Hi Rob, Jo and Jackie (the numbers grow!)
First of all, Rob, thanks for all of your background info. Didn't know there were different knds of Romanies-thought they were all Roma. Like Jo's, my family are the dark-skinned, dark haired types. My Dad had lovely dark curly hair when young, and people often think I'm from the Mediterranean. One more thing my Dad said about his grandmother, don't know if it's a Romany thing, but she knew how to lay out the dead, and was often asked to do so by neighbours.
Jo, I will look more into John Young next week, when I'm on holiday (I'm a teacher). I got distracted by my husband. He was fed up of me researching my family tree and asked me to start his and it's just got to the interesting stage!
Jackie, it would be great if we were connected. My Nancy was born in Cockermouth in Dec 1878, her mother Sarah Young likewise in 1852. Charles Stewart was born in Ulverston in 1851. Unfortunately there was another Charles Stewart from Ulverston, about the same age, married to a Sarah with a daughter called Nancy, but they settled in Kendal, whereas my lot including Sarah's parents and some brothers moved down to Blackburn.
Would be grateful for any more info.
All the best, Hillary