Tea Dealer

[Kelliemcd]

 My gg-grandfather, James McDowall, was born c1802 in Scotland but I don't where. In 1825 he is living in St Werburgh, Derby and is obtaining a marriage licence, he gives his occupation as a tea dealer. I read in a post that it was common for Scottish farmers to give their youngest enough money to buy a stock of tea and then go out to seek their fortune.
Could someone tell me where I could find more information?
Thanks
Andy

[CaroleW]

Who did he marry?

[Milliepede]

Does he remain in Derby?

If he is on the 1851 census it may have a more precise birthplace for him. 

[Annie65115]

Did you want info specifically about your ancestor or about tea dealing?

[deebel]

Tea Dealer would be the local grocer. Remember that tea arrived for retail in wooden tea chests (remember those boxes that half the country packed their belongings into for house removals before Ikea bags?) The retailer would weigh and pack specific amounts of tea for his customer perhaps using a bag with his name on it.

Typical shopsign would be Greengrocer and Tea Dealer.

[Skoosh]

A travelling Chapman sold small-wares  in country areas, no doubt tea, being light, was also traded.

Skoosh.

[Spelk]

Marriage in the Parish of Braunston in the county of Northampton on 24 Nov 1825 by Licence. James McDOWALL, Batchelor of the parish of St Warbergh in the town of Derby married Rebecca WAITT, spinster of this parish. Witnesses Martha SPICER, William WAITT.

In 1851 James and Rebecca are living in Liverpool. James is a Porter born Scotland. The subsequent censuses also just give his place of birth as Scotland,

[MonicaL]

Andy, in 1841, James and family are in Glasgow. Maybe this was his home town? He showed as born in the county:

James McDowell 35 carter b. Lanarkshire
Rebecca McDowell 30 b. England
James McDowell 14 b. England
Ann McDowell 12 b. Scotland
Barbra McDowell 7 b. Lanarkshire
Mathew McDowell 3 b. Lanarkshire
John McDowell 1 b. Lanarkshire

Address: Clyde Street, Barony

Monica

[Kelliemcd]

Sorry, I'm late replying, I'm still getting used to how Rootschat works. 

Thank you for all your replies.

 He did marry Rebecca Waitt in November 1825 in Braunston. Over the following 18 years, they lived in London, Edinburgh, Glasgow and finally Liverpool, so it is difficult to work out where he comes from and if he continued as a tea dealer. Though in 1841 he gives his occupation as a carter so maybe he was.

Monica mentioned 1841 census, he puts a no in the box under, (If born in Scotland state whether in the county or otherwise. I've taken this as no he wasn't born in Lanarkshire, am I wrong?

From 1850 until his death in 1886 he has numerous jobs but none relating to tea.

Annie, my thoughts were, having read of these young Scottish tea dealers going out into the world selling tea to make a living if these tea dealers did come from farms of a certain area it might give me an idea of where he came from. Unfortunately, the link to the article in the post is broken so I don't know its origin.

Thanks for the tea information, it all helps.

Andy