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Some Special Interests => Occupation Interests => Topic started by: DebbieDee on Monday 29 August 05 23:11 BST (UK)
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Hi everyone,
I could do with some help to read Thomas Frizzell's occupation in 1841 (Milton Abbas, Dorset). I'm sure it's something really obvious but I just can't make it out.
Many thanks in advance for your help.
Debbie :)
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I think it reads "Higgler" -
A person who haggles or bargains. An itinerant peddler or dealer, similar to a cadger.
Nell
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Thanks Nell,
That was so quick...I was still trying to make it bigger!
I think you are right. I thought it began with an 'H' but hadn't heard of a 'Higgler' before. One of my hubby's so I'm sure he'll be thrilled with that one. ;D
Debbie ;)
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Hi Debbie
I found this on the net, it may be of interest
An itinerant dealer or peddler.
Higgler has survived in the West Indies, especially Jamaica, in the sense of a market trader, but has disappeared everywhere else. But only a century ago, most English market towns had their higglers. They were middlemen—they went round the farms of the local area, buying up produce such as poultry, rabbits, eggs and cheese to sell in the market. In return they supplied goods the household needed. Some of the trade was done by barter rather than by money changing hands, but all of it involved haggling—which is where the name came from, as it’s just a variant spelling of haggler.
In The Surgeon’s Daughter (1827), Sir Walter Scott spoke of: “The labours of a higgler, who travels scores of miles to barter pins, ribbons, snuff and tobacco, against the housewife’s private stock of eggs, mort-skins, and tallow” [mort-skin: the skin of a sheep or lamb that has died a natural death].
In some places, higglers had a bad reputation, because they were thought to manipulate prices to their own benefit. The Times of London dated 10 June 1800 reports a small-scale consumer revolt against them:
A Meeting was held at Poole, on Friday last, to take into consideration the propriety of the Inhabitants in general refraining from the use of Butter, till the price is reduced to One Shilling a pound; when it was unanimously resolved by all present, not to purchase any till the price shall be so reduced, and even then, to use it in their families with great economy and moderation ... and proper people are appointed to keep a constant watch on the Higglers on Market-day, who are the principal cause of the great prices of many of the necessaries of life.
I am sure there is a book, or maybe a play called, "The Higgler"
Regards
Robert
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Hi Robert,
Thanks for that. Very interesting reading.
I've 'googled' the term and found a Higgler was also another name for a hangman! I'm still sure Thomas Frizzell was the peddler variety but it is amazing what you can discover with a google.
Debbie
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I was right there is a book, it's called
The Higgler, by AE Coppard, see
http://sehrgut.co.uk/tafelmusik/literary/critique/coppard_higgler
It looks like a fictional romance
Regards
Robert
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Is it me or does it say Thomas not William Frizzell? ???
Ticker
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Well spotted Ticker,
William was the next generation.
Thank you.
Debbie :-[
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Robert,
Thanks for the link, I'll have a proper read later.
Debbie
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Just decoding an 1861 census sheet for a Derbyshire area called Wash Green that lists Joseph Flint age30 employed as a coal higgler ! ;D
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Thanks for reviving my old thread Dave, I'd forgotten all about this one :D
And welcome to RootsChat :)