Janet May (Porterfield) - help deciphering occupation .....

[StewL]

Hello All

I was hoping some kind soul could help me with deciphering Janet's occupation in the 1851 census. I am usually not to bad at deciphering writings but this has got me stumped.

It is uploaded into the gallery.

http://talkingscot.com/gallery/displayi ... ?pos=-1311

Thanks

Gallery url added by Marilyn

[SarahND]

Hi Stew,

Well, Ancestry says "Veiner" and that's certainly what it looks like... The only definition I can find is some sort of a wood or leather carving tool. Any chance she was doing something like that? What was she doing in 1861? I see her blind son William is in an Asylum for the Blind by then, but don't find Janet or James.

This is from a glossary of terms used in the leather working trade:

www.walsall.gov.uk/leather_glossary_terms-3.pdf

Creasing
A technique used to consolidate the fibres around the cut edges of a leather article. A warm creasing iron is used to impress a `tramline` close to the cut edges of the item, which also helps to improve the appearance of the item when finished. Some skill is called for in heating the crease or `veiner` to the right heat: too hot and it will scorch the leather leaving a black mark, not hot enough and it will stick leaving a dull impression. Also known as veining.

All the best,
Sarah

[StewL]

Hi Sarah

Thanks for that Veiner is a good occupation that may fit quite nicely

You see around Aug 1851 she marries my 2xggrandfather Daniel Laurie who just happened to be a shoemaker (master) so that might just fit they might have met through her working in the leather trade.
So far I havent been able to find them in the 1861 census as yet, and I have run out of credits William died in Glasgow Poorhouse in 1880 his mother was informant, but I cant find James at all so far.

[SarahND]

Hi Stewie,
Could this be your family in 1861? Daniel isn't a shoemaker, but border maker sounds like he could be a veiner, maybe? Ancestry has some of the family as Lawries and some as Lowries

33 Rutherglen Loan Back Land, Hutchesontown, Glasgow Govan
Daniel Lawrie, 42, head, born Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Border Maker
Janet Lawrie, 41, wife, born Pollochlans, Renfrewshire
Ann Lowrie, 15, Daughter, born Govan, Lanarkshire, Cotton Mill Carder
Fanny Lowrie, 6, Daughter, born Govan, Lanarkshire
William Lowrie, 1, Son, born Govan, Lanarkshire
James Allan, 38, Boarder, born Govan, Lanarkshire, Boiler Maker
Isabella Allan, 28, Wife, born Govan, Lanarkshire
John Allan, 3, Son, born Govan, Lanarkshire

Regards,
Sarah

Later...

Or... is this more likely them, with Daniel as "David"? Janet's occupation fits, I think. James May has taken on the surname Lawrie.

1861
43 Little Dove Hill, Glasgow St James
David Lawrie, 36, Head, born Glasgow, Shoe Maker
Janet Lawrie, 34, Wife, born Johnstone, Renfrewshire, Shoe Binder
James Lawrie, 12, Son, born Glasgow, Scholar
Robert Lawrie, 1, Son, born Glasgow

That ties in with this family in 1871, except the ages are off, as is her birthplace...but that's par for the course(!):

1871
27 Charlotte St, Glasgow St Andrew, Lanarkshire
Daniel Lawrie, 40, head, born Lanarkshire, Glasgow, Shoe Maker
Janet Lawrie, 48, wife, born Lanarkshire, Glasgow
Robert Lawrie, 12, Son, born Lanarkshire, Glasgow, At School Scholar
Janet Lawrie, 7, Daughter, born Lanarkshire, Glasgow, At School Scholar

And young Janet becomes Isabella in 1881!

38 Sydney St, Glasgow St John
Daniel Lawrie, 50, Head, born Glasgow, Shoemaker
Janet Lawrie, 50, Wife, born Johnston, Renfrewshire
Isabella Lawrie, 17, Daughter, born Glasgow, Sewing Machinist
Christina McBrae, 17, boarder, born Glasgow, Fancy Paper Box Maker

[StewL]

Hi Sarah

Your a gem Sarah , thats them in 1861 in 43 Little Dovehill. No wonder I couldnt find them searching for Daniel Or perhaps I was just being a bit too pedantic, that happens when you know their names

The name does change during a period from Laurie to Lawrie then back again for some reason.
The Robert Lawrie is my gggrandfather, as for the James Lawrie, I believe you are right, he is actually James May from Janets first marriage so I will have a look and see what happened to him.
You noticed also that young Janet changed to Isabella too I noticed that myself, when I get some more credits I will get the 1861 census then that will be complete for them Incidentally in Dec 1861 they had another son Daniel who died 2 years later, he was born at 43 Little Dovehill.

Again thanks Sarah

[SarahND]

Hi Stewie,
Glad it turned out to be the right folk! I'll be pleased to have that drink you're offering to celebrate getting back to the genealogy after 3 1/2 months doing construction work in the woods


Sarah

[StewL]

Hello again Sarah

Seeing you have been doing construction work in the woods have a few That reminds me of a song I think it was the Monty Python crew, The Lumberjack song
Ah the ages in censuses they do vary a bit dont they

[SarahND]

That reminds me of a song I think it was the Monty Python crew, The Lumberjack song

I had that one in my head for a good part of the summer That and another one about a frozen logger who stirred his coffee with his thumb

Sarah

[StewL]

I was wondering about the change of name from Janet to Isabella? I just wonder if her name was changed to reflect her grandmothers name. In another thread I mentioned that Janets mother was down as Janet McGee on her DC, yet on a poor relief record her mother is given as Isabella Black, perhaps drawing a long bow, but you never know do you
As was suggested on the other thread, it is more likely Janets mother was Isabella Black as Janet was alive and well during the poor relief application.

[StewL]

Well all

Talk about a bit of a runaround trying to find the census Sarah found.
I eventually found it today after searching for Janet Lawrie, and the biggest poser is that Daniel is listed under Daniel Lawrie and the two kids are identical to the one Sarah found
But at least I now have all the censuses for this lot
I couldn't look on SP today it wouldnt let me look at viewed images or previous searches for some reason.