Is there a Romany/Gypsy connection? Abit confused

[benn34]

 Hi,

Can anyone help me please?

I randomly put the name of my 3rd great grandfather William Lamb and year of birth into the google search engine and he came up in an 1881 Hawker census under a Gypsy and Romany Connections site along with one of his sons. I know there is quite a few people in my family tree that were either Hawkers or Basket Makers but this is the first time of a mention concerning Gypsies/Romany.

Does this mean that there is definately a connection?

Ann

[Mike in Cumbria]

If it just came up in a Google search, what makes you think it's the same William Lamb?

[benn34]

If it just came up in a Google search, what makes you think it's the same William Lamb?

Hi Mike,

It contains both information on William Lamb and his son John Lamb, their birth years, area of birth and where they were at the time of the 1881 census which is also the census that I have in my Ancestry tree with all the family details so that definately makes me think that is them.

Ann

[rob g]

Hi. Ann Hawker and basket making a two occupations that fit in the Romany community. And lamb is a traveller name. Thing is There are many different castes in gypsies. And olso we do tend to keep our ethnicity to ourselves. So we may not say we are Romany people. But in your case with the info you have. I would say you're certainly connected to traveller people. Olso we used to rent houses in the winter at Times. And you would not want to advertise your Romany links. If you are wondering why my people keep things secret. We have allways been persecuted. In 1600s England it was a crime punishable by death...hanging..if you were born a Romany! So maybe that's why you haven't heard of any gypsy connection. Cushty bocht..Good luck Rob..  Ps try Romany genes site.

[benn34]

Hi. Ann Hawker and basket making a two occupations that fit in the Romany community. And lamb is a traveller name. Thing is There are many different castes in gypsies. And olso we do tend to keep our ethnicity to ourselves. So we may not say we are Romany people. But in your case with the info you have. I would say you're certainly connected to traveller people. Olso we used to rent houses in the winter at Times. And you would not want to advertise your Romany links. If you are wondering why my people keep things secret. We have allways been persecuted. In 1600s England it was a crime punishable by death...hanging..if you were born a Romany! So maybe that's why you haven't heard of any gypsy connection. Cushty bocht..Good luck Rob..  Ps try Romany genes site.

Hi Rob,

Thank you so much for this. I will definately try Romany genes site.  I never ever thought in a million years that there would be a gypsy/romany connection but now I am definately excited to learn more.

Ann 

[G N Asher]

Ann,had the same thing with a branch of my family. The father,William Ballard, was from Ireland and his son,William F Ballard,was born in Liverpool. They were both tin smiths. I found the son on the Romany/Gypsy Connections site in the 1881 census.
Dave.

[benn34]

Ann,had the same thing with a branch of my family. The father,William Ballard, was from Ireland and his son,William F Ballard,was born in Liverpool. They were both tin smiths. I found the son on the Romany/Gypsy Connections site in the 1881 census.
Dave.

Hi Dave,

Did you manage to find anymore information that verifys it? I have been looking at some records on the gypsy/romany sites but cant find William or his son on them other than the 1881 Hawker Census. I dont know where else to look.

Ann

[G N Asher]

Ann,found nothing more.I am going to see a cousin who is a direct descendant,Irish William was hi GG GF,in the next couple of weeks.Hope he has more info.
Until then just have to keep on looking.
Dave.

[G N Asher]

Met my cousin and he knew nothing about any R/G connection.He had always been told that the family had come to Liverpool from France by way of Kent and Shropshire.
William married a girl from Jersey so maybe he did travel to France.
It's no help only having his wife's first name,Jane, and no year or place of their marriage only 'circa 1840'.
Dave.