Thanks for that very interesting information about costermongers -
fascinating!
Jane
----- Original Message -----
From: "Chris Sutton" <cnsutt(a)tiscali.co.uk>
To: <wls-merionethshire(a)rootsweb.com>
Sent: Saturday, February 17, 2007 3:04 AM
Subject: Re: [MER] Occupation
A costermonger was a street seller of fruit and vegetables. The term, which
derived from the words costard (a type of apple) and monger, i.e. "seller",
came to be particularly associated with the "barrow boys" of London who
would sell their produce from a wheelbarrow or wheeled market stall.
Costermongers have existed in London since at least the 16th century, when
they were mentioned by Shakespeare. They probably were most numerous during
the Victorian era, when there were said to be over 30,000 in 1860. They
gained a fairly unsavoury reputation for their "low habits, general
improvidence, love of gambling, total want of education, disregard for
lawful marriage ceremonies, and their use of a peculiar slang language"
(John Camden Hotten, The Slang Dictionary, 1859). Costermongers were
notoriously competitive: respected "elder statespeople" in the costermonger
community were elected as pearly kings and queens to keep the peace between
rival costermongers.
However, crimes such as theft were actually rare among costermongers
themselves, especially in an open market where they tended to look out for
one another. Even common thieves preferred to prey on store owners rather
than costermongers, who were inclined to dispense "street justice".
The activities and lifestyles of 19th century costermongers are
comprehensively documented in London Labour and the London Poor, a four
volume collection of very erudite and well-researched articles by Henry
Mayhew.
-----Original Message-----
From: wls-merionethshire-bounces(a)rootsweb.com
[mailto:wls-merionethshire-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Jenny Bakken
Sent: 17 February 2007 01:18
To: wls-merionethshire(a)rootsweb.com
Subject: [MER] Occupation
Would someone please tell what occupation a 'costermonger' would be.
Thanks
Jenny
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A costermonger was a street seller of fruit and vegetables. The term, which
derived from the words costard (a type of apple) and monger, i.e. "seller",
came to be particularly associated with the "barrow boys" of London who
would sell their produce from a wheelbarrow or wheeled market stall.
Costermongers have existed in London since at least the 16th century, when
they were mentioned by Shakespeare. They probably were most numerous during
the Victorian era, when there were said to be over 30,000 in 1860. They
gained a fairly unsavoury reputation for their "low habits, general
improvidence, love of gambling, total want of education, disregard for
lawful marriage ceremonies, and their use of a peculiar slang language"
(John Camden Hotten, The Slang Dictionary, 1859). Costermongers were
notoriously competitive: respected "elder statespeople" in the costermonger
community were elected as pearly kings and queens to keep the peace between
rival costermongers.
However, crimes such as theft were actually rare among costermongers
themselves, especially in an open market where they tended to look out for
one another. Even common thieves preferred to prey on store owners rather
than costermongers, who were inclined to dispense "street justice".
The activities and lifestyles of 19th century costermongers are
comprehensively documented in London Labour and the London Poor, a four
volume collection of very erudite and well-researched articles by Henry
Mayhew.
-----Original Message-----
From: wls-merionethshire-bounces(a)rootsweb.com
[mailto:wls-merionethshire-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Jenny Bakken
Sent: 17 February 2007 01:18
To: wls-merionethshire(a)rootsweb.com
Subject: [MER] Occupation
Would someone please tell what occupation a 'costermonger' would be.
Thanks
Jenny
-------------------------------
To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to
WLS-MERIONETHSHIRE-request(a)rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without
the quotes in the subject and the body of the message