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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Staffordshire => England => Staffordshire Lookup Requests => Topic started by: Jadbates on Friday 17 June 16 12:06 BST (UK)
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I have been looking at the 1861 Census for Daniel Bailey and his family http://search.ancestry.com.au/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&db=uki1861&h=20037261
When I look at the sons' occupations I am completely lost. The males in family in the 1871, 1881 and 1891 censuses work as coal miners or stone miners. In the 1861 census Daniel is working as a coal miner. His son Frederick T (or J) looks like it is 'bank boy ?' at the age of 8. His son Samuel, age 7, looks like "sa? scholar". Andrew's occupation is clear - 'scholar'. I was wondering if the terms were specific to the coal mining jobs for children. Any assistance gratefully appreciated.
Merrelyn
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Hi.
Looks like Bank boy at pit for Frederick and Sunday Scholar for Samuel.
Mo
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Thank you. I can see those terms now that you point it out. Does a 'Sunday scholar' mean that he went to 'school' only on Sundays or that it was the minister who did the teaching. Also, would it also apply to Andrew even though it just says 'scholar' for him?
Do you know what a 'bank boy at pit' did?
Kind regards
Merrelyn
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Hi not to sure if this helps but this is taken from Durham Mining Museum site :
Banksmen - 1825: those who, at the bank or top of the pit, unhook and empty the laden corves into the carts or waggons, from a frame or stage.
1849: a man who draws the full tubs from the cages at the surface, when wound up by the engine, and replaces them with empty ones ; he also puts the full tubs to the weighing machine, and thence to the skreens, upon which he teems the coals. It is also his duty to keep an account of the quantity of coals and stones drawn each day.
1894: Person who controls the unloading and loading of the cage at the pit top, and signals the descent of the workmen
bagpuss :)
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Hi.
Sunday Schools were set up to provide an opportunity for children to learn to read and write. Often the parents paid the teacher or minister and it would be the only day they went to school.
Not sure what a Pit Bank boy did, but it would be above ground probably washing or sorting the coal. Could be anything at only 8 years old.
Mo
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I think the younger children were often employed to pick up bits of coal that had fallen off the wagons and put it back in the wagons so they didn't lose any of it
Willow x