dyewood cutter

Rach · Post by **Rach** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 4:34 pm

Just thought this could be useful in case anyone else finds this occupation on a certificate/census.
Having just gone back to flesh out my husband's tree I have found his great, great, great gr'father, William Govan, in Dalmuir and his occupation in 1841 was a Dyewood Cutter. Looking into this it seems that a red dye for printing - paper or cloth - was taken from a species of Brazilian trees. From "The Clydebank Story" I see that Richard Collin's paper mill in Dalmuir had a works for logwood extraction and bleaching of cotton which fits in with Dyewood Cutter and that around 1840 there was a fire which destroyed these works [but not the Paper Mill].
In 1851 he was a Dyewood miller but now living in Govan. So far I haven't seen any mention of a paper mill there but perhaps it was only a small one.
One of his sons [11yrs] was a Paper-lay-boy. Does anyone know what that means?
Three older daughters aged between 17 and 34 were Paper over halers. Again does anyone have any idea what they did?
Rae

DavidWW · Post by **DavidWW** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 5:53 pm

See http://www.occupationalinfo.org/79/794684026.html

But haler defeats me

David

Muriel · Post by **Muriel** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 6:01 pm

Hi Rae

2 suggestions for over halers. Could it be old-fashioned spelling of over haulers - i.e. inspecting the paper for defects. Or could it be over rulers - some of my lot were paper rulers (altho' they did seem to be male) & later mutated into manufacturing stationers.

Muriel

Rach · Post by **Rach** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 8:57 pm

Thank you both for your replies.

David, that website is excellent. I did find 'Layboy Tender' explained there so perhaps this wee 11yr old was there to help in that area.

Muriel, I suppose it could be the different spelling. It seems more likely than rulers.

Rae