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Author Topic: was he a gypsy?  (Read 1711 times)

Offline genseeke

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was he a gypsy?
« on: Friday 26 October 12 05:34 BST (UK) »
Wanting to find out more about my ancestor Anthony Ogden who was a besom maker from Birdwell, Yorkshire. From watching an episode of WDYTYA they mentioned the most besom makers were gypsies. Anthony paid land tax to Earl Fitzwilliam in 1798.
Could he have been a gypsy?

Offline Guy Etchells

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Re: was he a gypsy?
« Reply #1 on: Friday 26 October 12 07:37 BST (UK) »
The is the problem with generalities.
Gypsies made money by trading in things that could be made using local resources and providing labour/skills for various jobs.
Most/many country folk would have been able to make besom brooms in their spare time. Some if no other work was available may have done it full time.

Whilst such an occupation may point to the possibility, other evidence should be found before making the assumption.
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Guy
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Offline Steve G

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Re: was he a gypsy?
« Reply #2 on: Wednesday 31 October 12 21:16 GMT (UK) »
 Genseeke; Just to add a little to what Guy's, quite correctly said; I've just checked The Book Of Bob: Ogden isn't listed as having ever been a Gypsy name in there.

Of course, as I am always at pains to point out; Not being listed doesn't mean they weren't Gypsys. But, Smith is a legendary, Gypsy name. But, not every Smith in the phone book will have Gypsy ancestry.

As Guy indicates; It's more about building up a picture of clues. Couple a Gypsy name with a Gypsy occupation? That's a start. Mr Ogden there appears to have fallen at the first hurdle though.
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Offline Romany Knaves

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Re: was he a gypsy?
« Reply #3 on: Saturday 24 November 12 16:43 GMT (UK) »
hi.
Ogden was a surname used by Gypsies but may or may not be connected to your family there is a ref; 1756 John Ogden buriel at Oakham,Leicestershire "A Travller" in the county council records if its any use to you
ESSEX, KENT, LONDON, SUFFOLK, SUSSEX.
Bachelor, Baker, Beeny, Boswell, Brazil, Burgess, Carter, Clements, Cooper, Cornelius, Collins, Day, Dobson, Eastwood, Ellis, Farr, Fairbeard, Harris, Holland/s, Jenkins, Jones, Kennett, K/nave/s, Lyon, Lee, Penfold, Ransley, Robert/s, Reeve/s, Smith, Stone, Thompsett, Tomsit, Wood/s.
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