Anecdotes Of Mendicant Wanderers Collection

Joseph Johnson or Black Joe, wounded veteran merchant seaman, wearing his Nelson ship hat
FLO5000869 Joseph Johnson or Black Joe, wounded veteran merchant seaman, wearing his Nelson ship hat. He earned his living as a Regular Chaunter singing songs such as Storm

Tall blind beggar with stick and cap, seller of penny religious tracts, in front of Mr
FLO5000814 Tall blind beggar with stick and cap, seller of penny religious tracts, in front of Mr. Whitbread's brewery, London

Silent blind beggar wear a sign that reads Pray pity the Blind, selling penny tracts from his hat
FLO5000800 Silent blind beggar wear a sign that reads Pray pity the Blind, selling penny tracts from his hat. Copperplate etching drawn and engraved by John Thomas Smith from his Vagabondiana

Medieval beggar types: soap eater (lunatic imposter) from the era of Elizabeth I
FLO5000783 Medieval beggar types: soap eater (lunatic imposter) from the era of Elizabeth I, Tom of Bedlam from the era of Edward VI

Disabled begging Lilly who worked Poet's Corner in Westminster Abbey. Lost his leg in an accident at Westminster
FLO5003399 Disabled begging Lilly who worked Poet's Corner in Westminster Abbey. Lost his leg in an accident at Westminster

May Day street performer in mask, hat and beribboned suit and Street-strolling Clown in bells and tassles
FLO5003410 May Day street performer in mask, hat and beribboned suit and Street-strolling Clown in bells and tassles. Fellows dismissed from the public places of entertainment

Street crossing sweeper on Ludgate Hill wearing a cloth on his head. Copperplate etching drawn
FLO5000908 Street crossing sweeper on Ludgate Hill wearing a cloth on his head. Copperplate etching drawn and engraved by John Thomas Smith from his Vagabondiana

William Kinlock, blind beggar, with begging bowl. Begs at Furnival's Inn and Portugal Street
FLO5000888 William Kinlock, blind beggar, with begging bowl. Begs at Furnival's Inn and Portugal Street. Worked as a lathe turner before losing his sight under Lord Heathfield at the Siege of

Charles McGee, one-eyed Jamaican beggar aged 73 who stands at the Obelisk, Ludgate Hill
FLO5000861 Charles McGee, one-eyed Jamaican beggar aged 73 who stands at the Obelisk, Ludgate Hill. Copperplate etching drawn and engraved by John Thomas Smith from his Vagabondiana

Blind Charles Wood with organ and dancing dog, the real learned English dog Bob, in front of the Privy Garden wall
FLO5000822 Blind Charles Wood with organ and dancing dog, the real learned English dog Bob, in front of the Privy Garden wall

Blind beggar with walking stick attended by a young boy, frequently seen at Finsbury Square and Bunhill Row, London
FLO5000772 Blind beggar with walking stick attended by a young boy, frequently seen at Finsbury Square and Bunhill Row, London

William Friday, a Simpler, supplier of herbs. Copperplate etching drawn and engraved by John Thomas Smith from his
FLO5003444 William Friday, a Simpler, supplier of herbs. Copperplate etching drawn and engraved by John Thomas Smith from his Vagabondiana

Daniel Cropp, filthy street-crossing sweeper on Charles Street and Rathbone Place
FLO5000897 Daniel Cropp, filthy street-crossing sweeper on Charles Street and Rathbone Place. Copperplate etching drawn and engraved by John Thomas Smith from his Vagabondiana

Beggars leaving London for their workhouse. Disabled begging on crutches in patchwork coats and rags
FLO5003470 Beggars leaving London for their workhouse. Disabled begging on crutches in patchwork coats and rags. Copperplate etching drawn and engraved by John Thomas Smith from his Vagabondiana

Blind chaunter or singer with a catgut fiddle and bow. The fiddle has a tea canister for a soundbox
FLO5003460 Blind chaunter or singer with a catgut fiddle and bow. The fiddle has a tea canister for a soundbox. Copied from an etching by Miller after a drawing by Gravelot

Teetotal blind beggar who sold halfpenny ballads on the beggars road near Bethnal Green
FLO5000815 Teetotal blind beggar who sold halfpenny ballads on the beggars road near Bethnal Green. Copperplate etching drawn and engraved by John Thomas Smith from his Vagabondiana

Street-crossing sweeper boy in a large waistcoast and soldier's jacket. With dog and broom
FLO5000932 Street-crossing sweeper boy in a large waistcoast and soldier's jacket. With dog and broom. Worked Prince's Street and Hanover Square

Joseph Thake and son, makers of willow rattle puzzles which they sold for 6p at St. Paul's Churchyard
FLO5000866 Joseph Thake and son, makers of willow rattle puzzles which they sold for 6p at St. Paul's Churchyard. Copperplate etching drawn

