My family tree at my website hasn't got all the interesting bits of info yet just the BMD I need to find the time to flesh it out.
I'm slowly collecting a lot of info on the Cumberland potters just because of my fascination of how a group of people who are considered "low" were actually really important folk in years past. (Tinker & potter are often used as insults)
Some interesting snippets...
The parish records in Wigton Cumberland have my ancestor John LOWTHER (bn ~1760 d 1843) as a brazier for a number of the baptisms. This was a person who carried a fire in a bucket who mended spoons and tin pots or other metalware.
Later baptisms have him as a "potter" the colloquial term for earthenware dealer. His son Henry is listed in Pigot's in Wigton as a glass and earthenware dealer. This to me shows a connection between travelling folk and the pot hawkers, I saw the same change in occupation with what I think is John's brother James.
There are also connections with families who have traditional "gypsy" names such as Sewell and Lovell. I'm trying to find out whether my Lowther's are originally from a gypsy family. It is believed that travelling people sometimes settled and took the name of the local landowner - in Northern Cumberland that is most likely to be Lowther.
I found a great census entry you may be interested in as well.
1851
Whitehaven Preston Quarter
Pottery Lodge
Charles Lowther/60 /Travelling Potter/ NK/M/Head
Margaret Lowther/58 /Travelling Potter/NK/M/Wife
William Lowther/27 /Travelling Potter/NK/U/Son
Pottery Lodge
John Lowther /24 /Travelling Potter/ NK/M/Head
Jane Lowther/ 18/Travelling Potter/NK/M/Wife
NK = Not Known for place of birthPottery lodge seems to be associated with the Trousdale pottery manufacturers. I imagine these are outhouses that families stayed in while they bought new merchandise.
In 1841 there is a Hall family - with all the kids, can you imagine how hard it was to travel with a full family!?
1851
Whitehaven Preston Quarter
Pottery
Sarah Trousdale 60 Earthenware m. Y
Ralph Hall 35 potter Y
Mary Hall 35 Y
Eliza Hall 14 Y
Sarah Hall 12 Y
Catherine Hall 8 Y
Ralph Hall 6 Y
Mary Hall 3 Y
Wm Hall 1 Y
So it is a good idea to find out where the local potteries where - you never know you may find your stray ancestors.
And sometimes they travelled mob handed!
1841
Calthwaite
William Stewart 65 Potter Y
Isabella Stewart 65 Y
John Lowther 45 Potter Y
Jane Lowther 45 Y
Mary Steward 35 Potter Y
William Stewart 25 Y
Ann Stewart 25 Y
Jane Lowther 10 Y
Charles Steward 10 Y
William Stewart 5 Y
Edward Steward 5 Y
Edward Stewart 4 Y
John Stewart 2 Y
Isabella Stewart 1m Y
If anyone is interested in the census material I have collected please PM me and I'll send you an excel file. It isn't brilliant in that I don't have folio numbers etc it's just a notes file for my own use.
Sorry for the ramble - but this one is my favourite subject!!!
Pam