Engineman & family

[Kath Betts]

I have a relative who is listed in the 1881 Census as "Enginman at Iron Works". I assume that he drives some form of train to move heavy loads. When his family are listed their occupations are listed as Enginmans Wife, Enginmans Daur & Enginmans Son. Why? Did they have a role to play in his job? His younger children are listed as Scholars. Did being related to an engineman hold some sort of status?

If anyone can help me clariffy this point I would be grateful.

Kath

[Geoffers]

I have a relative who is listed in the 1881 Census as "Enginman at Iron Works". I assume that he drives some form of train to move heavy loads. When his family are listed their occupations are listed as Enginmans Wife, Enginmans Daur & Enginmans Son. Why? Did they have a role to play in his job? His younger children are listed as Scholars. Did being related to an engineman hold some sort of status?
He may not have driven a locomotive, factories and the like had many engines providing power to machinery. Census returns often mark the difference between moving and stationery engines by recording someone was being, for example, engineman (stationery), engine driver (traction), engine driver (locomotive) , etc.

Geoffers
Charlbury, Oxfordshire

[busyglen]

I have a relative who is listed in the 1881 Census as "Enginman at Iron Works". I assume that he drives some form of train to move heavy loads. When his family are listed their occupations are listed as Enginmans Wife, Enginmans Daur & Enginmans Son. Why? Did they have a role to play in his job? His younger children are listed as Scholars. Did being related to an engineman hold some sort of status?

If anyone can help me clariffy this point I would be grateful.

Kath

Hi Kath,

Whilst going through Censuses, you will often find the `head' of households occupation listed against wife or children. For instance, Seaman's wife, Coastguards wife, Grocer's wife etc. I mostly found this to be the case when the head of the family was absent, and the wife was shown as `head'. I don't think it was anything to do with status, but just recorded by the enumerator or whoever filled in the details.

Glenys

[Kath Betts]

Hi Geoffers & Glynys

Thanks for the thoughts. We believe that he was an early locomotive driver and when 43 he is listed as "Engineman At Iron Works" then 10 years later he is listed as a "Stationary Engine Driver". So I assume that as he got older he took on slightly easier (?) work.

Many thanks

Kath

[Guy Etchells]

I suggest your assumption is wrong and would follow Geoff's advice about the stationary engine.
There would be many stationary engines at an iron works to powers rollers, stamping machines etc. etc.

As for the children being scholars that was a catch all designation for any child who was learning from those at their mothers knee to those at school.
Cheers
Guy