Elijah George Bower - Hampshire traveller

[cardinalcanary]

My great grandfather's sister Ellen Carter married Elijah George Bower.

Looking at the 1871 census for Romsey, Elijah's father Noah Bower is listed as occupation 'Traveller'.

Is a traveller in 1871 the same as a traveller today?

Oddly enough, Noah Bower was born in Ripley, Surrey where I grew up. Pure coincidence.

Thanks

Stephen Carter

[keyboard86]

Hi, well he certainly was not a "Commercial Traveller"  eg a representative of a business,  in other census returns Noah was a General Dealer, Chair Mender, Coal Lifter, Butchers Lab,  and in 1901 a Wood Hawker, his wife Mary A is shown as Hawker on a number of returns.
Keyboard86

[cardinalcanary]

Thanks for checkng. Sounds like a lot of interesting occupations.

[Steve G]

Bower ..... I knew that was ringing a bell! Isn't it Jake Bowers; The lad who ran 'Rocker Radio', out of Norfolk? His dad was Romani. I'm assuming that's the surname he's using?

Yes! Just checked The Book Of Bob: Bower/s has been recorded as a name, given by Gypsys, all over the place, since lord knows. (Actually; Bob does. But, in honesty? I'm on my last legs here and didn't even bother to check the fine details  )

Along with the jobs etc.  keyboard86 has presented for ye? I'd say ye about good to go, cardinalcanary 

As I now must. To bed!

'Night, all.

[cardinalcanary]

 Thanks Steve

Another branch of the tree to climb.

[whiteout7]

Elijah, Noah, and Mary Ann Bower make an appearance on Gipsyjib so they certainly think they are a gypsy family

http://www.gypsyjib.com/page/Ayres%2FEyres+Family

[cardinalcanary]

Thanks Whiteout. That seems to be definitive. I see the surname Cole as well in the 1871 census which is also a surname that seems to be linked to the Carter family. Very interesting.