Two occupation problems

[Oates]

I was going through the censuses for a particular branch and came across 2 problems.

Firstly any ideas what a 'BKt manufacturer' would make in 1851? (I think that's what it says). I tried google but all the results seemed to be about a type of tyre, which I doubt would be the case in 1851... (HO107/2324, f585, p28)

Secondly, I can't make out the second half of the occupation which occurs twice on the following page and appears to say something like Piecer (at Wm (William?) Hae). (HO107/2322, f?, p41 name Barbara Exley or Stephen Mitchell)

Any ideas?

[Nicolina]

a Piecer worked in the cloth trade, so I wonder if 'BKt manufacturer' could be a blanket manufacturer.
another possibility is a Basket Manufacturer. You could try Trade Directories to see if he's listed there.

[Oates]

Hi Oates.

I know it sounds obvious, but could your first occ. be 'Bucket manufacturer?'

Re the second occupation. Piecers worked in cotton spinning mills, reconnecting threads and yarn when they snapped. It was often a job done by children. There were 'big piecers' and 'small piecers'.

Finbar.

That was my original thought. I think I actually wrote down bucket to start with but then changed it to BKt.

As for the second occupation, I know what a piecer is - there are hundreds in my family. It's the 'at Wm Hae'? part I was wondering about. Perhaps a workplace? Although I've never seen one listed before...

a Piecer worked in the cloth trade, so I wonder if 'BKt manufacturer' could be a blanket manufacturer.
another possibility is a Basket Manufacturer. You could try Trade Directories to see if he's listed there.

That's a good idea. Certainly makes sense as in the previous census he was a clothier and there are several other blanket makers in the family.

I tried the trade directories earlier, and at the risk of sounding dense, he was down (or someone with his name) as a blanket manufacturer in 1829 and 1834... I didn't connect it with 1851 because inbetween (1841 census) he was a clothier, and there were absolutely loads of blanket manufacturers listed in the directory so I was thinking of him more as a worker than a small business owner. (In 1851 he is employing 7 men). That and my head was still stuck on buckets. But mainly, I'm just a bit of an idiot.

Thanks a lot.

[Oates]

Quite a few Haighs involved in the cotton industry in Derbyshire, Oates.

Finbar.

This is West Yorkshire. Would the census say where they worked though or the name of their employer in 1851? Also, it only says this for the two piecers, both children, despite several others on the page working in the mills. I just said at Wm Hae because that's what the letters look like to me, but they probably aren't.

[Nicolina]

I would say that he was definitely a Blanket maker. On the next page there is a William Castlehouse, occupation Blanket ? (could be Raiser).

[arthurk]

That and my head was still stuck on buckets.

Better that than the other way round

I'd agree on the Blanket Maker, and I've got another idea for "Wm Hae". Comparing the second word with the address (Havercroft) and one or two other H's on the page, I don't think this one is an H. The same abbreviation appears on the following page, and on the previous page as "Hae Wm" - or whatever. In fact the "Hae" word looks to me as though it begins with an F, so my guess would be "Wn Fac" - which in that bit of Yorkshire I'd say is Woollen Factory.

Arthur

[Oates]

Better that than the other way round

I'd agree on the Blanket Maker, and I've got another idea for "Wm Hae". Comparing the second word with the address (Havercroft) and one or two other H's on the page, I don't think this one is an H. The same abbreviation appears on the following page, and on the previous page as "Hae Wm" - or whatever. In fact the "Hae" word looks to me as though it begins with an F, so my guess would be "Wn Fac" - which in that bit of Yorkshire I'd say is Woollen Factory.

Arthur

Ah that's a good idea, you're probably right.