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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: drobbo on Thursday 03 September 15 22:00 BST (UK)

Title: What was the job of a quay porter back in the early 1800s?
Post by: drobbo on Thursday 03 September 15 22:00 BST (UK)

Dear Listers

I'm trying to find out more about a distant relative (John Roberts) who I believe worked as a quay porter in Charlestown, near St Austell in the early 1800s.

Believe John's son and grandson also did this role and then the family moved to Devonport to work as shipwrights and blacksmiths

Any information about what being a quay porter involved will be appreciated

Drobbo

Title: Re: What was the job of a quay porter back in the early 1800s?
Post by: ScouseBoy on Thursday 03 September 15 22:18 BST (UK)

Similar to a railway porter,  I suppose?

Carrying  goods  from ship to shore   or vice versa, I would imagine?

Title: Re: What was the job of a quay porter back in the early 1800s?
Post by: ShaunJ on Friday 04 September 15 07:19 BST (UK)

Dockers/stevedores did the loading and unloading of ships. Quay porters moved goods from quayside to shed and vice versa, or onto vans and railway cars.