A young man with a large family, whom I have long observed near this place, in my walks, about six years ago, when many inclosures took place in this neighbourhood, and he found it less convenient to be out in the fields, or rather that the farmers were less willing to let him encamp upon their grounds, took a small house, with a garden annexed to it, in the suburbs of this town, and has since lived here constantly in the winter, but travels in the summer. He is now about 38 years of age. He married when 20, and has 8 children, all of whom have been baptized in the several parishes where they were born. He is a very civil man, and is much respected where he is known; having a good character for honesty.
He attends church constantly on a Sunday; and though he has not any regular notion of the peculiar doctrines of Christianity, he has some very good general ideas of religion and morality. He is no swearer; and he would consider it wicked in his wife to attempt _to tell fortunes_.
He is frequently employed to fiddle, at the houses of respectable farmers and trades-people at Christmas. His other occupation is tinkering; and he is ingenious at mending fiddles, and making cases, &c.
Neither he, nor his wife, can read; and none of his children have been hitherto sent to school. His third boy, who is about 9 years old, he has, at my suggestion, promised to send to the new school which has been established here on Dr. Bell’s and Mr. Lancaster’s plan: he accepted the offer with great thankfulness. The boy is to come into the school at Michaelmas, when the family return from their summer’s travelling. The father would be very glad to have all his children brought up to any other mode of life; and even to embrace some other himself; but he finds a difficulty in it.
He himself, from not having been brought up to work in husbandry, could not go through the labour of it; and few, if any persons, would be willing to employ his children, on account of the bad character which his race bears; and from the censure and ridicule which might attach to taking them, where they might be willing to do it from motives of benevolence.
There is another family of Gypsies resident in this place in the winter, the father of which was formerly a musician in the guards. He has a boy now in the school.