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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: Pandabeary on Tuesday 15 April 25 12:56 BST (UK)

Title: Occupation query
Post by: Pandabeary on Tuesday 15 April 25 12:56 BST (UK)
I'm wondering what this occupation is from a baptism in 1820 if anyone can read it please. I was hoping it would say carpenter to be the right family, but I'm not sure what this occupation is and it doesn't look like carpenter! Thanks
Title: Re: Occupation query
Post by: ShaunJ on Tuesday 15 April 25 13:06 BST (UK)
How about an image or a link?
Title: Re: Occupation query
Post by: Pandabeary on Tuesday 15 April 25 13:11 BST (UK)
How about an image or a link?

Sorry, that would help! Computer was being unhelpful but there should be an image now.
Title: Re: Occupation query
Post by: JenB on Tuesday 15 April 25 13:14 BST (UK)
It looks like Mech[ani]c to me.
Title: Re: Occupation query
Post by: Milliepede on Tuesday 15 April 25 13:25 BST (UK)
I would say the same mech for mechanic.
Title: Re: Occupation query
Post by: Pandabeary on Tuesday 15 April 25 14:24 BST (UK)
Thank you both! Shame it doesn't seem to fit with being a carpenter but maybe he changed occupation.
Title: Re: Occupation query
Post by: horselydown86 on Tuesday 15 April 25 15:08 BST (UK)
The modern interpretation of a mechanic as a worker with machinery - eg car mechanic, truck mechanic - is generally dated to the 20th century.

In 1820 it had a wider meaning of a member of a handicraft trade, a manual labourer or artisan.

Carpenter to Mechanic wasn't necessarily a big jump in 1820.
Title: Re: Occupation query
Post by: Bookbox on Tuesday 15 April 25 16:28 BST (UK)
In 1820 it had a wider meaning of a member of a handicraft trade, a manual labourer or artisan.

Carpenter to Mechanic wasn't necessarily a big jump in 1820.

I totally agree with this. In some baptism registers (e.g. Marylebone, Middlesex), at this period and later, any man who worked with his hands is categorised as Mechanic, and anyone who sold anything is classed as Trade.
Title: Re: Occupation query
Post by: Pandabeary on Tuesday 15 April 25 23:50 BST (UK)
In 1820 it had a wider meaning of a member of a handicraft trade, a manual labourer or artisan.

Carpenter to Mechanic wasn't necessarily a big jump in 1820.

I totally agree with this. In some baptism registers (e.g. Marylebone, Middlesex), at this period and later, any man who worked with his hands is categorised as Mechanic, and anyone who sold anything is classed as Trade.

That is fascinating as this baptism is indeed from St Marylebone! I had wondered what the other occupation was that appears frequently and now can see it is "trade", just written with an unusual "t". There only seem to be a handful of occupations scanning the surrounding pages - farmer, servant, trade, labourer, mechanic and esq/gentleman - so it seems likely he was indeed a carpenter! Thank you so much Bookbox, that makes total sense. I wanted to be sure on the father's occupation as the surname is recorded wrong - Sekbeach instead of Suxspeach - so thank you so much for providing that context.