Author Archives: admin

In 1875 Mendoza Welch, a Gypsy and a musician, had his fiddle and bow stolen, along with some other items, to the value of £2.6/- The incident, which occurred in Bedfordshire, was reported and Mendoza’s deposition, dated 12th November 1875, which he signed with his mark, as Dozer Welsh (sic) … Continue reading →

The pretty church of St Stephen’s in St Albans, Hertfordshire was the setting for the baptism of Jane Smith, daughter of Gypsies Christopher and Priscilla on 3rd February 1811. Christopher Smith and his first wife, Priscilla Shaw, had several children baptised in Hertfordshire, and subsequently Christopher and his second wife, … Continue reading →

£5 +  £1.65 p&p from martin.rose@magd.oxon.org The author’s engagement with this story of the relationship between a wealthy farmer and a Gypsy cannot be faulted for its careful and detailed research into the family lives of both parties, which is revelatory and fascinating in its exploration of social and cultural … Continue reading →

In the crowded and busy thoroughfare of St. Albans in the mid-nineteenth century a Gypsy turned inn-keeper was the landlord of St. Christopher’s, located along a narrow cobbled back street.  His name was Neptune Smith, and he had been baptised at Chipping Barnet, Hertfordshire, in 1816, the son of William … Continue reading →

In January 1907 a local newspaper reported a terrible accident at Hartshill in Warwickshire: The 11-year-old son of Isaiah Holland of Coppice Lane was lighting the fire in the early hours of the morning when the flames caught his nightshirt, which immediately blazed up. The lad screamed and his uncle, … Continue reading →