Kind regards,take care
Tracy-Ann x

In a field adjoining the Tan House lived a family of Gypsies, Mr and Mrs Isaac {ISAIAH} Dixon and their thirteen children, eight of whom lived to adulthood, six boys and two girls. Rueben, the oldest of the family, served with the Eighth Army in North Africa during World War II and won the Military Cross. Righteous, the second son, also served in the Army, but was badly injured. Then came Isaac and Ivor. Douglas was also in the Welsh Guards and made a smart soldier, he was so tall and straight. Nicholas was the youngest of the family. Laura and Wemma, the two girls, married and left Caerleon.

Mrs Dixon was a true Romany Gypsy, a kindly person with a tall very slim lithesome figure. She and her sister, Mrs Parker {Mary Ann nee SMITH}, of the same build, could be seen walking to Newport with baskets of pegs on their arms, both very smart walkers neatly dressed in long black skirts, high laced up boots, aprons and shawls over their shoulders, smoking clay pipes with the long stems cut very short. The pipes were black from much smoking. They were very discrete when smoking in public, covering the pipes with their hands.

Mrs Dixon was quite a herbalist, she always had a remedy for cuts and bruises etc. I remember my father having a very bad leg. He had a deep cut on the shin which had turned septic. Mrs Dixon came with an armful of marshmallow, a tall plant with a mauve flower growing wild. She made a poultice and applied it to the wound. Each morning she would come with a fresh bunch and apply a fresh poultice. It proved very successful, the wound healing beautifully clean.

I used to take her a pint of milk each morning. She noticed I had inflammation in my eyes, I had been poulticing them with tea leaves. So she gathered a bunch of ground ivy, it had a large pointed round leaf, similar to the violet leaf, unlike the ivy we are familiar with. She told me to put it in a jug and pour some boiling water over it, let it steep over night, next morning strain and use the water to bathe the eyes to clean them, again very successful.

We were all very fond of Mrs Dixon, she was unable to read or write so she would go to Megan who worked in Caerleon Post Office at that time and say, "I haven't had a scratch of a pen from our Reuben. Would you write a letter for me?" So Megan would write the letter as Mrs Dixon dictated. Eventually, when she did receive a letter, she would take it to Megan for her to read it to her. Megan did many kindnesses for people like this. She was always so helpful.

Mr Dixon was a skinny little man, with bow legs. He had a horse and a flat cart and went about wheeling and dealing. He was rather a quick-tempered man. If he had had a good day's dealing, he would arrive home after having a few drinks. He would start shouting and quarrelling and fighting with the family. The pots and pans would be sent flying with such a clatter taking place. We as children were sent to bed early, but on hearing the rumpus, would rush to the window and enjoy the entertainment until someone would rush to fetch his mother known as Granny Dixon who lived in a cottage facing the River Usk near the Hanbury Arms. (The cottages were demolished many years ago.) Although 'Granny' was elderly, she was a strong, tough lady and would soon sort Isaac out, and peace would reign once more.

One of the Gypsies' favourite meals was hedgehog pie. After catching and killing the hedgehog they covered it all over with thick mud then left it to dry thoroughly. The mud was then peeled away, and the bristles came away too, leaving the flesh clean to make the pie.

GOLDCROFT COMMON -
The May Fair was a pleasure fair with swings, roundabouts and the galloper horses.

The Horse Fair was a big event, the horse trade booming before cars and tractors took over. It drew crowds from afar with lots of wheeling and dealing taking place with the "sharks".

The real Romany Gypsies always came for the horse dealing. They camped on the Little Common near the Fish Shop. Their three caravans were shining and brightly coloured and very clean. The girls were a pleasure to see, in brightly coloured plaid skirts and jackets, high legged boots well polished, their long, jet black hair, shining like a crow hung in plaits down their backs. They obviously took much pride in themselves.

