Can anyone suggest why Hannington and Kingsclere would have attracted travelling Gypsies, and why some Gypsies settled in the area? Travelling patterns were determined by opportunities for seasonal employment, opportunities to sell goods and services, attendance at fairs, and the gathering of raw materials to manufacture goods. For these reasons, Gypsy baptisms can be found at Bentley/Binsted/Froyle (hop picking), the Titchfield area (strawberry picking), Longparish (source of osiers and reeds for basket making), Weyhill (Weyhill Fair), and Overton (Overton Fair). Relevant entries from my own family are listed below. Alan McGowan ************ Baptisms at Kingsclere 25Nov1781 - AIRES Mary d/o Samuel & Mary - Traveler 02Jul1791 - AYRES Elizabeth * d/o Samuel & Elizabeth - a Gypsey * Elizabeth was actually the daughter of Samuel & Mary. A removal order shows that she and her child were removed to Kingsclere in 1819 after being convicted of an act of vagrancy, namely sleeping in the open air at Woodmancott. Baptisms at Hannington 07Mar1802 - AYRES Athalia d/o Ann - Ibworth - a Gipsy vagrant 18May1823 - AYRES Paul s/o Samuell - these people have no settled abode 14Mar1824 - AYRES Sylbe - (blank) - a Gypsey woman - PB 20Apr1828 - AYRES Gentilia d/o George & Rose - Hannington - Gipsy Baptism at Burbage, Wilts 03Aug1835 - Elizabeth HICKS baseborn d/o Elizabeth EYRES from Kingsclere a Gypsey Burials at Hannington 14Jan1907 - AYRES Major * - 70 - Kingsclere Ibworth 21Mar1908 - AYRES Phenaty - 60 - Church Wootton * Probate documents state that Major Ayres was "of Balsam's Bottom (otherwise Ballstone Bottom), Kingsclere", and that he died there. Phenaty (Fairnette) Ayres was his unmarried partner.