im trying to confirm possible romany connections in my family tree,and was intrested to see the names Nicholls and Fisher mentioned as i have both of these names mentioned in my tree.My family was very big and was mostly concentrated in faversham/ospringe area of kent,and spread over a radius of about 20 miles all around during the 1800s.They mostly worked in the brickfields as brickmoulders,sorters,carriers,cement yard workers,coal labourers,coke and charchoal burners and gunpowder mill labourers.As some of this work was seasonal,they also worked as tinmen,basket makers and general labourers.Many of them were described on the census as horsekeepers.One ggguncle was a costermonger/brickfield worker who had 22 children,which was quite unusual even then.As well as these names,i also have the names smith,harris,stone,jarrett,chambers,epps from sittingbourne,faversham and ashford,wells ayres and beaney,all these names ive heard mentioned in discussions about romany roots.Many of these ancesters used variations of the same name;my own surname was different pre-1880,as my ggggfather jesse started using his wifes name.My surname is one that ive rarely heard in british romany families,although its a very common jewish/german name.Ive found no direct evidence of caravan/tent dwelling,although many of them lived and sadly died in the workhouse,but i do wonder about some of my ancesters pre-1840.i should add that a lot of the family seem very conventional,though not one white collar worker.Sorry ive gone on a bit,but would appreciate any thoughts on this.thanks.
