I am researching our family tree and have found a relative named John Critchlow born on Bakewell, Derbyshire about 1821.
He married Mary ??? who was born in Ashford in the water, Derbyshire.
The family moved to Ecclesall Bierlow, West Yorkshire where John worked as a Watchman. The enumerator has written the word Cutler beside the word Watcman.
John's daughter, Maria Lilley married Alfred Bonner in Wolverhampton in 1873 and her marriage certificate shows her father John to be employed as a policeman even though the poor man died aged 39 year and the West Riding Costabulary was not formed until after his death.
I know that Watchmen were fore runners of the Police service but I am puzzled by the addition of the word Cutler. Can you help shed any light on this family, their origins in particular and John's job as Watchman (Cutler), Please.
Many thanks. Mike Charles