Change of trade/occupation

[ellie]

Is it very likely that people would have changed their occupations?

[Northern Lass]

Hi Ellie well mine did or had a couple of occupations so I would have thought that a possiblility

[Loakesy]

One of my ancestors started his working life as a farmer, then went from publican, to Railway porter, back to farmer, then to cab proprietor and carman .

[Jimmy]

I find that people put their occupation as what they were doing at the time time of the census, and it totally different to what they started out to do.

[ellie]

Thanks, it gets very confusing doesn't it ?

[linell]

It is confusing Ellie, but I think we have to look at the broader picture. The Self Employed Nail/Chain Shop Workers would also be running a small holding with their live stock and growing their own produce, they were often 'jack of all trades.' Other men would be Carters and run around collecting 'any old iron etc.' whilst also working for the local Farmer. A lot of Publicans were in fact, people who just brewed at home and opened up their 'parlour' for selling beer without having an actual Public House, I think the Census entries do not give a broad enough picture, I am sure they did many things, like a lot of us today. linell.

[Carol]

What occupations have you come across specifically Ellie? Have you got 2 different occs oc census returns? If so what are they?

[writer-ros]

You do have to be careful about occupations.

One of my ancestors has been described both as a "farmer" and then as a "tinker of no fixed abode". He turns up in a later census as a milkman.

I have a feeling that the "farmer" description was a slight exaggeration! He was probably doing some agricultural labouring work

However, looking at people's occupations over time can give you a very good idea of their rise or decline in status. The above ancestor (John Walker) had an illegitimate son (my great-great-grandfather, John Walker Bott), who started as a bricklayer, then later became a builder, and later on a builder employing several workers. The change in residences also shows his increasing success, and there is a group of buildings nearby in Birmingham called "Bott's Buildings".

Occupations are always fascinating and can give you a lot of information.

Ros

[ellie]

Hi thanks all, Ive recently made a discovery. I was looking for a charles Hollins Carter, but the hadwriting is so bad on his sons marrriae cert , it actually says collier! - which i'd found elsewhere.

[Vikinghunter]

According to the censuses I have gleaned, my grandfather started out as a clock/watchmaker and ended up as a printer - totally different jobs! Unfortunately he died before I was born else I would have "interrogated" him on this Family Tree lark!

[ellie]

I think an important point is that people probably changed jobs in order to make ends meet as best they could. Using whatever skills they had to earn enough to feed and clothe their families. Many of my ancestors are either connected to mining occupations or worked in the then thriving pottery industry. It must have been a hard life especially when people ended up in the workhouses etc

[Sharon]

I have a milkman who becomes an "agent" !?
all explanations gratefully received!

[peterd]

I have a milkman who becomes an "agent" !?
all explanations gratefully received!

Agent, broker, factor - One who acts or transacts business for another

possibly gone into the wholesale of milk


there a list of four in the links section

Occupations and their meanings
Old Occupations and Terms
List of Occupations
Occupations Description and Meanings
Victorian Occupations

[Northern Lass]

I think that most milkmen are agents ie they are self employed and work on a commision basis
that is what I think it means.
so they are classed as an agent

[Sharon]

Thanks both!
Again!