A Band of Gypsies

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Gypsy family at Ellis Island circa 1905 Today northern Manhattan is home to thousands of gypsy cabs, but step back a century in time and you would find a sleepy little farming community inhabited by, among others, real life European gypsies.

As early as 1887, according to a New York Times article, Mr. J. Hood Wright allowed a full blown Romany encampment to set up shop on his property on Broadway and 173rd Street as part of a charity event to raise money for Manhattan Hospital.

And raise money they did. New Yorkers of the day seemed fascinated by gypsy culture and lined up at various booths to buy colorful clothing and trinkets or sample exotic food and fruits like crushed cantaloupes, pickled olives and fried shrimp.

Oct 13, 1887 Gypsies in Washington Heights-New York Times headlineAccording to the Times article, a team of female archers would allow “you for 15 cents to shoot a target with a bow and arrow. If you hit the bull’s eye you get an elegantly dressed cigar. If not you get another chance at paying 15 cents.”

And of course, there were the fortune tellers.

The star of the occasion, however, is the Soothsayer. She is dressed in a wonderful robe of pink satin, which conceals everything but two penetrating brown eyes. She has a tent all to herself, and as you recline luxuriously on some Turkish cushions she takes your palm in hers and tells your fortune.Gypsy woman with lute 1910 postcard She is a very good fortune teller. After she has won your interest and confidence by telling you a lot of things about yourself that you are surprised to find her in possession of, she paints your future brilliantly, paints it in rose color so to speak.”

A decade later, the Kingsbridge area had become so accustomed the gypsies living among them that in September of 1895 the Reverend Benjamin Burch, the rector of Saint Stephen’s Protestant Episcopal Church said a funeral mass for a young “gypsy Princess” named Little Patience Penfold.

According to the New York Times, “It was an unusual sight, the white vestments of the clergyman in the midst of the quaint gypsy camp. The body lay in a tiny white casket, in the little tent where it had been since death. On the coffin were two wreaths and a large cluster of daisies and goldenrod gathered from the fields nearby. A group of curious spectators stood near, and when the prayers were said all knelt, and many joined in the responses.

Despite this outpouring of acceptance, the freewheeling days of setting up camp on the farms and pastures of this turn of the century hinterland were drawing to a close.

What follows is an inside look at one of the last, and possibly largest gypsy encampments in all of Manhattan. Located across Broadway from the present site of Isham Park, this incredible description comes from a 1904 edition of the now defunct New York Tribune.

New York Tribune Illustrated
October 30, 1904

Gypsy headline from Oct 30, 1904 NY TribuneA real gypsy camp in the heart of the second city in the world is a picturesque sight just now on the meadows between Broadway, Harlem River and Two-hundred-and-eleventh and Two-hundred-and-twelfth Streets, which would probably surprise any one not familiar with the areas still remaining in their natural condition in upper Manhattan Island.

The camp consists of a dozen house wagons of various types, as many tents, a couple of dozen horses tethered on the sloping meadow or grazing in the marsh, numerous dogs of indescribable breeds, and fifty or more gypsies of both sexes, ranging in age from infants in arms—or, more strictly speaking, infants on the ground—to veterans of threescore years and ten.

Photo of Inwood gypsy camp from Oct. 30, 1904 NY Tribune

The men and older women are as swarthy as Arabs, but the middle aged women and children are fair, barring freckles. One or two of the families have been there for a couple of months, and are sending their children to the New York public schools. The others have just arrived from Danbury, where they have been attending the Danbury fair. The other day there was a great flurry in the camp when the old gypsy king and queen joined the colony, and were received with honors due to their exalted positions.

Gypsies camping in 1890’s –possibly in CaliforniaThese gypsies are from Devonshire, England, and arrived in America two or three months ago with their equipages. They are an intelligent company, speak with a decided English accent, and are most civil in their address, adding “sir” to almost every sentence. They dress in bright colors, and their clothing, displayed on the grass and bushes to dry on “wash day,” imparts a kaleidoscopic aspect to the landscape. They make a living by trading horses and telling fortunes by palmistry, and some of them are believed to possess no inconsiderable means.

1888 Postcard from Bethesda MDThe gypsy boys are interesting little chaps—alert, bright, and as inquisitive as a corkscrew. They wear curious jackets, the fronts of which are made of plaid stuff and the sleeves and backs of buckskin, making them look as if they were in their waistcoats. They have their pets with them. One has a little Shetland pony, which is tethered to a stake in the middle of the camp and nibbles at grass contentedly. Another has a rabbit, which hops in and out among the heaps of firewood that have been gathered for their campfires. Another has a canary bird hanging in a cage at the front door of the house wagon.

