Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1860-05-11


Owen was the patriarch, chi,f or King,
came TO America seven or eight years ago
fiom England, by way Of Canada. The
Gypsy King WAS the father of seventeen
chilren, all of whom we believe, are in
Amerc, and living. These, with their de-
scendants nov number about two hundred
persons. They still keep up their nomadic.
Gypsy way of living, travelling from place
to place, in bands, sub dividing according
to circumstances. The tribe is possessed
of considerable wealth in horses, wagons,
and money, the latter Of which they are
not averSc to loanlng TO persons in whom
they have implicit confidence. Knowing
them selves suspected, they are naturally Il
suspicious people, but when once their con-
iidence is acquired they are free hearted,
open handed and jovial. In all matters of
practical LIFE they are well informed They
drive sharp bargains, are cautious and pru-
dent, and we can say that the Stanley flm-
lily have proved themselves honest, for in
all charges made against them, which are
not untreguent, they insist upon investiga-
ton and come out triumphant.
We recollect that at one time when in
this city man from Ohio swore positively
to the ownership of a horse which was in
the possession of member OF The tribe,
and offered for sale at the horse market,
and he was arrested. After he had. by
questioning and cross-ques,ioning Induced
the complainant to swear positively that
the horse was his fathers. Stanley pro-
duced the bill and receipt for the purchase
of the horse, gave bail for stay Of pro-
ceedings for couple of days, and not only
proved his legal ownership in the horse,
but also that the man who was said to have
been its owner still had his own horse.
When the Stanley tribe first came 10 this
country, the father and mother remained
in England and joined their children in this
country at the request of their son Levi
Stanley, who sent to England o thousand
dollars to aid them and some of the poorer
members of the tribes 10 come TO the United
States.
The old man had many valuable articles
which had descended to him from his an
cestors, satl which he desired to preserve
as relics Of the oiden time. They were
silver cups and silver quarts or tankards,
which had been presented TO various mem
bers of the tribe, by English noblemen and
gentlemea, as rewards Of feats of agility
strength, running, jumping, dancirg, &c
When eDcamped upon large common
grounds belonging TO the nobility and gen
try Of England, amusements Of this sort
were common, but by an act of Parliament,
passed about twenty years ago. those grounds
were enclosed, and the camp grounds and
grazing of the Gipsies like the hunting
grounds of our Indian tribes, were taken
away from them. This fact, together with
the fear that the younger members Of the
tribe might be impressed for the Russian
war, induced the Stanieys, together with
the several other Gpsy tribes, TO emigratc
to America, where they could find plenty
of reom without being regarded as tress-
pasaers.
When the Stanleys resolved TO come to
America, one and all the question arose
as to how they should convey the family
relics above spoken of, which were numer-
Gus, and being of silver, valuable. They
feared that both in England and in this
country, the popular prejudice which sets
down the gypsy as thief, might induce the
authorities TO seize them under the suppo-
sition that they were stolen, and that they
might be put TO trouble and delay, or might
lose their cherished treasure altogether
They accomplished the affair with true
Gipsy euaning.-PurehasRg a cask oI
liquor, they secretly placed the silver ware
!
and then entered their liquor for regular
eXportation at the Custom House. The
essk aad it's yaiuabie contents came safely
through official hands, and the liquor wa
uninjured by the valuable deposit which j
contained. The family are still in posses
sion of tIiese relics, which they regard a'
heirIooms TO be handed dGwr to future gen
erations.
Owen Stanley, at the time Of lIis death
was about eighty years Of age lie wa
Of very small stature--only about five fee
+, two inches in height, but 1.-the and activ,
as eat, notwithstanding his advanced age
When encampsd in the vicisity Of Pitts
burg, at East Liberty, last year, he eoulc
leap from the ground upon the back Of tin
larges, saddle horse as neatly as ever Eat' !
Stone, the circus rider, could do.
The whole tribe are remarkable for thei
Iongcsity. apd for their robust health, show
ing that the nomadie lie. with all is dis
comforts, we dwellers in cities would esteem
them. is drducive 10 sound bodily yigor aut
length Of days.
Now that the patriarch has c'ased hi
wonderiugs in the land oi his adoption