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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: whitehound on Tuesday 21 October 14 20:13 BST (UK)

Title: a job title in Victorian India
Post by: whitehound on Tuesday 21 October 14 20:13 BST (UK)

Can anybody make anything of this?  This is the job-title of my great great grandmother's second husband, in south-east India in 1869.  He's a conductor in *what* department...?

Title: Re: a job title in Victorian India
Post by: craggagh on Tuesday 21 October 14 20:19 BST (UK)

Hallo -

Could be 'Ordce', Ordnance abbreviated.

craggagh.

Title: Re: a job title in Victorian India
Post by: whitehound on Tuesday 21 October 14 20:28 BST (UK)

OK ta, that's a good possibility - the small 'c' on "Conductor" does suggest that this clerk's 'c' is the same as his 'e'.  I've just looked up "conductor ordnance department" and it does seem to be a real job title.  Thanks.

Title: Re: a job title in Victorian India
Post by: deebel on Tuesday 21 October 14 22:34 BST (UK)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conductor_(Army)

D

Title: Re: a job title in Victorian India
Post by: whitehound on Tuesday 21 October 14 23:24 BST (UK)

Thanks - looks like it's a very high rank as NCOs go.  Her first husband, my great great grandfather, had been a high-ranking NCO (quartermaster sergeant, I think regimental) and a 2nd class police inspector.  It was an odd setup because his family were landed gentry in Ireland - the sort of person who, when asked to fill in their occupation on a form, puts "gentleman" - and you would have expected him to be an officer, but it looks like they lost a lot of money through being generous to their tenants during the Great Famine, and couldn't afford to buy him a commission.

I like your sig quote, btw.