William Wells was b 1843 England married Rhoda Wells b 1844 England,
1880 Census Foster Mckean Pennsylvania * all listed as Gypsies*
On Census records all people listed are related to head of family * this being William* looking at this one Elizabeth Hicks would be Rhoda mother: Henry & Thos Wells are his Brothers and William Squires is brother of Henry's wife Elivira thus making him brother in law to William.

1880 McKean County, Foster Township, Pennsylvania
William Wells 37 b 1843 England Horsetrader
Rhoda 36 b 1844 England Keeping house
Pheobe 17 b 1863 Michigan
Amelia Wells 15 b1865 Pennsylvania
Nettie Wells 12 b 1868 New Jersey
Missouri Wells 9 b 1871 Pennsylvania
Anna Wells 7 b 1873 Pennsylvania
Bitzy Wells 6 b 1874 Pensylvania
Henry Wells 1 b 1879 Missouri
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William Squires 23 b 1856 Connecticut Brother in law
William Hall 19 b 1861 Pennsylvania horseman/boarder
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Henry Wells 26 b1854 England Horsetrader
Elvira 27 b 1853 England
Theodore 6 b1874 New Jersey
Mark 4 b1876 Ohio
Richard 1 b 1879 Pennsylvania
Elizabeth Hicks 78 b1802 England Grandmother/widowed
+
Thos Wells 19 b1861 England Brother/single

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Mourning of a Gypsy Monarch -born 1843 Engl and - Died 1916 -aged 73
When the Well- to- do William Wells of English Gypsy family died recently at his tent Demense Near Paterson New Jersey.

His effects valued at £2.000 were burned on a funeral pyre according to tribal Custom and the Gypsy Queen ,as evidence of her grief had read the last fortune.
By Edward H Smith.

A king is dead in New Jersey. A king in the ripeness of too many full years and i have been to watch the grief of the gentle wild folks whose arbitor he was for a long generation and to sit by their errie camp fires in the pregnant silence of the summer night.
They had but newly laid the King in his grave and made funeral pyre of his earthly properties, they had said the formal words of the church to which these wild people have been brought by the press of the world about them, but in the quiet of the camps and the secret of their hearts they were celebrating the anicent and mysterious rites they have carried with them out across all times and lands of the earth since dawn of their wanderings.

For this King was a Gypsy a bara mush of that restless and ancient tribe which carried its traditions intact even as far as the peregrine Jew.

Part of the Demense of this monarch and his summer residence are situated not far from the busy town of Paterson New Jersey.. which town knew him as William Wells horse dealer and cared little to note that he was autocrat of the destinies of a tribe of a hundred people, that his life concealed romance, or that he was rich man in the plain terms of a silk miller or bank teller. Most did not even know definitely where his tribe could be found. Through john Blauvelt embalmer & Funeral director, who had laid the King in Laurel Grove Cemetery Sth Paterson. I found The Camp camping ground.

There on the slopes before us lay tents of the Romani, introductions followed and we sat before the hearth of Mrs Anna Wells daughter of the dead King & wife of Joseph Wells
Mrs Wells in her late 30s had a striking open face and merry blue Eyes.. "we buried father yeaterday," she spoke in clean English.." he was very old past 85.. and had expected his end, mother misses him worse theyt had been together 56 years"
The flap of a tent was drawn open and Mrs Rhoda Wells the widow
walked in a remarkable woman.. Clad in black with a circlet of black ribbon around her snow whit hair.. we rose to our feet.. she sat down on a chair vacated for her.. Our eyes went to her face.. I have not often seen inexpressible sorrow in a face or eyes.

" These Gentlemen have come to ask about Father " the daughter Anna Wells the daughter explained..
Queen Rhoda searched us with her eyes .. " I don't know anything to tell" she said " he is gone" her voice sounded depressed and old.. but remarkably it had vibrance and youth.
I persisted to ask "" you have a regular minster at your Funerals?".. The Queen Answered " Of Course we have been Methodists all good Methodists for generations in England"
I saw that her grief and the questions were tiring her ,so I left the family.

