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Loo,

Thanks for the links- some interesting stuff.
I haven't noticed a pattern of my Levitts with other Jewish sounding families. But I have noticed that they did seem to congregate amongst other tailors. So I suspect you're right - they went where the work was.
I've no idea where they came from prior to the census entries. But it's on my list to find out ;-)

Thanks again
Bev

What's intriguing about my tailoring ancestors is how much they moved around.

The female line seems to originate from Durham then moves to Yorkshire and they are a tailoring family. The male line is from Middlesex. The first tailor in this line appears in 1838.
As a couple, complete with the usual impressive array of kids, they then move around various parts of Middlesex, interspersed with a couple of sojourns into Yorkshire (Leeds and Bradford).

Whilst there are obvious family connections in Middlesex and Yorkshire, there still seems a disproportionate amount of movement given the relative difficuty in getting around.

I suppose I'm just wondering whether the extent of their movement was typical of those in their trade (maybe business demanded mobility in some way).
Another thought is whether,with a name like Levitt, there are any Jewish connections and maybe this could explain their movement in some way.

In any case, the prospect of moving, presumably with all your worldly possessions packed in a trunk, and with an army of kids, from one end of the country to the other in the mid 19th century feels like quite a challenge. How did they do that? How long would it have taken? What did they do for food and/or toilet stops en route?? How much would it all have cost them?

So many questions - any material that explains how these people lived their lives would be interesting.

Cheers
Bev

Thanks Stan - I'll check it out

Bev

I have Levitt ancestors who were a familiy of tailors from around 1800 to 1900. They moved aound the country a lot and often seem to share housing with other tailoring people.

I'm intrigued by the extent of their movements and would like to understand more about their lifestyle.
Does anyone know of any info on the industry during the 19th century?

Thanks
Bev

Wow - you've been busy Isobel ! Thanks

The marriage cert shows William as a tailor.

The 1851 census shows William aged 33, a tailor,  with Ann aged 30 and several children the eldest of which is another William aged 9 born in Leeds.
But by 1851 they are living in Newington, Middlesex.

There was an older child Jane born approx 1840 that is on the 1861 census but is not with the family in 1851.

Don't know whether it helps but in 1851 they had a visitor with them, James Hare, a tailor, 16 years old. Also at the same address was a widow, Elizabeth Smith, a tailoress aged 33 and two children.

Thanks
Bev