The horse fair finished about fifty years ago.

http://www.caerleon.net/archive/literature...bered/index.htm

Taken a while but I've located a photo of Olive Elizabeth Smith, taken 1949 in Canada but perhaps is is still of some use (20+ years after leaving the forest of Dean).

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_csQ3tmdWews/SqCoArKrlyI/AAAAAAAAACc/ILS2i0IPGR0/s1600-h/Olive...

I look forward to your info
Chat soon
Sarah

Your family has links to the Roughett / Ruffit Littledean, which leads to Collafield and Green Lane, -> Green Bottom. This area was a "popular" camping spot for Gypsies. So playing with the travellers around St Anthony's Well ( a natural source of fresh water) would be a reasonable bet :-)

The Aunt Mrs F Davis ( Elizabeth SMITH 1883 Ruffit) was a pretty strong "anchor" in finding / linking the Smith side, with a litttle more investigation there may be some Romany links, or perhaps a foundling or crossed blood ! the skin tone could indicated a genetic link.

<<< this PRICE "family" look like travellers , the son is the first husband of Elizabeth Page SMITH nee HUGHES. i.e grandmother to Eliza SMITH 1883 ( the Aunt)

1861 Colawood ( off Reddings Lane)
James Price abt 1800 Sydenham, Gloucestershire, England Head Littledean, Gloucestershire Scripture reader
Margaret Price abt 1793 [1803] Chepstow, Monmouthshire, Wales Wife Littledean, Gloucestershire Crumpet baker
Benjamen Price abt 1837 Tidenham, Gloucestershire, England Son Littledean, Gloucestershire Artist
Charles Price abt 1842 Tredegar, Glamorgan, Wales Son Littledean, Gloucestershire Traveller
John Price abt 1844 Blistol, Somerset, England Son Littledean, Gloucestershire Wood turner
Harriett Price abt 1845 Tidenham, Gloucestershire, England Daughter Littledean, Gloucestershire Dress maker

Year: 1864
Month: Aug
Day: 7
Grooms_Surname: PRICE
Grooms_Forenames: John
Grooms_Age: 21
Groom_Condition: Bachelor
Grooms_Occupation: Wood Turner
Grooms_Residence: Littledean
Grooms_Fathers_Surname: PRICE
Grooms_Fathers_Forenames: James
Grooms_Fathers_Occupation: Scripture Reader
Brides_Surname: HUGHES
Brides_Forenames: Elizabeth Page

http://www.forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?id=18442

Olive Elisabeth Smith (my Great Granny) often said that she was a gypsie/romany. She could read a pack of normal cards as a tarot deck, and had some pretty funny habits and affectations (turns of phrase) which implied an intimacie with travellers if nothing else. She also told my granny that as a young girl she would play with the travellers and knew them well.

I'll try to locate and post a photo of her (she had very olive skin which may or may not be typical of the area). In the meantime you can take a look at a photo of her son Lovell Glendower Smith www.shotthecock.blogspot.com, as an aside I look not too dissimiler to him.

It's hard to know what was real with Great Granny but I thought given your posts that it was worth mentioning.

Your challenge is twofold - 1/ they moved around alot , so BMD's could literally be in any Parish / Chapel that would perform the service.

2/ and you are getting back to a period where Registration was not mandated.

and possibly Non-conformist records as well :-)

Sarah

Sarah

Thank you once again

Chat soon

An extremely Delighted Sarah

for example I have just spotted these baptisms

ST BRIGIDS CHURCH, ST BRIDES NETHERWENT PARISH Monmouthsire

337 3 Apr 1881 Priscilla (aged about 2yrs) d/o Wm & Louisa Dixon, travelling gipsy, tinker
338 3 Apr 1881 Anna Maria (aged 1wk) d/o Wm & Louisa Dixon, travelling gipsy, tinker

Thank you for all your info.I have to ask where did you find all the info?Are you related to the above families?My Great Great Grandfather Isaiah Dixon(Celia Smith Husband)was born 7th Nov 1883 in Holly Hill,Newham,Westbury on Severn.Would you know where I could find possibly any baptism records.Isaiah Dixon parents were William Dixon and Louisa Dixon(both from Worscestershire)

Thank you once again!!!!!!

