RootsChat.Com
Some Special Interests => Travelling People => Topic started by: bikercriss 13 on Friday 25 September 09 14:24 BST (UK)
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Hi
I am new to this site and i have just come across you msg board about travellers, just out of interest could any one tell me if the surname name Nethercott is a travellers name i have them on my mothers side of the family, i have also found this name on the cencus and it has them down as Hawkers.
kind regards Chris
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Just to help ye along ye way, Chris; The name's not listed in 'The Black Book'. But, that's one of those things about proving a negative. I.e.; If a name's in there? Bob's found them as Gypsys. If a name's not? Doesn't really mean anything.
What else does the census say about them? Living in a house address? Still doesn't concrete anything.
Cutting to the chase: If it lists them as " Travelling Gypsys, caravans / tents, Somesuch Common " ? Best accept they were Gypsys. But " Hawkers "? Could be anything. Many Gypsys were Hawkers. But not all Hawkers were Gypsys. And not all Licensed, Travelling Hawkers, living in a caravan on a common were Romani's either.
Pain, isn't it? Dig a bit deeper. See what else they got up to over the decades ;)