Higler

Higler

In the 1800s, traders were common and variously described. Pedlars sold items door to door. Hawkers sold in the street, calling out their wares. Both were present in and around St Ives, particularly hawkers. Their mode of selling was ready-made for the town's markets. At various times in the 1800s and early 1900s, there were twenty-six hawkers living in St Ives.

Higling was more specialised. Higlers sold cheap portable goods to those who had something to trade. Bartering was a core skill. Hence the derivation of the name, a haggler for a bargain. Another skill was knowing what was in short supply.

A big part of their customer base was farmers and farm workers. Higlers carried their wares in a large bag or small cart and did a lot of walking. In summer it was a hot and sweaty job. In hard winter weather, the higler struggled to reach his customers. Sometimes there was a secondary occupation.

The higler typically sold household items, saving the farmer and his employees a trip into town. Exchanged were poultry, eggs, butter and cheese. Even better if these items were excess to requirements. The higler bartered at a good rate of exchange, then gained a double profit selling the produce on his return to town.

St Ives higlers
Primarily an occupation of the 1700s, Lewis Upchurch, of Popes Lane, Warboys, described himself as a higler as late as 1911. It seems higling was only an occasional occupation for St Ivians in the 1800s. Two of the four listed below were also publicans.

The huge Monday livestock market brought farmers and their workers into town most weeks. Whilst in St Ives, they could buy the goods offered by higlers in more remote locations. Possibly St Ives higlers bartered at the Monday market, their customers coming to them, rather than travelling into the countryside.

WALLIS WORTS was born at Horningsea, Cambridgeshire, in 1851. His father, Joshua, was toll collector. By 1861, the family moved to Waterbeach, where Joshua was a publican of the House of Lords Inn. Wallis still lived at home in 1871, working as a farm servant.

Wallis was married with two young daughters by 1881, living in Longstanton. He followed his father's occupation, working as publican of the King William IV pub. Wallis married Emily Metcalfe, a Holywell girl, in 1876.

It was the local connection that no doubt brought Wallis and family to St Ives by 1891. He might also have been a relative of Albert Worts, publican of the Dolphin Inn. Wallis was publican of the Dun Horse at St Ives, a position he kept for over 30 years. Also a higler, he stopped some time before 1901. Wallis's father moved to St Ives with the family and collected the tolls on St Ives bridge.

In 1897 Wallis's daughter, Emily, married Harry Anderson. The Anderson family were major farmers in the area, owning West End Farm. So it's no surprise Wallis had a strip of Hemingford Meadow, where he kept sheep. He offered this for sale at auction in 1901 for £365 (today £35,000).

George Simms, a labourer, was notorious as a violent drunk. His own father-in-law described him as 'perfectly mad' when he had a drink. He had been up before the court at least ten times for being drunk and disorderly. One evening in June 1889 he'd already caused trouble at the Wilkes Head. When PC Butler arrived, Simms had his coat off, swearing and looking for someone to fight. Told to go off quietly, Simms staggered around to the Dun Horse, where Wallis was standing on the doorstep. When Wallis refused to serve him ginger beer, Simms hit Wallis twice. The court fined Simms over £2 (today £200).

In later years, Wallis lived in North Road, St Ives. He died in 1936, aged 85 years. His estate was worth £885 (today £48,000).

BENJAMIN CLEMENTS grew up in Holywell, born in 1826. He came to St Ives in his early teens to work as a servant at the Parrot Inn. Benjamin was clearly prepared to stand up for himself. In 1841, aged 15 years, he charged William Watts with assault. Watts worked as a hostler at the Parrot Inn. Watts kicked Benjamin when they argued, seen by a witness. The court found Watts one shilling, plus five shillings costs. Benjamin was back in court in 1850, charging Patrick Conway with stealing a pair of shoes.

In 1846 Benjamin married Elizabeth Day. By 1851, they had three young children. Benjamin worked as a higler.

Tragedy struck the family. William, aged 2 years, died in 1851. Benjamin and his son of the same name, aged 4 years, died in 1852. Mary Ann, aged 3 years, died in 1853. The plagues of cholera, typhoid or tuberculosis that swept regularly through St Ives were probably the cause. It's unclear what happened to Benjamin's wife.

JOSEPH PAPWORTH grew up in Elsworth, born in 1821. His father farmed twelve acres. By 1851, Joseph was a floral dealer, presumably selling flowers from the smallholding. He sold at St Ives market. Joseph was still dealing in 1861, but as a higler. He had lodgings in Ramsey Road, St Ives.

By 1871, living in Crown Close, Joseph farmed sixty acres, employing three men, a boy and a housekeeper. He died in 1877, aged 59 years. Joseph was a wealthy man, leaving more than £6,000 (today over £500,000).

WILLIAM ELLIS was born in Cambridge in 1833. He first worked as a baker. In April 1852, Cambridge Quarter Sessions convicted William of 'stealing thirty fowls at Granchester'. He was aged 19 years. His punishment was one year's hard labour and three months solitary confinement. The hard labour comprised a treadmill, also called the eternal staircase, and tailoring. Prisoners spent six hours a day climbing the treadmill in silence. William was more fortunate than his 21 year old accomplice, William Seaby. A previous conviction for felony meant transportation to Australia for seven years.

William married Mary Ann at Cambridge in 1858. By 1861, he was living at St Ives, publican of the Manchester Arms. He was also a higler. Thereafter, there's no trace of William in Huntingdonshire.