Chat soon
Sarah

1871
Elizabeth Vaughn 52
William Vaughn 23
George Vaughn 19
David Vaughn 16
Mary Ann Vaughn 14
Charlot Vaughn 11
Harriet Vaughn 9

1881 Llandevaud Common ( Tent)
David Vaughan abt 1857 Near Lydney, Gloucestershire, England Head Llanmartin, Monmouthshire Miner
Mary Smith Vaughan abt 1856 Burgess, Hereford, England Wife Llanmartin, Monmouthshire
Joseph Vaughan abt 1873 Mosely Green, Gloucestershire, England Son Llanmartin, Monmouthshire
David Vaughan abt 1878 Mosely Green, Gloucestershire, England Son Llanmartin, Monmouthshire
Mary Vaughan Mosely Green, Gloucestershire, England Daughter Llanmartin, Monmouthshire

Name: Isabella Celia Vaughan ???
Year of Registration: 1885
Quarter of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep
District: Westbury On Severn
County: Gloucestershire
Volume: 6a
Page: __9

Name: Freedom Smith
Year of Registration: 1889
Quarter of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep
District: Pontypool
County: Gwent, Monmouthshire
Volume: 11a
Page: 131

1891 Tent on Pentrepool Rd
David Doughan abt 1853 Treecraft, Gloucestershire, England Head Trevethin, Monmouthshire
Mary Doughan abt 1852 Treecraft, Gloucestershire, England Wife Trevethin, Monmouthshire
Josiah Doughan abt 1875 Treecraft, Gloucestershire, England Son Trevethin, Monmouthshire
David Doughan abt 1879 Treecraft, Gloucestershire, England Son Trevethin, Monmouthshire
Mary Doughan abt 1881 Treecraft, Gloucestershire, England Daughter Trevethin, Monmouthshire
William Doughan abt 1884 Treecraft, Gloucestershire, England Son Trevethin, Monmouthshire
Celia Doughan abt 1885 Treecraft, Gloucestershire, England Daughter Trevethin, Monmouthshire
Freedam Doughan abt 1889 Treecraft, Gloucestershire, England Daughter Trevethin, Monmouthshire

1901 Caravan off Marlborough Rd
David Vaughan abt 1854 Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, England Head Roath, Glamorgan
Mary Smith abt 1852 Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, England Wife Roath, Glamorgan
Josiah Vaughan abt 1873 Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son Roath, Glamorgan
David Vaughan abt 1879 Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son Roath, Glamorgan
William Vaughan abt 1883 Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son Roath, Glamorgan
Celia Vaughan abt 1886 Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, England Daughter Roath, Glamorgan
Freedom Vaughan abt 1890 Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, England Daughter Roath, Glamorgan

along side daughter

1901
William Parker abt 1879 Wells, Somerset, England Head Roath, Glamorgan
Mary Ann Parker abt 1881 Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, England Wife Roath, Glamorgan
David Parker abt 1900 Ledbury, Herefordshire, England Son Roath, Glamorgan

Year: 1840
Month: Jan
Day: 12
Surname: SMITH
Forenames: Neptune
Residence: Stratton Wiltshire
Age_at_death: 9 months
Officiating_Minister: T.R. Garnsey
Event: Burial
Cause_of_death:
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P82 IN 1/1
Page_No: 43
Parish_Chapel: Christchurch

Year 1847
Month Feb
Day 28
Parents Surname SMITH
Child Forenames Sarah
Fathers Forenames Neptune
Mothers Forenames Sarah
Mothers Surname
Residence Forest
Occupation Hawker
Officiating Minister Henry Poole
Event Baptism
Memoranda
Notes
Register Reference P245 IN 1/10
Page Number 78
Parish Chapel Parkend

