do know that Jess lived in Milton, Sittingbourne)Gladys and a brother too. My grandmother married into the Ball family from Strood, Rochester, Kent and there are family connections in Frindsbury, Kent also.

Re: Romany surnames - Southern England?

BIGVAL2 — 2013-01-20 09:48:09Z

Gatehouse, Loram, Clubb and Mills are also romany links from Dover area , all in my tree

Photograph

jjacksonforsberg — 2013-01-18 00:09:33Z

My father recently found the photograph of his grandmother attached below. Her name was Anna Maria Leichert, though I believe the surname to be her first married name. She lived in Berlin, Germany and was born in 1879, so based on her appearance in the photograph, I'm guessing that the photograph was from around the turn of the century.

My question is about the clothing and pose in this photograph. Does this appear to be Roma dress or would this have been a contrived costume?

Any information and insight would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you, Julie

Re: could i have gypsy blood?

cathywhitten42 — 2013-01-15 03:31:42Z

I think this could be the answer to my question concerning part of my autosomnal dna findings. I came back with six percent south asian, which includes india, pakistan and assorted other small countries in that area. I have not encountered any lines that even remotely head in that direction. Could the answer be in Gypsy lines? There was one branch that was questionable in that direction, but it was not known.

Re: BUCKLEY, LOVERIDGE,SMITH

nathan_is_cool — 2013-01-08 05:53:21Z

I'm a buckley, and I've got loveridge relatives, and smiths too :) and I'm pretty sure we're related to the taylors somewhere along the line, but waaay back in the 1700-1800's my nans harriet buckley 7brothers 7sisters, and she was from essex to, its mad to think we're all related someway! Such a big family!

Re: Ayres/Rawlings

juliawhite911 — 2013-01-06 16:14:25Z

It could be hunt...

Re: Ayres/Rawlings

juliawhite911 — 2013-01-06 16:13:41Z

So do mine...voodoochile@gmx.co.uk MY EMAIL

Re: george Digger Stanley

Bigbrothermovies — 2013-01-04 21:16:42Z

Hi my dads name is Peter Stanley Evans George digger was his great great uncle I'd love to hear from family members and see what stories ect we could swap and find out my number is 07413 512076

Re: could i have gypsy blood?

gypsylovell — 2013-01-02 17:05:07Z

Locke is a Romany name. That doesn't mean that all Locke's are Romany's, but it further strengthens the possibility.

Note that Romany's (English Gypsies) are a completely different race of people than Irish Travelers. Romany's are descended from India, Travelers are Celtic.

Possible Romani connection?

colleenmurray765 — 2012-12-30 20:16:51Z

My mother (who is the owner of this account) and I have been doing research on the family of her paternal grandmother trying to answer a question that has dogged us for years, namely what her ethnicity was. We're trying to see if they may have been Roma.

We know my great grandmother and her family weren't "white," in the strictest sense, with dark coloring and strong features (see photos below) that have led people to describe them variously as looking Roma, Jewish, Portuguese, French, Arab and even Bulgarian and Tatar.

The problem is that my grandfather kept whatever it is they were a secret from us, and Census records have been mostly unhelpful because it appears my great-grandmother's father was born at sea and informally adopted by Mormons, and the same may have been true of her mother.

My grandfather was very fond of them, but what few details he and his siblings let out consisted of little details like how his grandfather would make wooden toys for him that weren't specified but were described as "clever" or how my grandaunt remembered their grandmother smoking a corncob pipe; my grandaunt held on to the photos, didn't take good care of them, never shared them with us and found them difficult to look at. Another thing my grandfather used to say is that he was descended from "kings of Ireland and horse thieves"; not that I want to perpetuate stereotypes, but it seems Romanies have often been accused of stealing horses.

My great-great grandparents were Marion Collett and Laura Horn, both officially born in Cache County, Utah (Marion's death cert, filled out by his daughter, states that he was born at sea; Laura's obit calls her a "native of Canada"); my great grandmother was Myrtle Collett, born in Butte, Montana; her siblings were Pearl, Lucretia, May, Waneta, and Leslie (brother). Myrtle married an Irish Catholic man, and my family is culturally Irish, but my mom is frequently mistaken for Italian or Greek due to her appearance.

We're planning to do DNA testing, but for the time being, we're looking at the possibility of a Roma connection. I understand that it's unlikely traditional Roma would want to appear in bathing suits, and it's always hard to tell someone's ethnicity from vintage photographs, but that notwithstanding (and we have no idea how "traditional" these people were, considering the adoption issue), is Romani ancestry at least within the realm of possibility here?

Here's a guide to the photos:
1. Lucretia, Charles Murray (grandfather), Edward Murray (granduncle), Myrtle
2. Myrtle, Laura, Pearl
3. Marion, Laura
4. William Horn (Laura's brother)
5. Michael Murray (granduncle)
6. Myrtle
7. Unknown relative
8. Charles Murray Sr. (Irish great grandfather); Charles Jr.; Marion; Myrtle
9. Pearl, Lucretia, Leslie

Re: could i have gypsy blood?

romany05 — 2012-12-30 13:20:22Z

If your Breaksperes were from the Wantage area, then they were definitely Romany Travellers.

If you can let me know your grandparents names and roughly when they were born, I could try to see if I can tie you into this family (I am only very distantly related to them)
Ideally if you could give me your Breakspere Great Grandparents that would be even better as I am more likely to have details of them as they would be nearer the age group of my research.

could i have gypsy blood?

chantellecane85 — 2012-12-10 02:49:46Z

my mother told me that there was a very strong gypsy blood in are family named the 'breaksperes' and on my grandads side 'locke' also on my dads side there is irish traveller..so what am i? thats the question id like to know!

Re: Ayres/Rawlings

wendyveeda — 2012-12-01 18:11:17Z

I found her as Olive 'Font Or Hurst'from Woodstock I tried the surname 'Von der Hurst' there were some but no clues to Olive. Let me know if you have any luck! regards Wendy

Re: Ayres/Rawlings

sfalcon123 — 2012-11-30 19:37:22Z

I,m trying to find out more about olive who was married to james.
does anyone know her real surname and who her parents were.
and were they also travellers ?

Re: Ayres/Rawlings

vo36 — 2012-11-28 15:48:15Z

Yes both

Re: Romany surnames - Southern England?

Suegagen — 2012-11-25 00:22:01Z

Hello - I was born in Lydden Grove, round the corner from Wardley Street and my great-grandfather, George Gagen, lived in Wardley Street. His mother was Harriet Adelaide Bassett, her father David Bassett, who gave his occupation as 'bailiff' at her marriage in 1856, but I know no more about them - can't find them in any census records. This makes me wonder if they might have been travelling people. Is there anyone out there who can help me with this family? Talking of dark features, my great-grandfather was described as being 'swarthy' in army records and my father said that his grandfather's family all had very dark eyes. I think they had curly hair.

Joe Smith (Prof.X)

only1albertina — 2012-11-24 07:02:58Z

My husband's grandfather is Joe Smith, (Prof.X). We are trying to find information on him and his family. Joe married Martha Ruth Wolf. They had a daughter named Caryln in the son Marty. His father, also named Joe Smith was from England.