Sherborne Mercury

A Gipsy Funeral

Saturday, 26th January 1850


Provincial News, Dorsetshire. Bridport.

A Gipsy Funeral.

An old gipsy woman named Wells who was known in this neighbourhood a great number of years was seized with small pox about a fortnight ago whilst encamped near Wootton Fitzpaine, and died on the 17th inst.

Her remains were enclosed in a coffin ornamented somewhat expensively and followed by 7 or 8 of her relations and were interred on the following Saturday, at Up-Lyme, where her parents were some years since buried, and a stone erected to their memory.
Deceased was in her 63rd year and was of the gipsy family of 'Smalls'.

A considerable number of the tribe stood in the churchyard during the burial, but in consequence of the infectious nature of the disease did not approach the grave.


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Extracted From:
Sherborne Mercury - Saturday, 26th January 1850
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Location(s)

Individual(s)

  • Ruth Wells