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.