Occupation Steward ?

[jilly43]

on my great grandfathers marriage cert. in 1880 his father's occupation simply says Steward  what do you think this could mean.
Thanks for any suggestions
J

[stanmapstone]

There are a number of meanings for a Steward.  He could have been a servant of a college who was charged with the duty of catering. The head servant of a club or similar institution, who had control of the other servants. An officer in a ship who, under the direction of the captain or the purser, kept the stores and arranged for the serving of meals; or an attendant who waited upon the passengers,
He could have been employed on a train to serve meals, drinks, etc., to passengers, or have been some one who managed the affairs of an estate on behalf of his employer.
Stan

[behindthefrogs]

In 1880 some Manorial estates still existed in which case he would have been the Lord of the Manor's representative.  This would also apply for Ducal estates and simply for the landowner in Scotland.

[stanmapstone]

A Steward was also another name for a Colliery or Mining  Agent, and in Yorkshire was a name for a manager of a small pit. An Estate Steward was also known as an Estate Bailiff or Agricultural Agent, or an Estate Factor in Scotland.
Stan

[jilly43]

Thank you all for your replies.  We think he came from Ireland as on  my grt grandfather tomb stone it says of County Westmeath Ireland, so we assume his father was Irish but unfortunately I only have his name on the marriage cert obviously no address.  Interesting to have your views.
J.

[Christopher]

Thank you all for your replies.  We think he came from Ireland as on  my grt grandfather tomb stone it says of County Westmeath Ireland, so we assume his father was Irish but unfortunately I only have his name on the marriage cert obviously no address.  Interesting to have your views.
J.

Hiya J,

Many of the Land Agents or Stewards acting on behalf of the absentee landlords in Ireland were extremely unpopular guys who required heavy protection when evicting people from their homes. Once the people were out of their homes the buildings were usually set alight and burnt to the ground.

Christopher

[jilly43]

Hi Chris,

Thanks for reply, nice to know our messages stay 'alive'
as this was quite some time ago.  In a way I sincerely hope my relative was not a steward in this sense. However, who knows?  I just find it so frustrating I just cannot find any reference to any Johnston's from Newtown, Westmeath.    Any suggestions Chris,  I have paid for research on the parish records, but only two Newtowns in Westmeath are recorded, there are four, needless to say there were no Johnstons in the two that did have surviving records.

Jilly.

[Rakiura John]

I have someone who was in Ireland as a "Land Steward" when he married in Kilbride, Co Cavan in 1858, a "Land Steward" when he had a child in Kilronan Castle, Co Roscommon in 1860, a "Land Steward" when he had a child in Castlelands, Co Cork in 1873, and a "Land Steward" when he had a child in Clogherny, County Tyrone in 1878. The point being that he certainly moved around the country - perhaps something that wasn't unusual for someone in his profession. Which might not be very helpful for someone like the OP who is looking for someone. But on the other hand, it indicates that possible candidates shouldn't be dismissed simply because they don't fit a location.