Year 1854
Month Nov
Day 5
Parents Surname SMITH
Child Forenames Elijah
Fathers Forenames Neptune
Mothers Forenames Sarah
Mothers Surname
Residence Forest
Occupation Hawker
Officiating Minister H[enr]y Poole Minister
Event Baptism
Memoranda Son of
Notes
Register Reference P245 IN 1/11
Page Number 33
Parish Chapel Parkend

1851
Neptune Smith abt 1796 Horton, Wiltshire, England Lodger Bishopstone, Wiltshire ?
Ambrose Smith abt 1830 Sutton, Berkshire, England Lodger Bishopstone, Wiltshire

1861 Tent Moseley Green
Tipton [NEPTUNE] Smith abt 1794 Stretton, Wiltshire, England Head West Dean, Gloucestershire
Sarah Smith abt 1811 Pilston, Warwickshire, England Wife West Dean, Gloucestershire
Sarah Smith abt 1842 West Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son West Dean, Gloucestershire
Simpaton Smith abt 1845 West Dean, Gloucestershire, England Daughter West Dean, Gloucestershire
Mary Smith abt 1848 West Dean, Gloucestershire, England Daughter West Dean, Gloucestershire
Elizah Smith abt 1854 West Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son West Dean, Gloucestershire
&
1861 Moseley Green Tent
Henry Roffe abt 1815 Lent West Dean, Gloucestershire, England Head West Dean, Gloucestershire
Lucy Roffe abt 1815 Lent West Dean, Gloucestershire, England Wife West Dean, Gloucestershire

1871 Tent Moseley Green
Septime Smith 76 Stratton Wilts Widowed

1871 Dean road Gypsy tents ( Blakeney / Moseley area)
Sarah Smith 56 mar Devizes Hawker
Eliza Smith 16 son West Dean
Mary Smith 22 dau Ross
Uriah Smith 2 g dau East dean

1881 Ruardean Hill area of Forest
Nepton Smith abt 1789 Stratton, Wiltshire, England Head Westbury On Severn - East Dean, Gloucestershire Pedlar
&
1881
Harriot Potter abt 1831 West Dean, Gloucestershire, England Head Westbury On Severn - East Dean, Gloucestershire Pedlar
Elizabeth Potter iot abt 1870 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Daughter Westbury On Severn - East Dean, Gloucestershire
&
1881
Stephen Dickson abt 1846 Longford, Ireland Head Westbury On Severn - East Dean, Gloucestershire Pedlar
Sarah Dickson abt 1861 Standish Common, Worcestershire, England Wife Westbury On Severn - East Dean, Gloucestershire

1881 Gypsy tents , Moseley Green
Sarah Smith abt 1812 Bilinton, Warwickshire, England Head West Dean, Gloucestershire < still alive !>
Elijah Smith abt 1853 West Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son West Dean, Gloucestershire
Miuria Smith abt 1869 West Dean, Gloucestershire, England Grandson West Dean, Gloucestershire
&
Ambrose Stephens abt 1807 Myrtha, Wales Head West Dean, Gloucestershire
Sarah Stephens abt 1806 Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, England Wife West Dean, Gloucestershire

Year: 1885
Month: Jul
Day: 14
Surname: SMITH
Forenames: Neptune
Residence: Labourer
Age_at_death: 99
Officiating_Minister: Robert Stevens
Event: Interment
Cause_of_death:
Memoranda: (1) Coleford (2) South Div'n Adults Gr (3) H 1 (4) Unconsecrated (5)
Notes:
Register_Reference: DA25/204/2
Page_No: 42
Parish_Chapel: Coleford Cemetery

<< << << for the record
1891 Monmouth Workhouse
Susan Stephens abt 1806 Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, England Inmate of Workhouse (Inmate) Monmouth, Monmouthshire
Ambrose Stephens abt 1808 Whitchurch, Herefordshire, England Inmate Of Workhouse (Inmate) Monmouth, Monmouthshire

