The Wharton Family

August 1881 Gypsies at Elmwood New Jersey

Just at Dusk on a chilly Sunday Evening in November 1876 a young and comely Gypsy woman called at the residence of Rev Dr Bishop Rector of Christ Episcopal Church East Orange New Jersey and said that a man is dying and sent her for him.

Dr Bishop accompanied her to the Gypsy encampment at Elmwood about a mile from his residence, where he found a score of swarthy- looking men and women gathered about a large square tent.

On a rude pallet in the tent lay a man of about 60 years ,his iron gray hair was long and bushy, his eyes blue and his face thin & care worn, he did not bare any resemblance to the gypsies, who moved away from the tent at his bidding when the clergyman entered, he told Dr Bishop his name was URIAH WHARTON that he was born on SHROPSHIRE ENGLAND and that his family were respectable and well to do, they were communicants of the Church of England which he attended as a boyhood they discarded him after his clanestine marriage with MARY HOLMESWORTH the pretty daughter of a GYPSY Band, his wife was recognized as the head of the tribe after her mother died and he became the Chief

About 35 years ago he brought the band to the United States and for 30 years wandered through different states, he had labored to improve the morals and correct the habits of his companions and in a measure had been successful, the men had become thrifty and purchased a house and considerable land in Elmwood for a permanent home, but they never lived in the house preferring to sleep in the tents or wagons.

Dr Bishop was impressed by his story especially when the old man said he wished to die in the faith which he was taught in his childhood and to have a Church of England service read at his burial, after praying with Wharton Dr Bishop went away, but returned the next day with a female Doctor, the old man refused to have anything to do with them but they kindly gave him attention.

On one occasion as Bishop prayed with Wharton an old woman who did not like him being there slipped into the tent and started a gypsy cantation, she was trying to work a spell according to their customs, but the other members of the band ordered her out, one gypsy said to her what do you know about it the Chief is talking to a Christian you are but an old heathen.

When the old man was dying Bishop asked him to confess every sin he had committed but his only reply was " I never murdered anybody, I have no man's blood on my hands"

The corpse was laid out decently in a caravan or house wagon there Dr Bishop held the burial service, Wharton was buried in ROSEDALE CEMETERY in Orange New Jersey where Wharton had purchased a large burial plot.

He left a wife and several children a few weeks after the burial the eldest son came to Bishop and said he was giving up Gypsy life and was going south to become a useful member of society , that was January 1877.

On Wednesday last Mrs Bishop was surprised to see several swarthy men and women approach her home and asking for Dr Bishop.

They said a couple were here to marry and the names were DINAH WHARTON the youngest daughter of the old chief who was 13 years old when her father died

 The bridegroom was HENRY LEE aged 21 years his swarthy looks and piercing back eyes & hair proclaimed him a pure Gypsy, Dr Bishop told Dinah who wasn't quite 18yrs old he couldn't marry unless her mother was present or with her written consent. The mother was sent for and came, so the marriage went ahead, Dinah was a petite Brunette with brown eyes.

The following day the Old Woman called for the marriage certificate which shows HENRY LEE parents were : CAROLINE BOSWELL & OAK LEE a direct descendant of the Recognized KING of the GYPSIES in England 60yrs ago. The Boswell's were also of English descendant one of the original tribes.

On a plateau overlooking Central Avenue a Times Reporter found last evening an encampment of Gypsies, near to ELmwood another scene was a handsome wagon near a pretty white cottage, near this was a spacious tent in which 2 young gypsy women were dressing, another maiden sat combing her hair.

3 brawny gypsy men lay beneath the wagon and in the center sat on a log were a young girl and an elderly woman each holding in their arms a blue eyed baby,the elderly woman was the mother of Dinah Wharton now MRS HENRY LEE who was braiding her dark hair.

Mrs Wharton was is a well preserved woman of 50 years she had dark brown hair & eyes she was likely a lovely looking young girl in her time, " My husband was always one of us" she said “ and good Mr Bishop must be mistaken It was Uriah's grandfather who was the house liver he was lodge keeper for LORD SEFTON the lord of the manor in Northbridge Shropshire England" and he educated his son for a gentleman but he fell in love with one of the children of the woods and married her ,he was discarded by his family he then became part of the tribe , he educated his children and became a power among the Gypsies so his voice was always obeyed.

His son my husband got a good education also he died broken hearted that the tribes were breaking up, there are very few pure blood gypsies now don't believe the tells about Queens there is none, the male head of the family is looked a upon as the chief and the women respect the elder woman as the one in direct line, we can't be house dweller's we love the out-side life, which our rules and traditions & religion teaches us,there is no marriage ceremony performed by any member of the tribe, we always marry by some Christian Minster, We are not so romantic or so bad as some folks think, we might be better, but we could be worse".

The End.