Hawker of Jays?

[knuttle]

In the 1861 Census (RG9-84-45-20)) Elizabeth Harris (who may have been
married to a relative of mine) appears to have been a "Hawker of Jays".
It seems unlikely this was related to birds, so what was a Jay?

I don't know if the meaning carried across the ocean, but a hawker of
Jays (Jay Hawker) was a native of Kansas USA. More particularly in the
late 1850's and 1860's, a band of Union (Northern) guerrillas from
Kansas that worked to maintain Kansas as a Free State.

I don't know why this term with the US definition would appear in an
English census. Could it have something to do with Falconry, or hawker
(seller) of Jays?

[john]

In the 1861 Census (RG9-84-45-20)) Elizabeth Harris (who may have been
married to a relative of mine) appears to have been a "Hawker of Jays".
It seems unlikely this was related to birds, so what was a Jay?

Toys?

[john]

In the 1861 Census (RG9-84-45-20)) Elizabeth Harris (who may have been
married to a relative of mine) appears to have been a "Hawker of Jays".
It seems unlikely this was related to birds, so what was a Jay?

Toys?

See how "To" in Tobacco Pipe Maker is written in the first occupation on
the page and how the J in John is written in John Royston household 116

Plenty of references to street sellers of toys of various sorts in
LONDON LABOUR AND THE LONDON POOR by Henry Mayhew

e.g. The dolls are most usually carried in baskets by street-sellers
(who are not makers) and generally by women who are very poor.

https://www.gutenberg.org/files/55998/55998-h/55998-h.htm

[Jenny M Benson]

Post by john
See how "To" in Tobacco Pipe Maker is written in the first occupation on
the page and how the J in John is written in John Royston household 116

Thank you! That makes perfect sense. I did look to compare the letters
with those elsewhere - don't know why I didn't "get" toys.