Name: Ambrose Stephens
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1805
Year of Registration: 1894
Quarter of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar
Age at Death: 89
District: Monmouth (1837-1939)
County: Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Monmouthshire
Volume: 11a
Page: 23

Name: Celia Dixon
Death Registration Month/Year: 1959
Age at death (estimated): 76
Registration district: Caerleon
Inferred County: Monmouthshire
Volume: 8c
Page: 91

Name: Isaiah Dixon
Death Registration Month/Year: 1930
Age at death (estimated): 46
Registration district: Abergavenny
Inferred County: Monmouthshire
Volume: 11a
Page: 49

1911
DIXON ISAIAH M 1883 28 Newport Monmouthshire
DIXON CECLIA F 1883 28 Newport Monmouthshire
DIXON ISIAH M 1910 1 Newport Monmouthshire
DIXON LAURA RUTH F 1904 7 Newport Monmouthshire
DIXON MYRA F 1906 5 Newport Monmouthshire
DIXON REUBEN M 1908 3 Newport Monmouthshire

Name: Isaiah Dixon
Year of Registration: 1909
Quarter of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec
District: Newport M
County: Glamorgan, Gwent, Monmouthshire
Volume: 11a
Page: 221

possible children :-
Name: Righteous Dixon
Year of Registration: 1912
Quarter of Registration: Apr-May-Jun
Mother's Maiden Name: Smith
District: Newport M
County: Glamorgan, Gwent, Monmouthshire
Volume: 11a
Page: 428

Name: Ivor Dixon
Year of Registration: 1914
Quarter of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep
Mother's Maiden Name: Smith
District: Newport M
County: Glamorgan, Gwent, Monmouthshire
Volume: 11a
Page: 467

marriage:-

Name:Cecilia Smith
Name: Isaiah Dixon
Year of Registration: 1903
Quarter of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec
District: Newport M
County: Glamorgan, Gwent, Monmouthshire
Volume: 11a
Page: 478

Sons and Daughters -
Laura Ruth Dixon - b.1904
Myra or Wemma Dixon - b. 1906
Reuben Dixon - b. 1907
Isaiah Dixon - b. 1909
Righteous Dixon - b. 1912
Ivor Dixon - b. 1914
Joseph Dixon - b. 1916
Douglas Dixon - b. 1920
Leonard D. Dixon - b. 1922
and Nickey Dixon - b. 1928

1901
William Dixon abt 1841 Eldersfield, Worcestershire, England Head Caerleon, Monmouthshire
Louisa Dixon abt 1842 Eldersfield, Worcestershire, England Wife Caerleon, Monmouthshire
Priscilla Dixon abt 1878 Eldersfield, Worcestershire, England Daughter Caerleon, Monmouthshire
Anne Dixon abt 1880 Eldersfield, Worcestershire, England Daughter Caerleon, Monmouthshire
Isachar Dixon abt 1883 Eldersfield, Worcestershire, England Son Caerleon, Monmouthshire
John Dixon abt 1885 Eldersfield, Worcestershire, England Son Caerleon, Monmouthshire

1891 Caravan Usk side
William Dixon abt 1841 Heldersfield, Worcestershire, England Head Caerleon, Monmouthshire
Louisa Dixon abt 1843 Droitwich, Worcestershire, England Wife Caerleon, Monmouthshire
Sidney Dixon abt 1871 Westbury On Severn, Gloucestershire, England Son Caerleon, Monmouthshire
William Dixon abt 1876 North Leach, Gloucestershire, England Son Caerleon, Monmouthshire
Prissilla Dixon abt 1878 Llangwm, Monmouthshire, Wales Daughter Caerleon, Monmouthshire
Anna Maria Dixon abt 1882 St Brides, Monmouthshire, Wales Daughter Caerleon, Monmouthshire
Isaiah Dixon abt 1884 Magor, Monmouthshire, Wales Son Caerleon, Monmouthshire
John Dixon abt 1886 Magor, Monmouthshire, Wales Son Caerleon, Monmouthshire

