Genealogy Chat

Jess World famous yes but now very thin on the ground. Take Doc Martens and Loakes,both now with us no more. The Griggs family (Doc Martens and Toe Tectors) now gone and the only reminder is the office and footy ground,unless you know the old sites they used through not only Northampton but the villages around and about,Rushden ,Finedon and Thrapston amongst them. Along with most of British Manufacturing now only a memory,but a great deal of the shoes made nowadays have roots in Italy or are made of Italian components,hence the big grey shed on the A14,next to the Ikea warehouse. Glen

My earliest occupation is a 1699 'Hemp Dresser' Even though the thoughts of this occupation may be a little thought provoking, I will hang on to him for the time being. I may have found a 1633 'Woolwynder' but only half proven as yet. Has anyone found any older occupations out there? Janet

You can have my 'KEEPER' it's causing all sorts of hastle to find out what it means could be 'anything' Keeper take your pick so far Park, Game,Horse,Tavern,House,Boarding House,Zoo,Railway, etc sleepless nights or what. would be easier if his name wasn't Edward Jones lol.

Michelle, you forgot 'LOCK KEEPER'. I seem to remember he lived next to Camden Lock.

Glen - i believe Loakes still exisits, Churches deffo does. Quality doesnt need quantity maybe? Are you local to the area? ------------------ I always thought straw platting a rather mundane occupation , want to discover a fog Knotter somewhere , one day!

Jess, they better had, as hubby will only were Loakes for ''proper shoes'' (in trainers most of the time though!)............ Just told him Glen's message....he went crackers.....then told him yours and he is smiling again! Merry

Macbev, I would say that is a very possible sign of erm, ecentricity. Not wanting to sound an unbeliever Merry, but your rellie actually has 'Spy' on his census employment details, does he???

My oldest occupations all 17th century are Scrivener, cordwainer, yeoman and stone mason. I found the stone mason on an old directory living next to a peruquier (wig maker).

What surprised me - was among my horny handed lightermen,mariners, ships carpenters and such like in Bermondsey - there is one male member of the family who is a 'hairdresser'. I cant imagine what the rest of the familys menfolk thought about him! (I keep imagining him looking like John Hurt in the Quentin Crisp story!) Oh, oh, oh, Merry I just remembered, a have one of the (infamous) Horsteads who, when his poor cousins also down from Norfolk were labouring as coal whippers in Stepney - married himself off to a wealthy Jewess AND (eat your heart out Merry) owned a 'fancy jewellers' Burlington Arcade - woo hoo, class at last!

Heather, well, my spy married in, so he's not truly my relative!! He was the husband of my 2nd cousin, three times removed (Heather, she was the younger baby in that photo I sent you of the lady with the 40-years-older-than-her-husband!!)...... His name was Frederick William Winterbotham and he was in MI6....he wrote an autobiography called The Ultraspy...... Well, you did ask!!! LOL Merry

B******* hell, its just not fair. Well, (down-hearted), I was just going to add my jeweller bloke lived in Belgravia but I suppose that hardly merits any points now ............... (goes to comfort eat and cuddle Ralphie for consolation)

Oh and hubby has some fairground people (as you mentioned fairs!!! LOL) Merry

I claim a shepherd on the Norfolk coast at the time of the Armada, though this is from his son's will. There is also a haberdasher who dies in 1565 and is mysteriously left off the family tree - presumably because he wasn't posh enough for his descendants. The wretched man is apprenticed before records start, so I can't find out as much as I'd like to. Jess is very welcome to share him as he was a nasty piece of goods, forever taking other people to court. He got his comeuppance in the end and was found guilty in the Guildhall of stealing a chest of money. On his deathbed (presumably prompted by his son and daughter in law) he declared his innocence. His name? .... Crymes!

I've got two 'dividends'. Don't know what they are but they have three domestic servs, so it must have paid well.

I felt sorry that my ggrandfather who had been a chemist (coming down from Aberdeen to the Balls Pond Road!!) ended up with an entry on the census of 'does nothing'. Better maybe than a 'puller down of houses' which also rears its ugly head in another branch of the family......the said puller down etc had been a brewer in a previous incarnation.....much more like it! Heather, have booked the watermen walk ...looks like a good day...will report back. Chris

Dividend sounds impressive what ever it is but not worth swapping with my Member of Parliament (preen preen)!!!! Chris

I should think the 'dividends' people said they were living on income from 'dividends' - you know stocks and shares so they must have had a fair bit of dosh. I would check out for Wills in their name. Chris - I wanted to go but with things as they are here at moment .........

I thought that as well. I think most of it went paying fines for adultery charges, and the rest when they had to make a quick exit from England. Thanks anyway. Going to bed now. It's the middle of the night here.

Heather I will report back to you...it would have been nice meeting you (love a good sense of humour). Hope things improve. Chris

I have an elderly ,indigent soul living with her family -comment on the census was 'wants a pension' Don't we all! Beverley