Life story retold by Yota Dimitriadi
Henry ALLEN, known in Reading as “Goosey Allen” died on 21st March 1900 at the age of 84. He was registered as horse dealer on his will. His funeral took place on Monday 26th March.
The following is adapted from Reading Mercury (Sat 31 March 1900).
Henry lived the life of gipsy*, but he possessed considerable amount of property in London and Reading. His will stated that he had ‘three messuages or dwellinghouses in Latimer Road Hammersmith in the county of Middlesex’. At the time of his death his estate was valued at:
Instead of occupying a house, he lived in a gipsy caravan stationed in Hathaway’s Meadow, at Coley, and it is stated that the interior of his movable house was admirably arranged.
He was well-known to the neighbourhood as a horse-dealer. It is surmised that he preferred to live in the humble position of a gipsy because he had always been accustomed to that mode of life. For some time he had been in a weak state of health and had been medically attended. He passed away in his caravan.
A tremendous crowd assembled around the caravan on Monday, 12.30 p.m. to witness the departure of the funeral cortege, which was of unusual character. The body was in a shell, enclosed in polished oak coffin with brass fittings, there being a simple inscription, recording the dates of birth and death, engraved upon the plate. The coffin was conveyed in a glass car, drawn by four horses, and then followed the deceased’s favourite pony that had a black velvet pall. The pony was shot after the funeral as had been requested by Mr Allen. There were two pair-horse mourning coaches, and the principal mourners included Mr. John Eighteen, the executor.
At different spots along the route a large number of people had assembled to witness the passing of the procession, whilst at the Cemetery the crowd was one of the largest ever seen at a funeral there. The obsequies (funeral rites) were performed by the Rev. A. N. Halpin. The funeral arrangements were carried out by Mr. Lovegrove.
His caravan was not burnt according to Romani people’s traditions. He left it to his friend Agnes Lee and also asked for the executor to buy a horse for her to the value of £25. Henry cared a lot about Agnes. He stipulated in his will for the sum of £200 to be left to her and administered to support her during her lifetime as well to be given £1 a week again for the rest of her life.
Brain and Brain, 156 Friar Street Reading were solicitors to the executor, John Eighteen horse dealer.
Henry left £100 in his will for John Eighteen, his executor, to pay for his funeral and ‘the erection of a stone over [his] grave’.
Henry’s will makes an interesting reading. The importance of having a gravestone, the care for Agnes and his friend John Eighteen, fellow horse dealer.
Henry is buried in Division 51, not far from Phoebe Smith. Unfortunately, his grave stone, if there was one, has not survived. It seems that whilst he had left money in his will for a monument, the choice made by his executor may have been for cheaper materials than stone or marble . It seems that this Division of the cemetery was either earmarked for or chosen by the Roma Community. With the exception of Selina Smith, the Roma people we have found so far are are buried in Division 51. Henry bought the grave in 1896 for Providence Beldem [or Beldam], though we do not know their relationship at this stage. His friend Agnes Lee who died in 1912 is also buried with him.
*Note that the terms ‘Gipsy’ replaced by ‘Gypsy’ that were used in the past to describe the Roma people or travellers are now considered racial slur.
Division 51, Row E, Plot 13 [grave number 11549- unmarked grave].