What is a HAWKER?

[Katie123]

Hi,

Do any of you know what a hawker is?  I've got a woman in the 1841 Census who is down as being one, and am curious as to what it is.

Many thanks,
Katie

[caroline hammill]

Hi Katie123,

Found this on a site

Hawker/Huckster : Peddler or street seller. Itinerant street dealer who carried his wares with him. Often used as a term of abuse.


CAZ

[Siouxzie]

Hi Katie,
I believe a "hawker", is someone, who sells stuff on the street.  I have a family of them in Manchester in 1861, the two daughters of the family age 13 and 15 being listed on the census as hawkers as well.

[casalguidi]

Hi Katie

Yes, as Caz & Siouxzie have written, it was a person who travelled (from door to door or place to place) to sell their wares which could range from pots, flowers, fish or a whole host of other things.  It was usual for a hawker to have some kind of transport whilst a pedlar travelled on foot.  There is some more info here:

http://encyclopedia.jrank.org/HAN_HEG/HAWKERS.html

Casalguidi

[mc8]

a street trader who sold from a basket. Costermongers generally had barrows and dealers an pony and cart
there is a good descrption of the kind of life they led here
http://www.victorianlondon.org/

[Katie123]

Okay, many thanks for your replies.

Katie