I'm a gypsyologist AMA

[Devlesko]

Just this really, anyone interested I'll answer if I can.

[Devlesko]

No, I hadn't heard. Tbh, I don't normally follow sports or celebrities, never know what people are talking about when they are on about their latest issues.
I'm sorry to hear he isn't very nice, but I wouldn't have classed him as a good role model without knowing more about him.

I used him as an example of a famous traveller who was also refused admittance to venues.
It's a good example of the racism and discrimination that still exists.
The bouncers would ask him to pose for a picture, then have to refuse him/ others entry.
This company policy needs to stop whether it's huge corporates like Wetherspoons, Morrisons, or the local pub.

[BameChange123]

@Develesko I am enjoying this thread. I come across your posts often in my travels on Mumsnet. You write so vividly and clearly, i can feel your passion!

I've noticed around where I live in a city, quite a few houses with an ornate wooden wheel on the outside in the front garden, often near the front door, gate, house wall or by the garage. Sometimes the wheel is painted red, it looks very similar to the Roma Flag wheel, so you know of this ( is it a sign of Romani residents?)

Thanks in advance - it did not appear to be a generic garden ornament like a gnome and it has always puzzled me!

[Devlesko]

BameChange

Aw, thank you very much. I do enjoy social history, not just Romany. Always wanted to do it at school, but didn't get the chance, so now I study for interest/ fun. I've a particular soap box about opportunities for children to participate in music, I'll debate about that all day.

Yes, this is likely to be Romany/ traveller, as we tend to keep wheels as a reminder of days on the road. I don't think there are many families today where the previous generation weren't on the road.
The other thing you'll see are horseshoes, or even under shelters like verandahs you may see brass and other ornate hangings.

[VamosAhora]

Thanks for the thread Devlesko.

I'm a Smith, down from Jasper, so you are my distant cousin. I never knew I had Romany heritage until doing an Ancestry DNA test and piecing together my tree from the relatives they link you to. My father hadn't known, his grandmother had kept it a secret. I've enjoyed in the last few years finding out about the Romany past - and present.

[Devilesko]

Hello cousin, how brilliant.
There are so many like you who are just or recently finding out.
I bet you are reading a lot, and finding lots of matches.
You are part of a very large family. I mean Romany, not just Smith, who are massive as you probably know.

[GypsyLee]

I'm the OP with changed name.
Just wanted to say

Baxtalo Nevo Berš Happy New Year!

[Saucery]

Happy New Year, Dev/GypsyLee! I was wondering how you were doing the other day, glad to see you about.

[TheQueef]

Happy New Year Dev heres hoping for better days

[GypsyLee]

Saucery

Thank you.
I'm still here, but have been busy.
We had a close family death about a month ago, and were only able to have the funeral yesterday, it's awful when you have to wait so long.
All feeling much better today.
I hope you are well and looking forward to the New Year as much as any of us can.

[ConquestEmpireHungerPlague]

Happy new year Devlesko and condolences for your family member.

[GypsyLee]

Thank you.

As promised I said I would post new info or opportunities when I found them.
I'm starting this, have always wanted to learn Kale. I know a couple of others were showing an interest in some languages.

www.welshkale.com/

[GypsyLee]

I know there are a couple of travellers on here, not sure whether your children attend school, but came across this, good news for those who are interested. www.travellerstimes.org.uk/news/2020/12/government-put-ps400000-gypsy-roma-and-traveller-childrens-education

[ReallySpicyCurry2]

This has been such a fascinating read.

I have no Romany heritage (though have
a cousin who is half) but have thoroughly enjoyed learning more about the origins and culture.

This year I've done my own deep dive into family history, and have turned up some extremely interesting and unexpected facts, which really have made me view certain aspects of my family, and my own place in the world, in a very different light. So I get what PP are saying about how important it can be to find these things out

On that subject @GypsyLee I wonder could you tell me more about getting photos colourised? Is it a paid subscription to one of the DNA websites you need? There's a few photos I'm itching to get done

[sadpapercourtesan]

Hi @Devlesko what a wonderful, fascinating thread

I wondered whether you knew anything about the Orchards of South Zeal in Devon?

[FreshFreesias]

I rescued my dogs from gypsies. He was starved and years later is still terrified of children and old men.
Every year there is footage from Appleby Horse Fair of gypsies routinely abusing their poor horses.
Every year we must endure news footage of gypsies racing horses down motorways.
This kind of cultural animal abuse is sickening and I have no idea why the gypsy community sanctions it.

