Genealogy Chat

The relatives I have found so far in Durham have all been Coal Miners and Ag Labourers. The exception is my gg grandfather who on his daughter's marriage cert is shown as a weaver. Looking on 1861 census in the village where they were born are a number of people with the right surname whose occupation is given as Linen Weaver. Do you think it likely that they are from the same extended family? I realise that I am clutching at straws here, but would welcome another opinion, before I spend hours and ££££ trying to connect them to my family. Thanks, Cheryl

Possibly. But weaving would be a local industry so you would expect lots to do it. In some villages virtually every one does the same thing, apart from the vicar and the blacksmith. Is the surname unusual? In any case you would need to prove the connection. nell

Nell, Thanks for the reply. The surname is not particularly unusual - it's Wood. But the village - Hurworth in Co Durham was quite small. On the 1881 census, I have looked at all the household's and most occupations, apart as you say from the vicar and the blacksmith etc. are ag. labourers or coal miners - so weaving does not seem to be a local 'industry'. I've just had a quick run through the 1861 census on Ancestry for the surname Wood and although many are coal miners - ag labourers there are about a dozen who are weavers. I was hoping that this was a family occupation. Still nothing else for it - more certificates I guess.

Read all about it! http://www.hurworth.org.uk/hurworth.htm Surprising what a single word into Google can give. 'We now pass on to Hurworth which was noted for its linen industry. In 1830 there were one hundred and twenty hand loom weavers, mostly at the east end of the village. Men worked long hours at the looms in the weaving sheds behind the riverside houses, whilst the women bent over the spinning frames in the cottages.'

Geoff, Thanks for the link and the information. I've added the site to my ever growing list of favourites. Looks like the straw I was trying to grasp has been wrenched away. Still I should know by now that there is nothing gained easily in this hobby. (By the way the East End of the village is where some of my known relatives lived - at least they didn't have a long commute to work. Probably just as well given the long hours they were said to work. Thanks again, Cheryl

Cheryl I would suggest that occupations do run in families. The fact that there are lots of families involved in a particular occupation does not change the fact that someone, if not everyone, in each family, was likely to learn a trade from their parent. I have traced framework knitters in Leicestershire down through four generations. Regards Stan

Just to muddy the waters a bit more ha ha - I have ancestors who were Ag Labs AND did a bit of weaving at the same time! Marjorie

Most of my ancestors on both sides of the tree worked on or around the docks both in liverpool and glasgow, and now i know why i cannot stand grass, or parks, i prefer a cold windy seaside with waves and rain. MAD..... moe!

Thanks everyone for your opinions. I dread to think of ag. labourer and weaver - what 'foreign substances' ended up in the cloth do you think. Still I suppose it would add texture. I know this will seem mad - but I just feel that these are my relatives - extended family anyway. So I will persue that track until I prove or disprove the theory. Thanks again, Cheryl

My Grandfather (born 1900) was a bus conductor, and when he decorated and painted his house he was a perfectionist. No-one was ever allowed to touch any of his paint brushes or equipment at all. He would rub the paint down between coats etc, saying preparation was very important and his gloss paint shone like glass. I used to think it was just one of his little ways, but since doing my tree I have discovered that his father, grandfather and great grandfather were all house painters! It must have been in his genes - not mine though sadly. Hubby won't let me near a paintpot because I get more on everything I'm not supposed to be painting than on the woodwork! LOL I have just found the birth of my GGGG grandfather in 1788 - did they have house painters then? Sue xx

Cheryl I do understand when you say that you feel they are your relatives. I can't find the parents of my great great grandfather but I THINK I know who they are. Everything suggests that they are the right parents but I want just something in black and white to link them. In the meantime I have tracked, but not linked the supposed parents, -correct unusual surname, same occupation for generations and from a small village- in the hope that one day my gut feeling that they are 'mine' can be proved.

hi Cheryl From one Woodman to another... Nothing to do with your request at hand but my Woodmans were exactly what their name said they were - sawyers from one generation to another Carole

hi Cheryl From one Woodman to another... Nothing to do with your request at hand but my Woodmans were exactly what their name said they were - sawyers from one generation to another Carole

hi Cheryl From one Woodman to another... Nothing to do with your request at hand but my Woodmans were exactly what their name said they were - sawyers from one generation to another Carole

hi Cheryl From one Woodman to another... Nothing to do with your request at hand but my Woodmans were exactly what their name said they were - sawyers from one generation to another Carole

hi Cheryl From one Woodman to another... Nothing to do with your request at hand but my Woodmans were exactly what their name said they were - sawyers from one generation to another Carole

Cheryl From what I can make out, during the depression years in the 1820s, my rellies, the ag labs, worked only part time/casual on the land. They made up their money by weaving, which they appear to have done since time immemorial. They were a large extended family, living in the same small village for centuries - a nightmare to unravel and I haven't finished yet, more complicated because they insisted on marrying each other. My Grandmother was a Professional Artist before her marriage. My father and Uncle (her sons) were respectively a Draughtsman and an Architect. Two of my three daughters are accomplished artists. Why then, can I not draw a straight line without a ruler! Marjorie

My dad's family were mason's or quarrymen. Most places had Ag Lab/worksers as that was the biggest employment. Then you would get the natural resources for that area, be it tin, coal, stone slate etc. Once Industral work came along then some people did have a choice. I find it fasinating reading about the different times work wise. Make me glad I was born in the 20th century. Irene

My paternal line were all carpenters.

My great grandfather was a shoeing smith, an engine tenter, a mason's labourer, a soldier, a coachman, a manufacturer of lustre electric, a photography master, a mechanical engineer, a cycle maker (in addition to being born out of wedlock and a bigamist) - how do I work out what the family occupation is???? Perer