Did you have much luck tracing details of your ancestors from their trade?
I am starting to realise that (as you said) due to the amount of firms involved in the tea trade i think i may have a hard time tracing my gg grandfather's proffession.
My husband had 2 great-uncles working in tea trade as young boys and younger one died of lung disease (tuberculosis?) said to be from the tea dust. Older boy took ill and went to England, we presume for his health, but died there from the same thing.
Other relatives were tea dealers and we know quite a bit about them- have old wills, etc. Didn't have much bother tracing them as they were in directories, etc.
