As humans, we spend most of our time at work, in past times, the hours were longer, we started work at an earlier age, and with no pensions, worked as long as possible. It is no surprise then, that our occupations shaped our lives. Different areas of the country have different indigineous occupations. In Bradfield, the paternal line began as farmers, then moving into the cutlery and edge tool trade, later mining joined the list. As the local population moved into Sheffield, the occupations became more industrialised.
My maternal ancestors come from various locations in the south of England, and were involved in the local occupations. On moving into London, they had to find new ways of making a living, and adapting to a different way of life.
Most of the occupations listed below were ‘male’, but often they were operating as family businesses, and the wife would also have been involved.
In more recent times a choice of occupations have become open to us.
ARMY – William Dawson 1787-1837 Stradbroke Suffolk/
BASKET MAKER- Daniel Harvey 1806/ Stephen Harvey 1828
BOOTMAKER / CORDWAINER – Samuel Barker (Sheffield)
BRICKLAYER – Harry Frost 1852- Ipswich-Hammersmith /
BRICKMAKER – Joseph Lovell Raine 1825-1857 Kensington/ George Darlow 1847 – Long Buckby-Sheffield / Thomas Darlow 1814 – Long Buckby – Sheffield/
CHAIRMAKER – Tranter – Stokenchurch
CLOTHIER (Woollen Cloth Dealer) – Hinchliffe
COSTERMONGER John Harvey 1862
CUTLER Hallamshire Cutlers Records
FARMER – Ibbotson of Bradfield
GROOM – John Potter
LABOURER Agricultural or Industrial – a general worker. – most lines at some point.
LACEMAKER
LAUNDRESS – Elizabeth Rogers, Caroline Lovell
MECHANICAL ENGINEER – David Sanderson
MOTOR MECHANIC- William Sanderson
MINER – Albert Sanderson, Vincent Sanderson
MINE MANAGER Vincent Sanderson
RAF – Sanderson
SCISSORSMITH – David Thompson Sheffield.
SHOEMAKER – Barkers of Sheffield
SHOPKEEPER – TOY & HOBBY Sanderson, Harrison
SHOPKEEPER – BUTCHER Charles Harvey
SHOPKEEPER – GROCER – Tranter, Harvey
STONEMASON John Sanderson c1650
STOVE GRATE GRINDER- Ralph Thompso
TALLOW CHANDLER (Candlemaker) James Tranter
TRAM DRIVER George Gillott
WHEELWRIGHT (Maker of wooden wheels) Peter Priestley
WOODSMAN Thomas Sanderson
YEOMAN – FARMER