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In case of interest, a sampler thought to be worked by Anne Wesley who was born in January,  1857 in St. Albans, Hertfordshire, is for sale on EBay.  Her father, William worked as a straw bonnet blocker, and her mother, Ann,  who hailed from Barby in Northamptonshire,  sewed straw bonnets. If you're a Wesley descendant you can see a picture of the sampler, worked by Anne when she was eight.

Hello! I came across your message quite by chance, just as I was scanning in the photo of Thornton Main Street, showing the Chapel. I was looking on the net for the date of its demolition and the search engine lead me to you! I don't know how deep your interest in the Bembridges is, but I have one or two photo's of family members from the late 1900's in our village history memorabilia. Please contact me if you want to have them. Kind regards, Muriel

At last - A site where others are seeking hawkers! Mine, too, were either basket weavers or travelling potters, then later became licensed hawkers. Your correspondence reveals why - obviously when the licence became obligatory. Some of mine, too, became horse dealers, and my father, who was born in 1898, clearly remembered  watching his father dyeing a horse and changing it from brown and white to totally brown!. (So not entirely on the straight and narrow at all times ) T(Though my father , after a stint in the Army, became a policeman!) I would dearly like some suggestion as to where I might find them before 1861. Their surname was Foster, and they settled for the winter in Nassington in Northamptonshire. I know that they travlled aout, as, at one time, my 2x great-grandfather is camped in a caravan in Weston, Hertfordshire. (1871 census) I have tried all possible version of their name, and searched all census returns back to 1841 with no luck at all. Does anyone know if there is a website which details where fairs/ horse fairs were held in the 1800's.? I might be able to link the children's birthplaces in to some of the places. Thanks for your interest.