[Devlesko]

@ReallySpicyCurry2

This has been such a fascinating read.

I have no Romany heritage (though have
a cousin who is half) but have thoroughly enjoyed learning more about the origins and culture.

This year I've done my own deep dive into family history, and have turned up some extremely interesting and unexpected facts, which really have made me view certain aspects of my family, and my own place in the world, in a very different light. So I get what PP are saying about how important it can be to find these things out

On that subject *@GypsyLee* I wonder could you tell me more about getting photos colourised? Is it a paid subscription to one of the DNA websites you need? There's a few photos I'm itching to get done

Hello, unfortunately I can't remember which ancestry site offered the colourised photo's I think it could be My heritage, but not sure.
If you google each provider it should say what they offer.
I know that it was free but obviously part of the overall subscription.
You could try seeing if they have a free trial period, most do.
I've done this before, used the trial for a particular thing.
It seems pointless to pay for several companies, not to mention the expense.
Let me know how you go on, and I'll have a look for you, too.

[Devlesko]

@sadpapercourtesan

Hi *@Devlesko* what a wonderful, fascinating thread

I wondered whether you knew anything about the Orchards of South Zeal in Devon?

I've heard the name, definitely, and seen a few posts on Romany UK fb.
It's quite a good place and everyone is friendly, if you fancy a look.
I'm glad you like the thread, I'm so passionate about our Romany roots and keeping up with present issues.

[Devlesko]

@FreshFreesias

I rescued my dogs from gypsies. He was starved and years later is still terrified of children and old men.
Every year there is footage from Appleby Horse Fair of gypsies routinely abusing their poor horses.
Every year we must endure news footage of gypsies racing horses down motorways.
This kind of cultural animal abuse is sickening and I have no idea why the gypsy community sanctions it.

Hello FreshFreesias.

As a race and in most of our communities I can assure you our animals are taken care of.
They are mostly working animals and not pets, so you rarely see us petting our animals, they are not treated as a member of the family as many pet owners do.
However, there are good and bad in all walks of life and all races.
Abuse of animals is not something to do with our culture at all.
Your animal will not serve you well if you do not take good care of it.

I'm sorry your dog had such a bad start that is awful, some people shouldn't be allowed to keep animals, whatever race they belong to.

[JanewaysBun]

Weird question but years ago was being a river gypsy a thing?
We are apparently descended from gypsies that lived and travelled round on a barge (in Victorian times ). There s very little paper info about them.

Is this a thing or is it a family story that's got confused? Thank you!

[adrianmolesmole]

This is so interesting! Is there a Romany/gypsy community still living in India now?

[Devlesko]

@JanewaysBun

Weird question but years ago was being a river gypsy a thing?
We are apparently descended from gypsies that lived and travelled round on a barge (in Victorian times ). There s very little paper info about them.

Is this a thing or is it a family story that's got confused? Thank you!

I have a branch of mine that lived on canal boats. They wee earthenware hawkers so travelled by canal to collect their wares.
There is also a barge/ canal fb group, I'll see if I can find it.
I didn't join that one as on so many others and only one branch of mine lived like this.
It wasn't unusual for gypsies to do this, so the family story is probably true.

[Devlesko]

@adrianmolesmole

This is so interesting! Is there a Romany/gypsy community still living in India now?

Yes, there are and as I hate to say this because of consanguinity (intermarriage) we still share DNA with those there.
The closest match I have is to The Pimari Tajaks, I share DNA with those living there now.
But I only have to go a few generations back to find my parents both sides go into one.

[SnowdaySewday]

This is really interesting.

Is Winter a Romany surname?

GGM was born in 1899 and her family appears in the 1901 and 1911 censuses in a village in Cambridgeshire, with their address being "on the green". Her father's occupation is given as boot maker/ mender. Some of her siblings were born in that area and others in various parts of London, but all baptised in that village.

[Devlesko]

Yes, most definitely, I have Winter in my family tree, but we all have the same names as Romany usually married other families.
Boot mender definitely, he'd go from town to town, village to village.
Yes, they will have travelled a particular route, maybe with in laws sometimes. When you see more than one name on the census they would have been family, likely. When they came back to the church they could have several children christened at once. Often depending on how long their route was.

[Devlesko]

Hi, for those travellers on here, just a reminder, we are properly considered a race now.
Stand up and be counted, we need more services, and housing.
With over 1000 homeless waiting for a place on a site, we can't afford not to.