1808 Marriage Record

[7Y]

I would be grateful if someone could confirm that the occupation of Joseph Robinson on this marriage register is ‘Caravan Man’, and would this mean he was a traveller/gypsy.
 
If I have the correct couple in the census records, that record implies that both were born around 1791, which would make them about 17 years of age when they wed.  The record also states that Eleanor was a Widow – was it commonplace that people married early in those days, in particular regarding Eleanor. 

I have tried to find a marriage for Eleanor whose surname is actually Turner, and not as transcribed for this record, but correctly transcribed on a Bishop’s Transcript record.

As you will have gathered, I am not the greatest researcher ever, but I am very grateful for any advice received.

Shelagh

[Treetotal]

That's what I see Caravan Man Shelagh...although I can't find a reference in old occupations websites, maybe he was a traveller.
Carol

[arthurk]

I would be grateful if someone could confirm that the occupation of Joseph Robinson on this marriage register is ‘Caravan Man’, and would this mean he was a traveller/gypsy.

It certainly appears to be 'Caravan Man' - not a phrase I've seen before. I agree that it makes him sound like a traveller, but other opinions on this would be useful.

If I have the correct couple in the census records, that record implies that both were born around 1791, which would make them about 17 years of age when they wed.

If the census you're basing this on is 1841, remember that adults' ages on that were supposed to be rounded down to the nearest 5 below. So someone shown as aged 50 could have been between 50 and 54, ie born between mid-1786 and mid-1791 - and that's assuming they were able to give a completely accurate age.

[ShaunJ]

Looking at contemporary newspaper mentions, I think a "caravan man" was a man who drove a (horse drawn) van. It was Joseph's occupation.

[ShaunJ]

See this one for instance, from 1819:

[arthurk]

So would that be a kind of sales rep?

[ShaunJ]

More like a delivery man

[7Y]

Thank you all for your suggestions.  It's interesting that Joseph may have been a delivery man and not a traveller as I first thought. 

I do have another record, where the gent concerned put his deceased Father as a Traveller - would this mean the same thing,

Edit:  Sorry, also meant to ask, when Eleanor remarried, would Turner be her maiden name or from her previous marriage.

[Maiden Stone]

There was no mention that either was a minor.
Turner might have been surname of her first husband or it might have been her maiden name. 
My 3xGGM married for 2nd time in 1861 under her maiden name. Her GGM married as a widow 100 years earlier. She married using the surname Smith; I don't know if she was Widow Smith or had formerly been Miss Smith.