Genealogy Chat

Thomas may have started from the bottom but he went on to much better things. By the time of the 1881 census his occupation was General dealer and in 1891, his daughter was a furniture dealer.

Hello Joan,

I am pretty sure it says rag nippers. have a look yourself....

Thomas Gibbons, 1842, born in Bethnal Green living in Hackney.

Found this for Nipper:-

NIPPER - lorry boy, a young person employed by the carter or wagoner to assist with the collection and delivery of goods

Perhaps they just helped out a Rag Man on his round.

Kath. x

I wonder if they could have been the same as Rag Gatherers. This is the definition of the occupation:-

RAG GATHERERS - employed to clear the rags from the machinery in the mills (usually children)

I would imagine they would have to nip in and out of the machinery rather quickly. Just a thought really.

Kath. x

Thanks for that Kate.

Kathlyn

It could be. I am sure I heard of an occupation that involved unpicking old clothes etc and selling them on to the rag man in exchange for money. I wonder if it means "nipper" as in the informal name for a child (as an extension of the idea of there being a "rag man" or "rag woman") or whether it meant they "nipped" the cloth with scissors etc to tear it up?

Searching the 1851 census in the Hackney area of London, the person I was looking for is 9 and his brother who is recorded as "head", is 14. Their occupations are Rag Nippers.

Would this be the same as the rag man that we knew as children?

Kathlyn