Taylor, a blind cobbler or industrious beggar. Lived at 6 Saffron Hill and worked stands at Whitehall
FLO5000840 Taylor, a blind cobbler or industrious beggar. Lived at 6 Saffron Hill and worked stands at Whitehall and Tottenham Court Road

George Dyball, a blind beggar who dressed in a sailor's uniform, and his dog Nelson with begging bowl
FLO5000762 George Dyball, a blind beggar who dressed in a sailor's uniform, and his dog Nelson with begging bowl. Another blind begging couple behind him

Portrait of Saint Martin, patron saint of beggars and vagabonds, with two disabled beggars at his feet
FLO5000741 Portrait of Saint Martin, patron saint of beggars and vagabonds, with two disabled beggars at his feet. By an unknown German artist circa 1460

Venerable disabled Jewish mendicant beggar pulled around Petticoat Lane in a truck
FLO5000893 Venerable disabled Jewish mendicant beggar pulled around Petticoat Lane in a truck. Copperplate etching drawn and engraved by John Thomas Smith from his Vagabondiana

John MacNally, a go-kart, billy in bowl, or sledge beggar. He lost both legs in an accident when an apprentice in Cork
FLO5000873 John MacNally, a go-kart, billy in bowl, or sledge beggar. He lost both legs in an accident when an apprentice in Cork. Rides a dog-drawn cart drawn by Boxer and Rover

Samuel Horsey, a famous go-kart, billy in bowl, or sledge beggar. He claimed to have both legs amputated by the surgeon
FLO5000858 Samuel Horsey, a famous go-kart, billy in bowl, or sledge beggar. He claimed to have both legs amputated by the surgeon John Abernathy in St. Bartholomew's Hospital

Blind Priscilla, the patchwork quilt-making industrious beggar of St. James, Clerkenwell
FLO5000825 Blind Priscilla, the patchwork quilt-making industrious beggar of St. James, Clerkenwell, in front of Spa-fields reservoir waterworks

Notorious blind beggar in costume of a survivor of the Battle of Waterloo with a portrait of a wounded sailor on his
FLO5000770 Notorious blind beggar in costume of a survivor of the Battle of Waterloo with a portrait of a wounded sailor on his chest

Street entertainer who mimicked bird song using a piece of tin in his mouth
FLO5003442 Street entertainer who mimicked bird song using a piece of tin in his mouth, while he pretended to play two tobacco pipes like a violin

Two bone pickers sitting on the stairs with a dog. One sews patches onto his patchwork coat of bits of old velvet
FLO5003421 Two bone pickers sitting on the stairs with a dog. One sews patches onto his patchwork coat of bits of old velvet, carpet, cloth, etc

Bill Row and John Taylor, two grubbers with iron pick, broom and basket. They search for nails
FLO5003436 Bill Row and John Taylor, two grubbers with iron pick, broom and basket. They search for nails, rings and coins in the cracks between cobblestones

William Frasier, disabled beggar and seller of boot laces. He lost both his hands in the Napoleonic Wars
FLO5003406 William Frasier, disabled beggar and seller of boot laces. He lost both his hands in the Napoleonic Wars. Copperplate etching drawn and engraved by John Thomas Smith from his Vagabondiana

William Tomlins, street crossing sweeper on Albermarle and St. James Street
FLO5000887 William Tomlins, street crossing sweeper on Albermarle and St. James Street. Copperplate etching drawn and engraved by John Thomas Smith from his Vagabondiana

Beggar carving Turkish Moorings, a chain made of ash, seated with hat, crutch and walking stick
FLO5000844 Beggar carving Turkish Moorings, a chain made of ash, seated with hat, crutch and walking stick. Copperplate etching drawn and engraved by John Thomas Smith from his Vagabondiana

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Anecdotes of mendicant wanderers are tales of resilience, humility, and the enduring human spirit. These individuals roam the streets with nothing but a few belongings and a heart full of hope. They rely on the kindness of strangers for their next meal or place to rest their weary heads. Despite facing hardships and adversity at every turn, they remain steadfast in their belief that better days are ahead. Each encounter with a mendicant wanderer reveals a unique story of struggle and survival. Some have lost everything due to unforeseen circumstances, while others have chosen this nomadic lifestyle as a way to escape the trappings of society. Regardless of their reasons for wandering, these individuals share a common bond in their quest for freedom and independence. Through their anecdotes, we learn valuable lessons about gratitude, compassion, and the importance of living in the present moment. Mendicant wanderers remind us that material possessions are fleeting, but true wealth lies in our connections with others and our ability to find joy in even the simplest pleasures. So next time you pass by a mendicant wanderer on the street, take a moment to listen to their story. You may be surprised by the wisdom they impart and inspired by their unwavering faith in humanity's capacity for kindness and generosity.