Photo's, Stories etc of Gray/Smith/Elliott family Romany's

[beverlybev12]

once again as the novice i am seeking help ,ive learn,t alot about my ancesters being gypsy horse dealers and one of my way back when grandads was killed by a runaway horse at wragby fair is there anyone out there that knows of any of the cemetarys where they may be buried,i am off to crete tomorrow for 2 weeks so hopefully may find something when i get back anyway thanks again all of you for your help

[Debulah]

Hi Bev,
My great, great, great grandfather Christopher Gray born 1815 died 1869 was I believe the person you refer to as being run down by a run away horse. He was married to Maria Smith, one of their sons being Abraham who married Martha (known as Mercy) Smith. They had a son called Henry Gray who was my great grandfather and married an Eveline/Evelyn (dependent on census spelling) Exton. I know that their are a lot of graves at North Kyme and hope to visit them in the near future..... my great grandfathers grave is at Easton on the Hill near Stamford. There are also graves at Horncastle where the famous Horse Fayre was held and was a regular stop on the Romany's travels.
Have a good holiday
Deb

[Debulah]

P.S Bev,
I would really love to see your portraits if you are able to scan or take photos of them, am really interested in putting names to the relatives I have found that I never knew I existed.
Deb

[An65]

Christopher Gray was killed at Brigg fair. He was buried at Wrawby by Brigg because at that time Brigg itself didnt have a church. His wife Maria (Smith) was buried at Heckington in 1875, but as far as I know there is not a gravestone in existance for either.

There are numerous Gray Graves at North Kyme, the descendents of Abraham and Harriet (Smith) Gray, well worth the Graveyard Hunt. The only other direct relatives Graves I know of are that of my own Kin at Boston Cemetery.

Sam (Christopher & Marias son) and his wife Deliah were just inside the Horncastle Road entrance of this cemetery but any stone has long since gone. Walking down from Horncastle Road entrance, abt halfway down on the right hand side, one could in times gone by find the grave of his son, my great grandad Ambrose Gray. A black stone vase, it bore the inscription H Gray (his wife Harriet nee Rhodes) and A Gray. Sometime in the past 10 yrs this stone was broken and has long since been removed.
The graves of Ambroses daughters lie in what is known as SECTION 4. If you walk down to the junction of the Horncastle Road entrance road, with the Robin Hoods Walk entrance road, (facing from Horncastle road) it is directly in front of you, behind the large trees. If you entered via the Robin Hoods walk entrance, it would be to your left. Here lie the girls who died of TB in the 1930s. Nearest is Margaret "Bun" Gray, behind her and slightly to your left, is the open space where Sarah Gray(wells) was buried. Behind her, graves to Vina (Lavinia) Mercy (Blankley) and Renee (Mary Irene) lie. Heading the group is my grandmother, Florence Elston (nee Gray). Hers is the only vase that has been cleaned over the years.
If you walk down towards the Robin Hoods Walk entrance on your left youll see babies graves, and here a couple of rows back youll find my cousin, Elaine Elston (1962)
Also in this cemetary are my uncle Ambrose Elston and his wife Valentine Smith, Elaines parents. Also there are my great uncle Tom Gray and his wife Ann "NAN" Gray.

Workin on getting photos online but v busy will let you all know xxx

[Debulah]

Hi Ann,
Thank you for directions to position of graves  of gray family members. Like yourself have been 'thrust' shall we say, into a more challenging positon at work with the resignation of my manager, therefore time over the summer holidays has somewhat vanished with acquisition of extra paperwork - so unfortunately haven't been able to do as many of the things I had planned to do.
This information will however make things a lot easier when I do finally get back to what my heart really loves to do.
Deb

[An65]

Also of interest in the area, is the village of Tetford. it was here, on 5th August 1831 that Tyso Boswell and Edward Heron camped during a thunderstorm. The men went to a barn to try and find straw to put in their tents to stop the rain coming in. The barn was struck by lightening, and both men were killed. The incident was recorded in the local papers of the day, as was the funeral.
Tyso and Edward were buried in a joint grave in Tetford churchyard, and their joint headstone lies on the north side of the church.

[An65]

photos of Nth Kyme, Cropwell Bishop and Tetford can be found here http://s89.photobucket.com/albums/k203/Ann65-2006/Hol09/

[Debulah]

Hi Ann
Thank you for sharing the photos you have taken. They are as ornate as I was led to believe.
Haven't had time to indulge in my research as much as I had wished this holiday, but hopefully, when I have things running smoothly at work again, I will have some more time to follow some of you wonderful leads.
Deb

[beverlybev12]

just got back from lazing in the sun and was pleased to read the message for me,yet more info to absorb ,iwill scan the pictures and send them for you to see asap,i am taking a trip on thursday to see  my great aunt my grandads sister she s well into her nineties now and will alot of info so will take the portraits with me for her to see then will let you know what i find out thanks once agaim all of you