Occupation: Filer

[fumblina]

Hi,

Can anyone help me understand an occupation of Filer circa 1890

I am confident on the transcription, it appears in several places but is very clear on one specific document so it not Tiler, Fuller etc.

Arthur Carver b 1879 - his Militia Attestation on Find My Past is the clearest I have seen it.

The only thing I can find is a saw filer as in someone who makes or sharpens saw blades, but his father is a Dyer and after leaving the army he works first as a general labourer, but then as a lace-dresser. This makes me think that it might be something to do with fabric rather than saw mills. Of course he could have just been desperate for work after leaving the army and got a job at the Laundry where his wife worked.

The militia attestation shows the name of his former master, so I had been hoping to trace the trade from his name but unfortunately it is scrawled and all I can see is that he is George Wain-something or maybe Main-something from Loughborough.

If anyone knows what his occupation would have been or even who the master was that would be much appreciated! Thanks

[Pamelawagster]

Could it be:

Filler: worked in the textile industry, responsible for filling bobbins

[fumblina]

I saw that but thought it unlikely to be something you would need to be apprenticed for.

[suemalings]

Just out of interest - is this the Arthur Carver who suffered wounds in Madras, India. (Reading the report, it sounds like an accident)

[fumblina]

Yes, I'm working on a detailed profile for him on WikiTree if you are interested - I don't think I am allowed to link but his ID there is Carver-5359

[Megan Roberts]

I wonder if it could have been a short cut for a "File Cutter" who was someone who made files by cutting rows of sharp teeth into a metal blank.

[Jomot1]

There are a few examples of 'Filers' in the census, eg John William Berrisford/Beresford b 1875 Shepshed, Leics.

In 1901 he is a Hosiery Needle Filer, and in 1911 he is described as a Needle Maker Filer, with the industry described as Hosiery Needle Manuf. There are also some job adverts for Needle Filers.

One of the biggest needle manufacturing companies was Grudgings of Loughborough, but I don't think that's what's written on the attestation.

[fumblina]

Oh, that sounds much better!

It would tie in with the local and family history and is much more likely than him making saws for logs.

Thanks very much Jomot1

[fumblina]

There is a pretty cool YouTube video called "The Art & Mystery of Needlemaking" produced by the Worshipful Company of Needlemakers it includes video footage of all the stages of needle making. It's 20 minutes long but quite interesting.

[fumblina]

I've managed to get more evidence that needle filer seems most appropriate.

On the militia attestation an address of 25 Clarence Street is written on in different handwriting by the section for the master.

Both Loughborough and Nottingham have a Clarence Street and a known address for Arthur and his family is a Terrace off Clarence Street in Nottingham but...

in the 1901 census there is a needle manufacturer living at 25 Clarence Street in Loughborough! The names don't match (why would it be that simple?) but the Hubbards lived there and worked in a building in their back yard for what looks like 2 or 3 generations and were still living there but retired in 1939. None of them even had the decency to be called George.

Sadly the 1891 census is completely damaged, the 1881 has no house numbers and I can't see any Main/Wain type names or needle makers in Clarence St anywhere.

I think that either George trained the elder Hubbard and Arthur and perhaps sold his business on when he retired or that George worked for the Hubbards, but I'm pretty sure Arthur was a needle filer and was apprenticed to someone living at 25 Clarence Street.

Of course now I have gone down a whole new rabbit hole and have been cataloguing Loughborough needle-makers but I think I have managed to stop now.