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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: hiyamarra on Monday 30 April 18 11:48 BST (UK)
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Good Morning
Can anyone decipher what I think is the fathers occupation on this baptism record.
Elizabeth daughter of William Hutchinson Fellhead
xxxxxxx & Ann his wife
Sorry but I don't have the full page
Thanks in advance
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Looks like Cottager to me, i.e.probably an agricultural labourer living in a tied cottage.
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Agree with JenB. Cottager.
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Thanks JenB and Rhododendron
Now that you point it out Cottager does look likely
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I agree 'cottager 'as the next father down on the register is described the same.
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Thanks for your help
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Sorry if this is late and not at all useful, but "Cottager" certainly seems correct to me
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Thanks for replying niallm155
As they say, better late than never ;)
I'm actually starting to have doubts as to whether its an occupation
I'm starting to lean in the direction of thinking it could be where he lived, either Gillhead or Fellhead Cottage
What do you think
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I think you're right in that, it either gives connotations to me as somebody who rents a cottage or similar living space.
However Cottager as I know it is (from my limited historical knowledge) somebody who rents a plot of land and works it as a farmer, as opposed to owning the farm OR similarly somebody who rents a living space from a farmer and works on the farm.
Does any of this fit in with what you know?
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No, in fact it's almost the exact opposite
William was described on other baptism's as a Tinker, Basket maker and Traveller.
His children were baptised in different churches suggesting him being on the move
He was definitely a scallywag and certainly not the kind to work the land.
I'm currently researching his wife (first wife that is) who is the mother of Elizabeth who was baptised. She is an amazing character who spent more time in prison than out
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Not much help but...
As the area given was 'Fellhead' then directly after 'Cottager' if it were his abode it would be 'Fellhead Cottage' with no 'R'
Annie
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Hi Annie, thanks for your input
The problem is its all subjective
We think its an r but thats based on how we write now
Someone writing 250 years ago could easily have a different style
It it an r ? or could it just be the e at the end of cottage
Questions, questions, questions
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It's entirely possible, you'll find that old cursive "n"s look like "m" with three looks, and "m" is four loops, and is still written that way in French cursive (and possibly others).
However, whether it is a problem in reading or not, it is probably worth looking into both eventualities given you've already found information thus far - if it is indeed location information there will likely be census data to support it!
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Sorry I don't think I mentioned the date of the baptism, it was 1785
I don't think I can tie that in with a census
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Agree with Niall but maybe look at the others above/below to see what is after the area name whether each then has their occ?
Annie
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Thanks both, thats a good idea, i'll try that next time I get to the archives