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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: Charlie Bucket on Monday 03 June 24 07:22 BST (UK)

Title: What on earth is this occupation?
Post by: Charlie Bucket on Monday 03 June 24 07:22 BST (UK)
Hello.
This is from the 1865 Post Office London Directory. The person is Ambrose Miller and his occupation looks like Dolly's coml.hot
You can perhaps imagine what sites were suggested when I googled this!
Ambrose was, around this time, a coal factor.
Charlie
 
Title: Re: What on earth is this occupation?
Post by: familydar on Monday 03 June 24 07:27 BST (UK)
Commercial hotel
Title: Re: What on earth is this occupation?
Post by: emeltom on Monday 03 June 24 08:25 BST (UK)
I agree - Commercial Hotel
Title: Re: What on earth is this occupation?
Post by: gaffy on Monday 03 June 24 08:41 BST (UK)
An 1840 newspaper reference to DOLLY'S COMMERCIAL HOTEL, Queen's Head Passage, Paternoster Row, LONDON describes it as having a central and airy situation and as a desireable House for Professional as well as Commercial Gentlemen during their stay in London.   

Title: Re: What on earth is this occupation?
Post by: ShaunJ on Monday 03 June 24 09:36 BST (UK)
This ad appeared in Durham newspapers from August 1865 until June 1866
Title: Re: What on earth is this occupation?
Post by: ShaunJ on Monday 03 June 24 09:39 BST (UK)
Quote
Ambrose was, around this time, a coal factor.

He was a hotel keeper in the 1861 census
Title: Re: What on earth is this occupation?
Post by: ShaunJ on Monday 03 June 24 09:46 BST (UK)
So were there two Ambrose Millers?

In the 1871 census there's the coal agent in Hackney, born Durham circa 1818, and there's the retired innkeeper in Monkseaton, born Durham circa 1820.
Title: Re: What on earth is this occupation?
Post by: Charlie Bucket on Monday 03 June 24 09:59 BST (UK)
Thank you everyone. That clears things up.
Ambrose, like his father, was a brewer as well as a hotel owner and coal factor (mainly in the 1870s).
Yes, there were two Ambroses, uncle and nephew, although the uncle died in 1828. There were other Ambrose Millers floating around some of whom would be related. 

Charlie
Title: Re: What on earth is this occupation?
Post by: Charlie Bucket on Monday 03 June 24 10:13 BST (UK)
He ended up in Queanbeyan in Australia, dying there aged 91.
And no, I'd never heard of it, don't know how to pronounce it and don't know how he ended up there.
Title: Re: What on earth is this occupation?
Post by: Rufous Treecreeper on Monday 03 June 24 11:45 BST (UK)
Queen be in  ;D says this Aussie
Title: Re: What on earth is this occupation?
Post by: Charlie Bucket on Tuesday 04 June 24 07:34 BST (UK)
Thank you from across the ditch, Rufous.

Charlie
Title: Re: What on earth is this occupation?
Post by: bbart on Tuesday 04 June 24 08:53 BST (UK)
Just in case you don't have his obituary:

(no need to subscribe)
https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-queanbeyan-leader-ambrose-miller/148677835/

Edited to add his wife (unless there were two Ambrose Millers in Queanbeyan)
https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-ambrose-miller/148677882/
Title: Re: What on earth is this occupation?
Post by: maddys52 on Tuesday 04 June 24 10:38 BST (UK)
Queen be in  ;D says this Aussie

This one says Queen bee an.  :D  Whilst actually in NSW, it's just next to Canberra.
Title: Re: What on earth is this occupation?
Post by: Wiggy on Tuesday 04 June 24 22:31 BST (UK)
Queen be in  ;D says this Aussie

This one says Queen bee an.  :D  Whilst actually in NSW, it's just next to Canberra.

So does this Aussie.    :D  ( But I bet either would get you there!) 
Title: Re: What on earth is this occupation?
Post by: dublin1850 on Tuesday 04 June 24 23:11 BST (UK)
There is a very well kept train station in Queanbeyan. I was impressed.
Title: Re: What on earth is this occupation?
Post by: maddys52 on Tuesday 04 June 24 23:48 BST (UK)
Spent the coldest night of my life in Queanbeyan, staying with friends on a June long weekend in about 1984. Brrr.   :D



So does this Aussie.    :D  ( But I bet either would get you there!) 
Thought the different pronunciation might be a Sydney/Melbourne thing, but perhaps not.
Title: Re: What on earth is this occupation?
Post by: maddys52 on Tuesday 04 June 24 23:56 BST (UK)
I tried to find any other references to Ambrose MILLER in Australia. Not many - he's on the electoral roll in Queanbeyan in 1903/4, no occupaton recorded. Also a mention of Mr and Mrs A MILLER at a funeral in 1903:
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/31095519

There is an Ambrose MILLER in the Sydney Sands Directory in 1893 at 38 Dick St (Chippendale, near the city - Sydney), not sure if this is the same chap.

His death and funeral were reported in the Queanbeyan Age, but also in a couple of Sydney newspapers.

His wife Mary Ann's death was also briefly mentioned in the Queanbeyan Age:
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/265183129

Her probate granted to Katherine Marie DORNBUSCH and Dudley Ward HARCOURT, executors
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/246288495
Title: Re: What on earth is this occupation?
Post by: Charlie Bucket on Thursday 06 June 24 20:55 BST (UK)
Thanks for the info on Ambrose and the musings on the pronunciation of Queanbeyan.