The printer and the cowkeepers daughter

[birdlip]

Everything I've read about cowkeepers in London in Victorian times, suggests to me that it would have been a fairly lowly occupation.

In 1845, my g-g-grandfather, a compositor/printer and son of a master printer who had his own business, married a cowkeepers daughter. Presumably, printing was quite a skilled trade, and you'd obviously have to be literate. Not surprisingly, on the marriage certificate, he signed his own name, she signed with a cross.

I'm interested to know the comparative status of each occupation, and would a match like this have been unusual?

regards birdlip

[AnnB]

Hello Birdlip

My husband's gt gt grandfather was a master baker, a dairyman, a shopkeeper - and on the 1851 census, a cowkeeper

He was also a member of the Leatherseller's Company - so fairly 'well to do'.

Best wishes
Ann

[bwarnerok]

I think it's in the Liza Picard book on Victorian London that talks about cows in London during that time period. Apparently for the most part, the cows were kept underground which I thought quite interesting. They would use a sling to hoist them in and out (which apparently was not done very often). I got the impression that this was mostly "personal cows" but I recall them mentioning "pits" where there was more than one or two and well, ...just how many cows did a cowkeeper keep? ...if a cowkeeper could keep cows. (sorry, couldn't resist).

Betsy

[birdlip]

Hi Ann and Betsy,

I have a copy of Liza Picards book, which I use regularly as a resource, and it does paint a bit of a grim picture of the cowkeepers occupation. Obviously there was another side to it for some though, like your relative Ann, not sure yet which category my fellow falls into! Anyway, thank you both for your response.

regards, birdlip