Pedlar Certificates

[RoseDunning]

Could anyone tell me how someone acquired a pedlar's certificate and if records of such applications are archived somewhere?

Thank you in advance.

[Jack Richards]

Pedlars certificates were granted by the Chief Officer of police for the area where the applcant lived.

It had four conditions attached to it as follows: Applicant had to be resident there for (at least) one month, be aged over 17 years, of good character and intends to act in good faith. (Pedlars Act 1871 - 1881).

It cost 5 shillings, duration of 1 year and was valid anywhere in the U.K. (section 5).

Any refusal of the grant of the said certificate, applicant could apply to a 'Summary Court', giving 7 days notice in writing to the Chief Officer of Police. (section 15, 1881 Act.)

You did not ask what the definition of a pedlar was. He was different to a hawker. Other friends hereon may also be interested. (I love the wording).

A pedlar was a person who, without horse or other beast, bearing or drawing burden, travels and trades on foot and goes from town to town or to other men's houses, carrying to sell or exposing for sale any goods wares or mechandise, immediately to be delivered or offering for sale his skill in handicraft.

There were exemptions from holding a pedlars certificate. A couple of examples being Commercial travellers etc. and sellers of vegetable, fish fruit or victuals - tea was not food.

I doubt if any records will still be available. My response above is from my own knowledge of yesteryear and not the internet.

Regards

[Geoffers]

I doubt if any records will still be available.

Likewise, as a young cadet I can remember taking sackfulls of old documents, including pedlars certificates, to be burnt.

[MarkJ]

Interesting info Jack! One of my wifes lot was a hawker in Derbyshire - later setting up a shop selling ironmongery. From an old photo I have seen, he sold pots and pans etc during his hawking phase.
I hadn't considered the difference between hawkers and pedlars until now.

Mark

[Colin Moretti]

Could anyone tell me how someone acquired a pedlar's certificate and if records of such applications are archived somewhere?

Thank you in advance.Some survive in the relevant county record offices (I've seen them in West Sussex and Southampton, for example), try either their on-line catalogue, the A2A catalogue (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/?source=ddmenu_search1) or email the RO to find out what they have.

If you track down any records and spot any with an Italian names I would be interested to hear of it.

Good luck

Colin

[Jack Richards]

Hi Friends

We have discussed a pedlar and as I mentioned a hawker was different.

A hawker is a person, who trades in goods, wares and merchandise from a horse drawn vehicle or travels by any means of locomotion to other towns to trade in premises especially hired for that purpose. (Hawkers Act 1888).

A hawkers licence was issued by the local authority and cost £2. It lasted for one year from date of issue.

To obtain such a licence, the applicant had to produce references of good character from a clergyman and two householders or a Justice of the Peace or Superintendent or Inspector of Police.

There were a few exemptions, I seem to remember selling postage stamps and bibles, prayer books, oh and there was fish, fruit, victuals and coal.

They had to have their name and the words 'Licensed Hawker' visibly written, painted or printed on every box, package and every vehicle used for the carriage of goods and on every room or shop in which his goods were sold etc.

Hope this helps. I'm sure there will be something on the internet for those who wish to go "pedling and hawking". Me, I'm a bit too elderly!

Regards

[Colin Moretti]

See also this thread amongst others:
http://www.british-genealogy.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37535

Seach the forum for pedlar OR hawker and again using the plural - there are lots of hits.

Colin

[RoseDunning]

Thank you very much everyone. It appears that Berkshire RO don't have any but I have seen some for other counties via an A2A search. My romany ancestors are proving very difficult to find. They keep disappearing from one census to the next and apparently changed their names often!
Thank you again for your invaluable information :)

[jane_latter]

im trying to find Hawkers in surrey and sussex where should I start?

[Geoffers]

im trying to find Hawkers in surrey and sussex where should I start?

A lot depends on when, where and whom. Do you want to find one now? ;) or are you after historical records? What do you hope to locate?