Lilian's Tree

 August is National Family History Month and this year I thought that I'd have a look at my ancestors occupations. I've gone back to my 2x Great Grandparents. While I have gaps, (and so far I've been unable to find the occupations), it is interesting that it's not until my grandparents that I have the occupation of the women listed.  Some like Ann Cameron, my 2x great grandmother is listed as an old age pensioner, on her death certificate. Likewise Isabella Vaughan, my great grandmother is given as living privately, when she re-married. What did your ancestors do? Name 2xGreat Grandparents Occupation        Thomas Abberton 1790-1829 Farmer Bridget Halleran 1800 Matthew Torpy 1799-1833 Farmer Bridget Good 1816 George Nicolls   Elizabeth Drew   Michael Enright   ...

This months book is one I use, when stumped by an occupation I have found on a certificate, a census or in a will. Not all old trades, titles and occupations are the same now as then, nor did some, like  Alaska yarn spinner, mean that they came from Alaska.  (It actually means, Spinner of mixed cotton and wool cloth.) I got my copy from    Gould    Genealogy, in South Australia.

Searching through my family tree surnames, for this letter, I found that I don't have any that start with D.  First names, ditto. Place names, ditto and I didn't want to do dog, sooooo...  Old occupations that start with D. This could be fun. Using my copy of ' A Dictionary of Old Trades, Titles and Occupations,' by Colin Waters, I delved into the letter D. Daunsel , interesting but what is it. A male servant of a gentleman. This one sounds fun! A Deplumer , feather worker who stripped of feathers or plucked the feathers. That would tickle your nose. Diker and Discifer catch my attention. Dike r is a ditch or trench digger . Discifer is a steward. This one would have been interesting to watch, a dodderer . Well it was a person employed to lop off the horns of farm animals. This one really got my attention, dragons blood dealer. No, they didn't sell dragons blood but was a dealer in resin and gums. These were just some of the interesting ones I ...