hi. heather, jones is one of many, old romany names. as you would think its got lots of connections with wales. in fact one of my aunts was wed to a jones. it is not widly known but in this country, and many european countries in the 16th and 17th century, it was illegal to be a gypsy, the punishment, if you were born was death. burning, infantacide, and public flogging at the least? many were inprisoned. so you would try to keep your roots a secret. it still goes on to day, i can trace my family back to the 17th century, all travelling people. i lived a travelling life till recently, but now live in a house. but only a few months back i was refused entry to my local pub because of my gypsy roots. by the land lord who i had known for twenty years? but just found out i was a romany, any way it is not a surprise your ancestors left the country. you could pretend you were not a gypsy where no one knew you. in fact i often tell gorgios/ non travellers/ that its like we are a white black man. because we get the same or worse treatment. but it is the small mindeness of others that get to you, so i well understand why in the 19th century you would leave your mother country. to escape predudice, if i can help with any questions about romany life feel free to ask. cushti bok rob..g
