Was a 'Hawker' a 'traveller'?

[L12]

Hello

Please forgive my asking but I had on a marriage certificate the occupation of 'Hawker' appear - I am not sure what this occupation is - the marr cert is 1838.

Can anybody help me?

Liz

[honey-roma88]

A hawker was basically someone who sells stuff I think.

A hawker was a job many travellers had but not all hawkers were travellers. What was your ancestors name it may help?

[L12]

The surname was Knibbs, and his address on the marriage certificate was the 'Greyhound Inn'.

It has made such a delightful change from seeing the ever present 'Ag Lab'!

Liz

[honey-roma88]

Hmm, I don't know of any Knibbs travellers but I have a couple of ancestors who were half-blooded with non-Romani fathers and non-Romani surnames but they lived as gypsies as was their mother's blood.

But just because I don't know of the name doesn't mean he wasn't a traveller, I am not an authority.

Is there any other information you can give us such as first name, age, location? Often being able to see him in context on a census can help.

I know what you mean about Ag Labs, I am beginning to form an irrational hatred for farm workers.

[An65]

Not all Hawkers were travellers. One of my non-romany gggt grandads was listed as a Hawker in 1841. By 1851 he was a postman!

[honey-roma88]

Not all Hawkers were travellers. One of my non-romany gggt grandads was listed as a Hawker in 1841. By 1851 he was a postman!

I agree, I have non-Romany circus workers as well. Occupations are rarely conclusive evidence of ethnicity.

[L12]

Thank you for your replies, I shall keep researching, it would be lovely to think I had traveller/romany genes somewhere, it would help me deal with the increasing need to go and dig the garden (far too many Ag Labs......)

L12

[kizmiaz]

I have a General Hawker ancestor, and I have been lead to believe that a Hawker was the equivalent of a door-to-door salesman, or possibly the more industrious ones would set up a cart somewhere to sell their wares.

As for Ag Labs, my tree is groaning with them. I was actually quite proud to find that one of my GGG-grandfathers was listed as a 'Scavenger'. I think he was the only ancestor with a proper trade! 

Glen

[Indaloman]

A Hawker was a person licensed to sell goods using a horse to pull or  carry the goods. If they were on foot only then they were Pedlars