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…
The Leek Post, 20 Aug 1898, p8Tamworth Herald, 23 Dec 1882, p6Tamworth Herald, 23 Aug 1890, p6
This fourth wedding was a lot less ostentatious but nonetheless interesting:
Tamworth Herald, 27 July 1878, p4
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:
Applegarth Church, Dumfriesshire, Scotland via geograph
This is almost a continuation of my post about antenuptial fornication but I have decided to post separately as I am still not sure whether this is the same person.
In the Dumfries Kirk Sessions of 1822 (which are searchable online), James BROWN was “named as the father of Jean Smith’s child; [and] gave satisfaction for this in the parish of Applegarth” (Archive Ref: CH2/537/12). I believe ‘gave satisfaction’ (in this sense), meant that the father gave monetary compensation to the parish for their support of the child.
So was this James BROWN my ancestor, who appeared in the Dunscore parish records 6 years later for antenuptial fornication? With such a common name I cannot be sure but I can assess the likelihood of it being the same man for future reference.
First, was he old enough to be involved in this? Although I don’t have his birth record, the 1851 census suggests he was born in 1801, which means he would have been 21 at the time – a prime age for this kind of crime. 😉
James Brown and family on the 1851 census
(Interestingly, their neighbour, Andrew Lorimer (appearing at bottom of image above) was the certifying physician on James’ death certificate.)
Next, was he near enough to be involved? Applegarth is roughly 20 miles from Dunscore and about 30 miles from my James’ home, Glencairn. Not a short walk, but not impossible distances.
Map showing locations of Applegarth, Dunscore and Glencairn (Moniaive) in relation to each other via multimap
So I can’t rule out my James Brown as the father of Jean Smith’s illegitimate child and I have kept hold of this genealogical tidbit. To get any closer to proving this, I would need to check for further information in the Kirk Session records and the Applegarth parish records for any further information on Jean SMITH and her child.
Next Steps:
Check for further information in the Kirk Session records
Check Applegarth parish records for the child’s birth
Update: Checked Applegarth, Dunscore, Glencairn and Lochmaben parishes (via ScotlandsPeople) for any birth with Jean SMITH as parent (between 1800 – 1825) and any SMITH birth (between 1816 – 1825) – no likely entries found (all have listed fathers).