Name: Isaiah Dixon
Year of Registration: 1883
Quarter of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec
District: Westbury On Severn
County: Gloucestershire
Volume: 6a
Page: 241

1881 Caravan on Blackpool Lane
William Dixon abt 1841 Ellsfield, Worcestershire, England Head Netherwent St Bride, Monmouthshire
Louisa Dixon abt 1841 Droitwich, Worcestershire, England Wife Netherwent St Bride, Monmouthshire
Joseph Dixon abt 1869 Newtown, Hereford, England Son Netherwent St Bride, Monmouthshire
Sidney Dixon abt 1871 Werthing, Gloucestershire, England Son Netherwent St Bride, Monmouthshire
Sarah Dixon abt 1873 Monmouth, Wales Daughter Netherwent St Bride, Monmouthshire
William Dixon abt 1875 North Leech, Gloucestershire, England Son Netherwent St Bride, Monmouthshire
Priscilla Dixon abt 1878 Llangwm, Monmouth, Wales Daughter Netherwent St Bride, Monmouthshire
Emma M. Dixon Brides Netherwent, Monmouth, Wales Daughter Netherwent St Bride, Monmouthshire

Year: 1869
Month: [not stated]
Day: 0
Parents_Surname: DIXON
Child_Forenames: Sydney
Fathers_Forenames: William
Mothers_Forenames: Louisa
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: Halman Combes Hartbury
Occupation:
Officiating_Minister: Samuel Green
Event: Baptism
Memoranda: son of Born Nov.[ember] 20 1869
Notes:
Register_Reference: D2689/1/1/1
Page_Number:
Parish_Chapel: Gloucester Wesleyan Methodist

Isaiah Dixon b 1883 n Holly Hill,Newham,Westbury on Severn,Gloucester
parents were William Dixon b 1841 Ellisfield Worcestershire
Louise Butler b 1841 Droitwich Worcestershire

Thanks once again
I Look forward to your reply
Sarah

SMITH family in another Tent nearby !

1881 Gypsy Tents in Green Bottom
Mathew Butler abt 1851 Son in Law Westbury On Severn - East Dean Gloucestershire
Emma Butler abt 1870 Daughter Westbury On Severn - East Dean Gloucestershire
Snipey ? Butler abt 1876 Daughter Westbury On Severn - East Dean Gloucestershire
Mathew Butler Son Westbury On Severn - East Dean Gloucestershire
Bessie Butler abt 1874 Daughter Westbury On Severn - East Dean Gloucestershire
Albert Butler abt 1875 Son Westbury On Severn - East Dean Gloucestershire

1881
Pridy Smith abt 1811 Head Westbury On Severn - East Dean, Gloucestershire
Faith Smith abt 1836 Son Westbury On Severn - East Dean, Gloucestershire
Keziah Smith abt 1855 Daughter Westbury On Severn - East Dean, Gloucestershire
Lea Smith abt 1856 Daughter Westbury On Severn - East Dean, Gloucestershire
Susan Smith abt 1860 Daughter in Law Westbury On Severn - East Dean, Gloucestershire
Lucy Smith abt 1879 Daughter
Nepthane Johns abt 1859 Nephew Westbury On Severn - East Dean,

I have been searching on the RomanyGenes site where i found a posting for Smith family in Forest of Dean,Fran(the lady making the posting)is looking for her Great Great Grandmother Mary Ann Smith.Mary Ann Smith married William Parker,they lived in Newport ,Mon.I believe Mary Ann Smith is Celia Smith Sister.Mary Anns' mother also called Mary Ann married David Vaughan a non -Romany.Mary Ann (The Mother of Mary Ann Smith )parents were Neptune Smith and Sarah Smith.The above info I found out from Fran on the RomanyGene Site.I hope Fran sees my posting on this site and other possible members of the Smith Family

I look forward to hearing from you

Sarah