John Hoyland (1750-1831), writer on the Gypsies, was variously designated as 'of Sheffield, Yorkshire', and as 'formerly of York. ' It was, however, in the counties of Northampton, Bedford, and Hertford that he had opportunity to observe the condition of the Gipsy race, whom he began to study in the summer of 1814. He belonged to the Quaker body, and although he was disunited from the society for some time, he was afterwards reinstated into membership. His separation may have been due to his falling in love. His works include: A Historical Survey of the Customs, Habits and Present State of the Gypsies (1816) and An Epitome of the History of the World: From the Creation to the Advent of the Messiah (1816).
