Forum: Occupations - general forum

John Ford, born about 1798, my Great Great Grandfather was shown as a Gamekeeper in the 1841 Census living at Head Keeper's Lodge, Hurstbourne Priors, Whitchurch & Overton, Hampshire. His eldest son, William Ford, born about 1831, my Great Grandfather was shown in the 1851 Census as a Gamekeeper...

Any thoughts on what the role would be in the 1700s? I know that Adam Smith (author of Wealth of Nations) was one in Edinburgh. Any thoughts on how many there would be at any one time? thanks

I was looking at occupations that my ancestors have had and came across a Richard Stratford (1839 1900) who is listed as being a "Cocoa nut film weaver" on the 1871 and 1881 UK censuses. Has anyone heard of this particular occupation? Also, have any of your ancestors got strange sounding...

I recently obtained my grandfathers army papers and can see that his trade was described as horseman. He enlisted in the army in Lincoln in 1921 and joined the Royal regt Artillery. The only address that I have for him before his army days was in Old Bolingbroke. I know it sounds daft to...

Do you have paper makers as an occupation for your ancestors? I found a reference on Google that says it is 'an unusual occupation'. So.... if it is an unusual occupation? how many can we find? I have paper makers in my tree from Kent, I thought they were ordinary fellows who worked in the...

I am researching the history of a site in Frome Road Bradford on Avon Wilts. The site is shown on the 1884 OS 1/2500 sheet Wilts xxxviii.2 (revised 1899) as a timber yard. How can I find the name of the owner or occupier. I have a copy of an extract from kelly's 1899 of occupations/addresses but...

I have a chap with a most unusual set of given names who was at the time of the 1911 census a Chemist Apprentice. He was aged 15 and lived in Bodmin. Somehow, I think this is wrong as today, Chemists need University qualifications. Could he have just been an Assistant in a Chemist's shop and...

Hi I am trying to help a friend locate her great granddad we have found him on the 1891 census age 16 living in Huddersfield but we can not understand his occupation, it looks like 'Winted Hand', REF RG12/3957 family Sykes. Please any ideas what it could be and what did they do? Royw

Hi, My ancestor William Herbert born abt 1784 St Lukes, London was living in Kidderminster, Worcestershire from the 1841 until 1871 census and his profession is given lamp contractor for the streets or just lamp contractor. I assume he was responsibile for lighting the street lamps in...

Hi everyone, Have a convict in the family who was a fustian dresser at the time of his arrest - stole a coat which figures. When I looked up fustion dresser on one of the sites Sue kindly refers us to I discovered fustion was a cloth much like corduroy and ladies' stays were made out of it LOL ...

Hello - hope someone can help me (and I hope I have posted this in the correct place). I am fairly new to Family History, been dabbling for about 12 months, and I would really appreciate some help. I am unable to work out the Occupation of one of my "indirect ancestors" but if I can work out...

Hi everyone, Had a look through the various sites that people have provided links to here but can't find this occupation among them. Have seen a reference to a stirrup and bit maker somewhere else but not sure if that is the same occupation or if it might refer to someone who made metal 'bits'...

I have just received a birth certificate for1847 where the father is described as a slatter.Given that the area is Llanrian in Pembrokeshire where slates were mined is this likely to be a spelling mistake or am I jumping to conclusions?

I have several of these in various parts of our family histories. What sort of dealers would they have been or would this be a "generic" term to include anyone who bought and sold. One document I have suggests that in one case the property was used as a rag and bone merchant yard. Talking mid...

Can anyone tell me what a Gunn/Ginn/Gum digger is please? It is written as the profession of my great Grandfather Jacob Marshall on his marriage certificate in 1891. The area is Auckland if that is a clue? regards Linda

"Jack" John Shingleton Prince is listed in the 1883 Boston Massachusetts with occupation byciclist . Apparently he was a world class bicycle racer, and was inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame posthumously in 2003. He built wooden race tracks for bicycles, motorcycles, and cars. (My...