In the morning I took roses for the grave of King William.. the Queen took them graciously and I gave cigarettes and change to the men and children..as was the custom to offer gifts for their kidness in speaking to me.......
The Queen then spoke with me.. about her Husband's past...
King William Wells was of Englsih Gypsy family, he left England at 5 years old for America and then returned at 29 to England where he met his Queen in Bristol and returned to America........ he made most of his money in horse trading during the civil war, that was the time of plenty and business was good.

When the Automobile came it began to fail.. but King William always kept busy, he had made money ,he owned land near Paterson, they were camped now on their own land.. the tribe also owned land in Delaware and elsewhere too.
I asked Joseph Wells son in law and Nephew to the king and Queen how a Monarch of Romani exerised his power and what power this was?
Joseph explained he made rules,, he decided where the tibe went and he settled all disputes, he saw their was fairplay. You say your tribe is scattered some in Virginia and Dakotas ,how does he manage that?
Mostly by letter, if some dispute came up.. each side would write their dispute to the King.. he would make inquires then decide.. the King takes the 2 men out sees there is absolute fair play no guns no knifes and lets them fight it out in a fair fist fight..
End of article:

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1917 GYPSY LEADER'S ATTITUDE TOWARD WAR LIKE QUAKERS
The following letter received by a Syracuse woman from JOSEPH WELLS Son in law and nephew of Former King WILLIAM WELLS who died in Patterson last September is a illuminating as to the attitude of these nomad folks toward the war spirit which seemingly in control of the world. This is his Letter :
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Paterson N J April 26th 1917 Bavishan Dya
War and the account of Battles and murder. What has this to do with Gypsies I ask you ? . We have never been a fighting race never, Only as the birds and the four footed beasts fight do we fight. For Country ! What Country has the Romany Chal ? Religion ? You know not what you speak. Think you the God we Gypsies worship is on the battlefields of Europe ? No as he is here with those children of whom I send you a picture they are all my tribe and the smallest is RHODA'S grandson .
Our God is in the wind that blows the smoke from our camp fires where the pani is cooking, In the water that gurgles over the stones in the brook beside the camp and best of all he is in me. Why should I take the life of any man ? Has war ever made the world better. From time of the Hanalaya Aryans from whom we Gypsies came from long time ago the world has been like a pack of wolves snarling and snapping fighting to the death and how much have the people advanced ASK EUROPE . I keep my tribe to the country lanes I am very stern in that. Yet the young men are whispering whispering to each other and I know they talk of war But not to me. From where you dwell send a thought to a harassed old man who wishes to serve the land that has given shelter to the Gypsies for many years but who can not and will not murder at her wish. I will take my violin and make much sweet music and forget for awhile.
I send this by OLD LEE who should deliver it the day before the Gorgios hold their memorial day-can one escape that thought of WAR ?
I know not, how Mexico Canada - It is on all sides. The peace of the twlight hour for you dya and the quiet heart of the high mountains In friendship
JOSEPH WELLS.
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1918 SYRACUSE NEW YORK BANDS OF WANDERS FREQUENTLY MAKE VICINITY OF THIS THEIR HALTING PLACE
The robins and bluebirds return north each spring, so does the Gypsy, Both are creatures following a well defined wanderlust that is their hertiage from olden ancestors. There is a place near North Syracuse used by the Gypsies as a stopping place for a night or so before they can reach their land near the state road at East Syracuse and it was here that I found the big auto-mobile- as large as a removing van and containing all the comforts of home- parked beside the road under the greening trees.
The women prepared the evening meal at the blazing fires built and tended by a wizened old woman, the official fire-maker of the party. As I approached I saw that they were of the true Romany blood and knew that in a few minutes I would be sitting with a cup of tea in my hand talking with these ever suspicious folk and that shortly they would pledge me their blood brother, like breaking of bread with the Arab but more intimate.
I remembered my time with my own adopted family of STANLEY Romany .
