Unusual Occupation?.....

CatrionaL · Post by **CatrionaL** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 10:37 am

Three of my branches have so many miners, ag.labs and crofters that I'm in danger of entering their occupations automatically. The Renfrewshire branch has however provided more variety.

One of my rare memories of that branch of the family was a visit to the stables where they had kept their horses, in the days of horse drawn vehicles.The first mention of my GGrandfather was in a Census when he was 15 years old and "Driving a Gig". It was fascinating thereafter to chart the developement of his business: Coach Proprieter and Carriage Hirer; Omnibus Proprieter; Funeral Undertaker and Carriage Hirer.

What I did discover on having access to one will was that pawnbroking was a very lucrative trade.

One of my favourite finds was two young women aged 18 and 19 who were Timber merchants, employing 11 men in 1861.

Catriona

rdem · Post by **rdem** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 12:41 pm

I have been helping a friend with his lines, and his grandfather was listed as a "professional footballer" at this marriage in the 1920's!

Mind you! the ancestors that I am trying to emulate are the ones listed as "Annuitant" or "living off private means" Great work if you can get it!

Post by **joette** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 1:50 pm

Well mine are all the usual Ag Labs,Shepherd,BlacksmithsStonemason with a Revenue Officer & merchant Seaman thrown in for good measure but my most unusual misread occupation was the Burial Policeman.
I thought Banff had decided to protect its late occupants with a policeman of their very own.He could check that the bodies were put in the right place. then I had another peek & off course it was "RURAL POLICEMAN".
My most unusual change of occupation was 1841 Census Undertaker.
1851 Census-Coalminer.

AnnieMack · Post by **AnnieMack** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 2:09 pm

I've got an aerated water manufacturer who went on to be the Purification Works superintendant! I've got lots of carters on one side and carters and iron dealers on the other with some employed in the weaving industry thrown in for good measure!

Annie

ninatoo · Post by **ninatoo** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 2:29 pm

I have one listed as a scavenger...I thought "What the...???" I later found out that it was a term used for dustmen or street sweepers, but before then I had visions of my ancestor going around looking through people's middens!

This same ancestor was listed as a statute labourer and a police board labourer. Well, I thought....he was a PRISONER!!!

But no, nothing so interesting. Someone else found out for me that

"This comes from the 19th century legislation, for example the "Burgh Police (Scotland) Act, 1892". This placed certain responsibilities on the Police Commisioners (or Police Board) in relation to matters which today would be dealt with by other agencies. These responsibilities related to such issues as cleansing, sanitation, public health, etc., all of which would require the chief officer of police to employ what used to be called "civvies" - civilian employees."

I have another ancestor who was a canal lock keeper at Bowling, Dunbarton, which I thought was fairly unusual...well I haven't found another one in my tree yet anyway!

One lady made fishing nets over at Portmahomack, one of her ancestors sold fish in Glasgow! Nothing like keeping it in the family.

But my special ancestor is the one who was employed as a groomsman at Eglinton Castle for the Earl of Montgomerie just before everything shut down.

Nina

mac · Post by **mac** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 6:38 pm

Hudggy,

The term 'knocker upper' was used in mining communities.

The 'knocker upper' went along/through the miners' rows early in the morning knocking on individual doors/windows to waken the occupiers, so that they didn't sleep in for work.

He was paid a small sum of money on a weekly basis by his 'customers' for this service.

I presume that similar systems were in use in other working communities, e.g Lancashire mill towns

mac

Post by **Liz Turner** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 8:26 pm

My lot form the usual variety ranging from weavers, candlemakers, shoemakers, sailors and bakers through stonemasons, joiners, wire cutters and teachers, with several ministers, one possible Lord Provost of Edinburgh, several engineers and a doctor! But the one which caused me the biggest smile, and the job I could really fancy on a nice sunny day off the coast of Fife is "tide waiter" - I can just picture myself sitting on the sand with my pokey hat waiting for the tide ....

DavidWW · Post by **DavidWW** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 10:48 pm

ninatoo wrote:I have one listed as a scavenger...I thought "What the...???" I later found out that it was a term used for dustmen or street sweepers, but before then I had visions of my ancestor going around looking through people's middens!.....much snipped....Nina

Known to this day in Glesca as midgie men !! - work it out

David

Post by **AndrewP** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 10:55 pm

ninatoo wrote:I have one listed as a scavenger...I thought "What the...???" I later found out that it was a term used for dustmen or street sweepers, but before then I had visions of my ancestor going around looking through people's middens!

That term "scavenger" gave rise to the derogatory term "scaffie" that was used until recently in Edinburgh (and elsewhere?). Political correctness saw the end to that term, or is it that they have stopped sweeping the streets, I cannot remember which,

or did they become "brush technicians".

All the best,

Andrew Paterson

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 11:10 pm

That term "scavenger" gave rise to the derogatory term "scaffie" that was used until recently in Edinburgh (and elsewhere?).

The bin lorries were "scaffie kerts" in NE Fife when I was little.

Best wishes
Lesley

TalkingScot.com

Unusual Occupation?.....

Occupation

Knocker Upper