On 24th March 1890 in Boldre, Hampshire, there was a double wedding, when Henry Rawlings, chimney sweep, son of Job, married Elizabeth Hedges and his sister, Freedom Rawlings, daughter of Job, married John Cole, a licensed hawker, son of Elias/Goliath. Freedom and John, favouring the southern counties of Hampshire, Sussex … Continue reading →

Clarence Gray, a 20 year old musician and travelling showman, camping with several members of the Gray tribe at Yarmouth, Norfolk,  reported his piano accordion stolen from his caravan.  The miscreant turned out to be Angelo Gizzie, a fellow travelling showman, who was about 31 at the time, and had … Continue reading →

The Leicestershire Chronicle of 18th October 1845 reported on a case heard at the Michaelmas County Sessions where a Gypsy “complained of being illegally convicted” under the Vagrancy Act.  To the amusement of many in the court the appellant claimed that his family “being a very ancient tribe” and existing … Continue reading →

The Proudley family, who particularly favoured the southern counties of Sussex and Hampshire during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, are a difficult tribe to trace effectively, partly due to their constant use and re-use of family names across every generation. But, just as Francis Proudley left a will that revealed … Continue reading →