I was greeted in perfect English and returned the salutation gravely advancing towards the fire, One of the children pushed between the fire and me and unthinkingly I yelled at her : she would have gone up in smoke, not a hand was lifted to extinguish the flame starting to burn the child's dress, but then they moved as I spoke in their own tongue to warn them of her problem. I was to become part of this tribe and had fasted for 2 days and was going to be adopted by the mother of the tribe she had taken a fancy for a Gorgio and wanted to adopt me with all the solemn rites handed down from Aryan times. Hall took me back to Box Bottle Wye among the stunted older trees with a circle of Gypsy faces surrounding me as I was ready to be taken Blood body and spirit into the Stanley Tribe. Held in the circle of the entire camp the head of the tribe OLD PETER STANLEY brought me a bawl (a cup in which there was whisky) and told me to drink. I took a sip then returned it to him, before it touched his lips he said :My sister between me and thee there shall be no striving You will obey all that I mark with my pattern ( sign) and will follow my call even thou it comes when you are beside the dead body of your beloved “ Is it not So” I responded “ It is So” With gracious dignity he then passed the bowl back to me saying “ Little sister the sun and the wind listen to the blood oath. You must swear to and keep it or be forever a stranger to the customs of the rom “ Will you do It “ ( Yes) said I Then came with the mother to out people and with their eyes on you drink the blood cup and make the affirmation So I went and did confirm in good Black Romany the only time ever I spoke that ancient language. My new found cousin VICTORIA stormed because of one word I could not speak and never did speak! My mother gave me a gold piece and a delicate chain of tiny golden links which had been passed down through generations of the Stanley's. Also she came to my side and told the whole world it seemed to me so loud and shrill was her voice that where-ever a Gypsy tent was pitched that was my home. Everybody shook hands with me and with each other and then came joking laughter and feasting. Next day we followed the road, I was with the Gypsy band just eight months and now when I hear of some house dweller speak of the thieving gypsies, I grin to myself knowing from being with these nomads folk for 26 years that the average Gypsy is just as honest and upright as the average citizen we all know. They feel that too, don;t forget it when next you are have dealings with him. Here's a tribal saying which holds good with people as well as horses The sire with an arched back will have offspring with an arched back which is just another version of our saying father like son. That I should see this day cried my new best friend “ Have some wine ? “ No a cup of tea and some agen its a kind of seeded cake made by the Gypsies Mother make some tea ,some of the food, black kind for Resi Veaca( lady Veeci) she was with the Stanley's up in Wyoming I am GEORGE WELLS , JOSEPH WELLS Brother he continued .. He is a good man is to be chief in William Wells place
This is my family we are making a quick move to Ohio where there are many horses to be bought for the Soldiers That's what I have been doing around Paterson for several months. What do you think of my house on wheels ? He asked Then pointing with pride to the auto-mobile which would have comfortably accommodate eight the number of Wells party oh and of course the terrier puppy which insisted on making my lap its bed. We talked of the Stanley's eight of which are in the English army and some decorated by King George for Gallantry .
I too am doing something to help said George Many a cavalryman is astride the horse I selected so carefully that is a bet my last dollar. When it comes to horses a gypsy man is in the know he continued : Miri Chavis ( my children) all have many dollars invested in thrift stamps As you know when King William Wells died he left about $100.000 , some of it came to me, Business has been good to with me for several years and when I tell you that we have put £8.000 in Liberty bonds you can see that the Gypsy in America is not the Wheeling cheating law defying no love for the country fellow the average Gorgio believes us to be. Where is old Gypsy Lee I asked ?
He has gone over the Water making baskets in Kent was the answer. My Host's mother Mrs Wells asked to tell my fortune as this is the true sign of hospitality, she laughed as I told her I had not had my fortune read since a young child and did she did take my palms there in the fading light. Then after with a child clinging to each hand and the Boston terrier sticking to the hem of my dress I bade them simple and kindly folks good luck and to the young lady of the tribe not to get rummered ( married ) until I saw her again and started for the every-day world of work and worry mightily refreshed.