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Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Topic started by: Newbie in SA on Wednesday 19 June 13 13:17 BST (UK)
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I am hoping that someone can shed some light on my ancestor's occupation. I have a document that says he was the Inspector of Stamps between 1810 - 1818 in Ireland. I have no idea what this occupation could have entailed?? Stamps, as in postage stamps?? He was born in Banbridge and I know the linen trade was at its most buoyant then, could it have something to do with the linen trade?
Any assistance would be greatly appreciated!
Regards
Vanessa
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Hi,,Linen was indeed inspected and stamped by appointed inspectors. This practise was ended in Scotland by an act of parliament in 1823.I would think that this practise of inspecting linen and stamps would have occurred in Ireland also.
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The brown Linen trade was almost wholly transacted in the provincial towns. The weavers, who were chiefly small farmers or cottagers, grew the Flax, spun the yarn at home, or purchased it, wove the cloth in their own houses, and took the pieces to the nearest market for sale, where they were purchased by the merchants. The purchasers bleached the pieces, then sent them to the white Linen Hails for sale. After these Halls were superseded they sent the cloth to England, or shipped it to foreign countries. For the regulation of these provincial markets, intelligent inspectors called " Seal-masters" were appointed by the Linen Board, for each district, whose duty it was to examine the Linen brought for sale, and to certify to the quality being sound and genuine. Each piece, before it could be admitted to the Hall, had to be stamped and sealed by the inspector, and he was responsible for the perfection of the pieces to the buyers; but should he be called upon to make compensation for faulty pieces, he had recourse against the weaver for the same. In many cases the manufacturers were allowed, under certain restrictions, to stamp their own cloth. As soon as he could find security, himself in £50, and two securities in £100 each, in all £250, he was instantly, and as a thing of course, directly invested with a seal to stamp his own cloth. From 1782 to 1816 no fewer than 1616 brown seals, and 1596 white seals, had been issued by the Board of Trustees, to manufacturers in the province of Ulster alone.
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It seems to have been a local government appointment where somebody actually inspected stamps on legal documents. There is mention of an Inspector of Stamps checking the presses before postal stamps were printed in Australia, on Google. They may also have inspected stamps on linen, but the job does seem to be mainly attached to the Law Courts.
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Thank you Gortonboy and Murney. I think the government post sits well. There is an account where he writes to the chief secretary requesting a promotion. I am quite perflexed at his choice of occupation as he comes from a long line of merchants. The Clibborn's (the linen 'baron's) being direct family in Banbridge. I am really starting to believe he was a bit of a blacksheep, as he was also disowned for marrying the wrong person!
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Not postage stamps as those did not exist anywhere before 1840.
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My jury's out, but in checking contemporary newspapers:
1. most linen references refer to an "inspector of stamped linen";
2. there are a few references to an inspector of stamps being someone who would be involved in preventing forgery by, for example, inspecting the artwork and resulting plates to produce bank notes, or inspecting the stamps in silver and gold plate;
3. most references are to a Government revenue job called "inspector of stamps and taxes" - I can't just work out yet what the job entails!
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Stamp duties?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inland_Revenue
"A separate Board of Stamps was created by the Stamps Act 1694. During the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, stamp duties were extended to cover newspapers, pamphlets, lottery tickets, apprentices' indentures, advertisements, playing cards, dice, hats, gloves, patent medicines, perfumes, insurance policies, gold and silver plate, hair powder and armorial bearings (coats of arms)."
Edited to add: I think he was the tax man! lol ;D
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Thanks for the info! Just what a girl wants to hear .. A tax man .. :-X
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Thanks for the info! Just what a girl wants to hear .. A tax man .. :-X
lol. ;D