Genealogy Chat

see below....

Sorry I dont usually ask for any help but I am really stuck and hoping someone can help me...... I am looking at a Scottish Census return 1851 and where it says Rank, Profession or occupation it says... English Ct Hawker (and what looks like) Stone... something that could say 'ware' Well I know what a Hawker is and stone something fits in with the fact that this guy was a stone mason's labourer on other documents I have for him but what on earth is English Ct?? Both my own and Hubbys ancestors are all Scottish and I have looked at hundreds of census pages but I have never seen this before. Shaz

Could the Ct mean 'court'?

Stoneware is more or less the same as pottery, so he could be a Hawker in that, but I am puzzled by the Ct. Is it too early to be Commercial traveller?

My rellie was a commercial traveller in 1851. Could it by English Stoneware he is hawking? But the enumerator copied the words down round the wrong way? Merry

I think Grampa has it right - ct stands for commercial traveller - I have seen this description (in full) as early as this, I'm pretty sure. OC

Thankyou so much for your replies they have certainly given me food for thought. This guy is really difficult to get past, he was born in Ireland (according to census returns), married twice in Scotland and also died in Scotland. This is why I am so puzzled with the English CT thing but commercial traveller sounds good to me! Although the English part is confusing me. Thank You again Shaz x

English Stoneware? You don't have to be Irish to sell Irish Whiskey.

Could the enumerator have put his language in the wrong column? (instead of the Gaelic/ English bit at the end)

Lol Grandpa!! Why couldnt they have made it simple like saying Occupation Hawker of English Stoneware instead of putting... English CT Hawker Stone Ware.. talk about a mouthful and going round the houses..lol Janet they didnt have the column 'Gaelic or G&E' in the 1851 census.. or the 61,,,71 come to that (in Scotland anyway). Shaz x

Hi Shaz-nice to see you again, Ros

Thinking about it, it IS a bit strange, because a Hawker and a Commercial Traveller are two different ends of the same thing, if you see what I mean... A Commercial Traveller went around selling his company's wares to shops etc, usually from a catalogue, or from traveller's pieces (miniatures of the real thing) A Hawker flogged the stuff wherever he could, in markets, on doorsteps - would he REALLY have carried round a suitcase full of English Stoneware in the hope of selling a bit here and there? So, I'm wondering - and this is probably daft - a Hawker had to have a licence, a commercial traveller didnt - maybe ct stands for certificate, as in licence? No, that wasnt much help really, was it. OC

Hi Roz {{HUGS}} OC... you have given me more food for thought and enlightened me too as I didnt even know about licence's etc. I did find it odd that 2 different occupations have been put down but still sort of similar if you know what I mean. I guess I'll never really get this one.. dont you just hate brick walls!! Shaz x