Genealogy Chat

On my g.g.granfathers marriage cert in 1904 it states his father Harry Findon was a stationer.
I cant find him anywhere and was wondering what a stationer actually did?
Any help appreciated

Sold stationery I would imagine, same as they do now.

Sam x

So i have found a couple of Findons in 1881 census who are printer compost-is it roughly the same thing?

What was the name and approx year of birth of your gg grandfather, and where did his marriage take place?

A printer compositor would very likely be called a stationer. Making/selling headed papers/printed leaflets and so on.

Always use google to find out things like occupations.

Thank you all for your help.
My g.g grandfther was Hubert Findon-cant find him anywhere either so was going straight for his dad-married 1904 Kingston to Ellen Pleece.Hubert was born around 1875 but might not be exact as only going my certs.
Not sure if Hubert changed his name and his fathers name Harry may have been a nickname?
On the marriage cert it says Harry was deceased but again not 100% sure!
Thanks again

Is this what you have found in 1881?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FINDON, William Head Married M 48 1833 Printer Compositor
Alcester
Warwickshire
FINDON, Isabel Wife Married F 48 1833
Kensington
Middlesex
FINDON, Beatrice A Daughter Single F 15 1866
Paddington
Middlesex
FINDON, William H Son Single M 13 1868 Scholar
Fulham
Middlesex
MELLOR, Edward Lodger Single M 35 1846 Printer Compositor
Islington
Middlesex

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

RG number:
RG11 Piece:
649 Folio:
27 Page:
51

Registration District:
Wandsworth Sub District:
Battersea EnumerationDistrict:
Ecclesiastical Parish:


Civil Parish:
Battersea Municipal Borough:
Address:
40, Kilton St, Battersea County:
Surrey


What was Hubert's occupation on the marriage cert?

Yes found that the son was William Herbert and have been trying to work out if thats Hubert and maybe he changed his age as he would have been alot older than his bride!
His occupation is packer but in 1911 he says he was born in Croydon.
I dont know if im just trying to make a connection out of nothing but an occupation!

From one of the online dictionaries....................

stationer Show phonetics
noun [C]
a person or business that sells stationery

OK thanks.
Will keep trying

I dont actually agree with that - we have, in our little town here a "stationer" which is in fact a largish building full of printing machinery. They print things like wedding stationery, diaries, local events newsletters and so on.

They also have a shop further down the road which is run by one of the daughters, selling cards, fancy goods and taking orders for specialist stationery. But indeed, the printers have "stationers" over the doorway.

One of my ancestors is called a boiler maker - he in fact owned several factories making boilers, but in strict terms, he was a boiler maker.

If everything else fits for the chap ............. I have to admit Im too lazy/busy to read the further details given :)

We tend to think in modern day terms which sometimes dont fit with the times we are looking at.

Well....Hubert and Harry are certainly a bit of a mystery!!

Have had a good old dig around, but so far can find nothing on either of them anywhere.

Hubert appears in the 1911 census in Kingston Surrey.

You could buy some credits and learn his place of birth. This might help you locate him in earlier censuses.

Also in the same house are three children

FINDON ALICE F 1905 6 Kingston Surrey
FINDON MAUD F 1907 4 Kingston Surrey
FINDON TOM M 1909 2 Kingston Surrey

Pete

Pete,

I think she has already done that.

Accordng to her post at 17.41, 1911 shows him born in Croydon but I can't see him in any earlier census's.

Aside from the stationer/printer compositor occupation, has anyone had any more luck than me in finding Hubert prior to 1911, or Harry anywhere?

Joan,

I know she did, and she did go on to say that she couldn't find either her g g grandfather or his father.

Just thought it might be nice to try and help her out to find them, but so far, I have been totally unsuccessful.

Sue

I dont think he wants to be found.I have a break then go back to him but its sooo frustrating.

Thank you all for your help anyway!

Amok, I dont doubt an occupation lists shows them as separate occupations - the point I was trying to make was there is flexibility between a job title and the actual work/business undertaken. Hence, my boiler maker, being a titled man with a number of factories but still entered rather humbly as "boiler maker" on the census. I should think that the chap in town here with his stationery printing works will enter himself as "compositor/printer" on modern census but in reality calls himself a stationer over his works doors.

Theres another example on the boards here, Albert Hughes, who left London to be a gold prospector, and who is listed as a "miner" in 1903 Ellis Island. Now, we would clearly all say these are different occupations - the gold prospector being much more interesting to a family tree :) but again, someone has given a literal basic description of their work.

Not trying to be confrontational, but just saying we need to be flexible in our attitude to job descriptions. Who hasnt had a father listed as a "farmer" on a marriage cert, only to find him as an "ag lab" on all census :) An obvious example, but one which can be expanded to others. I wouldnt like new researchers to be dismissing too many people because the fit isnt exact.

Von-I have been looking at Croydon/Kingston-Upon-Thames and surrounding areas.
Thank you Sue C and Heather Posi for your help,i hate it when you hit a brick wall.My family all seem to be very fond of changing/rearranging their first names!
Still, i will keep hunting!

Luckily the name isnt Smith :) Hubert is an unusual name really, no Scottish connections I spose? Just a thought, because there is a place in Scotland spelt Findon but actually pronounced Finnan. I didnt know if that may have caused a prob with census details? (Clutching at straws I guess :))
Off to do dinner for my men. Good luck.

Have you checked Historical Directories.