Gypsies Archives - Geneageek

I’ve recently come into possession of two helpful books with regards to with the LOVELL line I’m tracing – The Family Tree of Major and Susanna Lovell by Josephine Tombs and The Family Tree of Daniel and Violetta Lovell by Eric Trudgill.

Although these books are mainly just a recorded lineage of the families with a few anecdotes/explanations thrown in, it has shown that my research so far has been sound and given me a few clues as to where to research next. Unfortunately, the cover pic is NOT of Major & Susanna (photography in their day being rare of course), but rather a descendant, Patience LOVELL and her husband, Christopher SMITH (the second cover picture is of descendant, Jane MONAGHAN).

If you’re researching gypsy ancestors, it’s worth checking out whether the Romany & Traveller Family History Society has published anything on your family.

I have also just downloaded a digital copy of My Ancestors were Gypsies by Sharon Sillers Floate which has been very interesting so far.

While researching gypsy ancestors, I discovered some interesting reports on local ‘gipsy’ happenings. The weddings must have been as much of a spectacle then as they are now (thanks to television programmes like ‘My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding’).

Oh, if only there were photographs!

…The bride wore a gorgeous dress of maroon plush, surmounted by an immense hat covered with waving ostrich feathers. Her bridesmaid was attired in a costume of golden plush. The bridegroom and his friend were in velvet with vermilion neckties…

gipsy nuptials — The Leek Post, 20 Aug 1898, p8

newspaper clipping — Tamworth Herald, 23 Dec 1882, p6

gipsy wedding at windsor - newspaper clipping — Tamworth Herald, 23 Aug 1890, p6

This fourth wedding was a lot less ostentatious but nonetheless interesting:

And lastly, the funeral. The journalist obviously thought the deceased’s death was interesting enough to write about, but apparently not enough to include her name:

gipsy funeral — The Staffordshire Sentinel, 31 Jan 1863, p2

Looking for Lovell 2

Four Big Fat Gypsy Weddings and a Funeral