Gypsy caravanThese house wagons, which are sometimes used by English people who are not gypsies for summer outings, are different from anything made in this country. They are wholly enclosed like a stage, but wider at the top than at the bottom, and open in front instead of behind. At the rear is a track for transportation of the canvas and other impedimenta. On the front of the vehicle, on each side of the front door, is a tier of little shelves or racks—a convenient resting place for the canary bird cage and other light articles in fair weather. Within, on each side, is a long seat. The side windows are neatly curtained, and above them, and on the further end, are pictures and other household ornaments. The interior has an inviting air of snug comfort, tempting to one fond of outdoor life.

1915 photo of Gypsy girlOne or two families have a camp stove, but most of them cook in true nomadic style, slinging their kettles over the campfire from tripods. They have a great admiration for America—having seen Danbury, Conn., some parts of New Jersey and New York City— and they are free to admit that New York is superior to Danbury. They will probably remain here for some time.

But by 1904 such camps would become all but impossible. That year the elevated IRT (today’s one train) arrived in Inwood. With it came aggressive real estate speculation and development. The flowing pastures needed for a proper encampment were either developed or spoken for.

The gypsies like so many other cultures before and since, were pushed out of the neighborhood in the name of progress.

 

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12 COMMENTS

  1. I found this very informing &; charming. I am a descendant of gypsies from Yugoslavia. Precisely, Zagreb. My father was a talented mandolin player. And my grandfather spoke seven languages. My aunts taught me some omens &; signs; only known to gypsies. Please respond.

  2. In the 1960’s there was a Romany family that lived on the south side of Dyckman street between Nagle avenue & where Post avenue begins. They lived on the 2nd floor of a 2 story bldg. The bldg. has an alleyway & in the rear were sheds that people stored things in

  3. what a great article! i am a descendant of english gypsies on my father’s side. my grandparents had a clandesdine courtship because of both families’ opposition to their marrying. my grandmother was at least half english gypsy. my grandfather was old new england stock, coming from a long line of sea captains and mayflower passengers.

    i only learned of my grandmothers lineage as an adult, as my father was ashamed of being part gypsy. as a young man he was trying to build businesses on cape cod in the 1950’s, and was worried about the stigma of being a ‘roma.’ when he finally told me about his family secret, i was fascinated.

    thank you for adding a bit more information to my ever-expanding interest in the gypsy history.

  4. beautifull articul and photoes the Devonshire family from England the Penfold are my granny people were Romany gypsyes then and now the old man on right out side tent is a bouble for my great uncles. my great grandfather was Joe his father was Edward (Ned)this is Neds brothers and cousins out side tent. Both my grandfathers are buried here in Devon were a lot af gypsy family’s from Devon went to America the Bucklands Smalls Stanley’s and Broadway’s and more

  5. Always referred to myself as. Gypsey because I wear a lot of jewelry and am a wanderer of sort, consequently they interest me, well my Mother is Croatian and came to America from the Hungary Austria border, and attaminately disliked me even me mentioning the word, lol I caint wait to read more of their lifestyle, Thanks for this site. Joanne

  6. My husbands Great .Great.Grand father was Prince Thomas Williams..
    Known as King of the Gypsies from Devonshire…
    He came in 1855
    He eventually married
    Victoria Cooper…
    That makes her my G.G.Grandmother….
    But also…
    Related on my fathers side..
    My G.G Grandmothers sister…
    I’m Lee Grande Cannon Cooper.
    My ancestors camped outside of Queen Victorias Estate..
    And the Queen friended Mary Coopers camp..Her husband was Elijah Cooper
    Back in the 1836.37
    There’s a book called
    A Right Royal scandal.
    Two marriages that changed history.
    By;
    Joanne Major & Sarah Murden
    Queen Victoria’s Journaling is in this book…

  7. I am a Romney I live in Staten Island New York I’m a female and I’m trying to figure out where are the Romney guy that what part of New York do they live in can anybody tell me?

  8. I often have a Gypsy Summer Night party in celebration of the Romney culture. We meet as a family of intention and share food and drink, music and dancing with long talks around a campfire. We have a great respect for the Romney people and appreciate how long they have had to deal with prejudice and bias with historical stoicism. Come dance with us!

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