Help with Occupation 1891 Larkhall

annie1 · Post by **annie1** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 2:51 pm

Hi,

I have had this census for the Brown family for a while now, I could never quite make out what son Robert Brown's occupation was. I used the freebie on Ancestry and they have him down as a Pupil Teacher Element Knav.
I can make out the Pupil Teacher part but dont have a clue about the rest.

Thanks
Ann

Post by **SarahND** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 3:37 pm

Hello Ann,
If you load the image to the gallery, we can have a look and maybe someone's eagle eyes will spot what an Element Knav really is!

Here's the instructions, in case you have trouble loading the image:

http://talkingscot.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6496

All the best,
Sarah

annie1 · Post by **annie1** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 3:49 pm

Hi Sarah,

I have uploaded to the Gallery, just waiting for it to be checked. Well I think I have done it right, it's my first attempt!!! 8-[

http://talkingscot.com/gallery/displayi ... ?pos=-1425

Ann

Gallery url added by Marilyn

ellenavon · Post by **ellenavon** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 4:18 pm

Hi Ann

I'm no expert (there will be others along soon I'm sure who are!), but I agree with the Element bit and wonder if it relates to the age of his pupils - eg Element Class or Element Year. As in Elementary.

Regards

Ellen.

Post by **Anne H** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 4:42 pm

Hi Ann,

I agree with Ellen. It looks like Ed Pupil Teacher Element(ary) Class to me.

Regards,
Anne H

Russell · Post by **Russell** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 9:15 pm

Hi Ann

I'd go with the keen eyed ladies. Element(ary) class although the enumerator was, I think, taking liberties with the abbreviations.

I don't think getting a better original image would help much either. His pen nib could have been sharper. The whole entry is 'splogged'

Have you found him on the next census ? There's a fair chance he will still be plodding away in the class-room.

Russell

annie1 · Post by **annie1** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 10:42 pm

Hi,

Russell, Ann and Ellen, thank you, I was hoping that this was the case, but someone had told me that a Pupil Teacher did not always mean an actual school teacher, so I then had doubts, I could even see Element Lane at one stage

I think I will go with your ideas.
I could not find him with his family by 1901, I looked around the Larkhall area, but no joy, he must have moved on. The first teacher in my tree! makes a wee change from all the farm hands, and the one Coal Miner

Many Thanks
Ann

Russell · Post by **Russell** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 10:54 pm

Hi again Ann

My understanding is that promising students could be brought on by their teacher to a certified standard then be sent to work under the supervision of an experienced teacher who would then attest their fitness for the task enabling them to become certified.
Some would work in Parish schools, others would work in small, private establishments or dame schools.
It reminds me of the current Vocational training courses offered (SVQ) in a variety of different occupations.

Pupil candidates who had studied additional subjects like Greek or Latin would be especially welcomed since some schools offered only the basic reading, simple numeracy and perhaps writing. So it really was Elementary.

Russell