Genealogy Chat

Yes, likely a commercial traveller as I have the c in brackets after my ancestors name in other census.

Can't resist an occupation I just came across today when looking round 1861 Manchester for a rellie: Philosophical tin maker!

Yes David, exactly!!! Not my side of the family I hasten to add! Suex PS No offence meant to any Gypsies!

A traveller was also a gypsy or fairground traveller

I think I read somewhere that a 'Journeyman' (I have a Journeyman Plumber) was someone who worked on a sort of freelance basis for a certain rate per job rather than working for a boss for a salary.

Hi, There is a C. after traveller, so it could mean 'commercial'. Gail

G/day Jane and Heather, Thank you both for your info on the meaning of Journeyman. Cheers have a great day, Tim in Oz

Tim, unlikely he travelled, just got paid for the work he did at a bakers. As Jane said above when he became a Master Baker he would probably had his own premises and employed others.

Tim, Journeyman means that he was 'qualified' - not necessarily that he travelled. An apprenticeship usually preceeded the designation 'journeyman' - and you might be able to find his indentures (document of agreement to take him as an apprentice). When he'd 'done the advanced course' he would have been a 'master baker'. I'm not sure whether there was a formal process or whether time / experience counted. Regs Jane

Cheers Heather. Yes it had baker written next to journeyman, would that mean he just delivered the bread or did he travel to different places to make the bread. Thank you Tim in Oz

Roy, Your rellie, the sewage flusher, must have worked alongside my hubby's rellie, who was the ''Urinal Cleaner for the Parish''!! merry

I'm not making it up honest.. but I have a Lengthsman !!! they apparently walked the length of Rivers and waterways to check that the banks were ok and the waterways were clear to let barges and boats through. Julie

What about the Furious Knitters of Dent, Cumbria? The whole village spent all their spare minutes knitting socks.

I had a two year old boy described as a 'mischief 'occupation on the census. Kim

A hawker was anyone who sold items in the street, so she may not have been a peg seller, possibly fruit, veg, anything.

I've got a fair smattering of Clickers and Leather dyers (from 3 different lines of the family) But the one that concerns me is Hawker, I can just imagine her with pegs and Lucky heather! Suex

We have a 'crumpet maker' and an interesting one where under the occupation bit there is the word (died) - just like that, in brackets! Could that mean the man died while the enumerator was there???? ........... shouldn't laugh ........! Bev x

I have a couple of 'Fancy Knitters' and imagine them sitting there knitting wearing a posh frock and their best hat. Or were they knitting something obscure called a fancy?

It should say something next to the journeyman, like carpenter journey or blacksmith journeyman. A journeyman was someone who had served an apprenticeship but was not a master (that is, employing others). He was our equivalent to a self employed man, selling his skills at a daily rate (hence jour (French for day)). There is a site for old occupations, just google for it.

We have a Journey man in ours, does anybody know what that means please, cheers Tim in Oz