Hi... I recently found out my VAREY and HOWARD were Romany Gypsy! I think it's pretty cool!
I was hoping, like many folks do, to find some royalty... but I find this more interesting!
My great great grandfather was James Varey, born about 1844... maybe Jan 1844, not proven. He married Dinah Howard. I do NOT know James father, but do know he had a brother, but don't know his name... as his nephew was living with him.
Dinah's parents were John Howard and Margaret Lowther.
John Howard's parents were Richard Howard Sr and Margaret "Unknown"
Margaret Lowther's parents were George Lowther and Dinah "Unknown"
Now James and Dinah Varey had 15 children as per census records, but only 6 were living. The 6 living were: Margaret, Downes, Mary Ann, Grace, Sarah and Dina. For the other 9 children, I found two more, through Baptism records, James (born 1874, but had to have died prior to 1881, as he is not on the census) and Charlotte (born 1877, she was not on the 1881 census either). I am still searching for the other 7 children.
Grace Varey, daughter of James Varey and Dinah Howard is my great grandmother and she moved to NYork in 1894. She had married a Peter Manning. I was told he died in England, but a few days ago, I found a baptism record for a Bridget Manning in Pittsburgh, PA and the parents listed were Peter Manning and Grace nee Varey... I know they had a Peter and Dinah. Was told Dinah died on the ship coming over. Only Grace, Peter and Dinah are listed on the ships records. But before Bridget was born, a census record for the US of 1900 lists a daughter Margaret born in Pennsylvania. Now I believe she may have been born in Pittsburgh, but have not located any records (i.e., baptism). Did Peter come to the US ahead of Grace? Why did she arrive to the New York port instead of Philadelphia? Still so many unanswered questions. I'm doing some research of Pittsburgh to see if I can come up with answers before I make a visit there.
Now, back to James Varey and Dinah Howard. James is listed from 1871 to 1891 as either a Hawker, Hawker of Earthenware, Horse Dealer and Potter (also listed on the baptism records of some of his children.)
Oh, Grace, on the ship's manifest is listed as a Hawker.
Dinah's father, John Howard... on the baptism records of his children, he is listed also as a Hawker of Earthenware and Pottery.
Even John Howard's father, Richard is listed as Hawker, Earthenware.
The places of baptism for the children were: St Mary the Virgin, St Peter and Pudsey Parish Church. Not familiar with England, I tried to research on google map to locate them, but not sure if they are the same churches.
Dates go from 1819 to 1891 from the research I have done. I made contact with a young lady in England who is my 4th cousin once removed through the Howard lineage. She is connected through Howard/Stewart... I'm Howard/Varey.
Researched on Romany Gypsies and found lots of websites that gave me more insight on my ancestors and their way of life. Maybe this is why I enjoy camping so much?
Does anyone have any connections to the names I mentioned? I hope so... I am running into dead ends now
Oh, Peter Manning that married Grace Varey is not my great grandfather. Grace is found living in New York on the 1900 census with her children, Peter and Margaret and married to her second husband, who is my great grandfather. So, now I want to find out what happened to Peter Manning. I have a pic of his son, Peter as a grown man and a couple of pics of my grandmother with her siblings and half siblings as well as my great grandmother, Grace.
Thank you for any insight!
Annmarie
