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Making History
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 Tuesday 3.00-3.30 p.m |
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Sue Cook presents the series that examines listeners' historical queries, exploring avenues of research and uncovering mysteries. |
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Billy Marshall - the Scottish King of the Gypsies
Listener's query
"Can you tell me more about the famous Scottish gypsy Billy Marshall from Galloway, who was said to have lived to the age of 120?"
Brief summary
Billy Marshall (1672-1792) was born in Ayrshire, was said to be or Romany stock and is described as the King of the Gypsies in south-east Scotland for most of the 1700s. His career included time as a boxer, and in the services. The stories about him are that he deserted from the Army seven times and from the Navy three times, he married 17 times and he had a huge crowd of illegitimate children (four of whom he is said to have fathered after his 100th birthday). He is also said to have been involved in murder and robbery, running a gang of gypsy tinkers in Galloway. He was the so-called 'King of the Randies', and having served as a soldier he was able to organise the country people who lost land when landowners built stone dykes and walls - his men went round knocking them down.
Marshall died at the age of 120 and his grave is in the churchyard of St Cuthbert's in Kirkcudbright.
Expert consulted
Local historian Alistair Penman
Further reading
Innes MacLeod, Where the Whaups are Crying: A Dumfires and Galloway Anthology (Birlinn, 2001)
Sir Walter Scott, Guy Mannering (Wildside Press, 2003) (novel)
Further information
The Stewartry Museum
St Mary Street, Kirkcudbright DG6 4AG
Tel: 01557 331643
Fax: 01557 330005
Website:
Kirkcudbright History Society
c/o 5 Drumblane Strand, Kirkcudbright DG6 4EX
Tel: 01557 331832
Website:
Website
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See AlsoThe 大象传媒 is not responsible for the content of external sites |
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Vanessa has presented听science and current affairs programmes for 大象传媒, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Discovery and has presented for 大象传媒 Radio 4 & Five Live and a regular contributor to the Daily Telegraph and the Mail on Sunday, Scotsman and Sunday Herald.听