Death Notice of Mary WELLS (1902); Cecil Co., MD Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Fred Kelso Copyright. All Rights Reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/md/mdfiles.htm ********************************************************* Cecil Whig, Elkton, Cecil Co., MD Saturday, July 5, 1902 Front Page GYPSY PRINCESS DEAD: Mary Wells, Daughter of "Father" Robert Wells, Passed Away in Camp - Queer Burial Rites of the Nomads "Mary Wells, a gypsy princess, daughter of "Father" Robert Wells, the gypsy patriach who died near Warwick, this county, has departed this life. Her remains will be taken to Wilmington, Del., and Brandywine Cemetery for interment alongside of those of her father. Just before Princess Wells died, she made a request that the funeral sermon be preached by a Presbyterian minister. Tribal rites were held over the remains on Sunday and Monday. After the princess had been declared dead the remains were laid in the open air and fires lighted at the head and feet. One after another the members of the tribe approached the body and said their last farewell. On Monday morning at dawn the remains were bathed in pure, clear spring water and robed in white, according to the custom of gypsies, and a gold chain was clasped about the neck. At noon on Monday, all of Princess Wells's clothing and personal effects were burned in the watch fires, after which the members of the tribe gathered about the corpse and sang. This continued for more than an hour, and then each member took a stick from a bundle called the "fagots of life." They broke the sticks and placed them on the breast of the corpse. The watch fires were kept burning for two days, to keep "bad spirits" from the body until the departed soul had reached its resting place." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Morning News Wilmington, Delaware Tues., July 1, 1902 Front Page Funeral of a Gypsy Princess: She Died at Morristown, N.J., and is to be Laid by the Side of her Father in the Wilmington and Brandywine Cemetery - Queer Burial Rites of the Nomads "Mary Wells, a gypsy princess, who died a few days ago in the camp near Morristown, N.J., will be brought to Wilmington for burial in the same plot with her father, who was buried in the Wilmington and Brandywine Cemetery about a year ago [so far I have not yet found an obituary for Robert Wells]. When the funeral will take place is not known, as the officials of the Wilmington and Brandywine Cemetery have received no notice. Just before Princess Wells died, she made a request that the funeral sermon be preached by a Presbyterian minister. Tribal rites were held over the remains on Sunday and Monday. After the princess had been declared dead the remains were laid in the open air and fires lighted at the head and feet. One after another the members of the tribe approached the body and said their last farewell. On Monday morning at dawn the remains were bathed in pure, clear spring water and robed in white, according to the custom of gypsies, and a gold chain was clasped about the neck. At noon on Monday, all of Princess Wells's clothing and personal effects were burned in the watch fires, after which the members of the tribe gathered about the corpse and sang. This continued for more than an hour, and then each member took a stick from a bundle called the "fagots of life." They broke the sticks and placed them on the breast of the corpse. The watch fires were kept burning for two days, to keep "bad spirits" from the body until the departed soul had reached its resting place."