What is the most interesting occupation in your family tree? (#1: locked)

[Minn]

I have lots of "Gentlemen", clergymen, barristers/solicitors, magistrates, First Lord of the Admiralty (is that an occupation?), esquire to the body of Henry VIII, Auditor of the Exchequer (bean counter), Lord Chief Justice (fancy name for lawyer), Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, coachmaker, civil engineer, clothier.

Minn

[lindagene]

No, not a Chalky, sorry, it was either a Collinson or a Snowdon.   I have just found my Colllinsons back to 1706.   Wheeeeeeee..... ok its only froml the LDS, but when I get back to the UK I shall be dashing up to Durham/Yorkshire border and checking it all out.   I am feeling over the moon even though they were only miners and Ag. Labs.     Lindy

[Hackstaple]

I know how you feel. Mine were all peasants and miners with a few "aristocratic" printers thrown in. I have to laugh at the postings we get about how they are descended from a bunch of Kings and Queens or the odd Earl or Lord Chief Justice. It stands to reason that 99.5% of us must be of working class origins just a few generations back. One of my grandfathers was a railway porter, another a music-hall artist another a house painter, the other a small farmer - not a Baron on Countess in sight.

[longshanks]

The one that caused me the most trouble, as it was nearly illegible, and had been overwritten by the census office, was 'horse team leader'  This was my mother's paternal ancestor, in Widnes, Lancs. The census clerk had written above this house builder, which set me off on a wild goose chase looking for houses my ancestor might have built. But earlier census entries and other documents confirmed he was a horse team leader/owner. What this meant was that he owned, maintained and managed teams of horses to haul loads and power cranes on Liverpool docks before steampower.  His father had been a tenant farmer, and most of his ancestors landowning farmers. Several of his sons became steam engine drivers; my great great grandfather in docks and factory sidings, a brother on passenger locomotives. It is a good illustration of the transition from rural life to industrial revolution.

[Minn]

Hackstaple -  I did expect to find only ordinary bods when I first started on the ancestor thing since my grandfather earned a living by spraypainting cars in a big shed in his backgarden. All those important sounding ancestors were all on his side so it was quite a revelation, & one that I didn't really believe for a while, nor do I take particularly seriously, just a bit of fun. Hope you don't hold it against me...

Minn

[Hackstaple]

Minn - please don't apologise to me! I only do this for fun anyway and I have the unfortunate habit of finding humour in too many things.

[Minn]

Not to worry Hackstaple - I have an unfortunate habit of getting the wrong end of the stick!

Minn

[cardiff]

Hi all
My Great grandmothers brother was a cook on board those ships with big sails are they called schooner ships?
He sailed many times around the world, sadly when he decided to come home to his sister in Pontypridd Wales he was mugged and all his money stolen. I would have likes to have talked to him about his adventures and the places he visited.

[lindagene]

Minn,
As has often been said, its a rotten job but sombody has got to do it.   The question is, what did you gain from their experiences?  for example, with an 'Auditor of the exchequer' does it make you good at managing your pennies?.    Lots of my ancesters were miners, is this the reason why I used to go potholing in my youth?, and if this is so, since I also have a carpenter in the dim distant past, why is it that my shelves always fall down?.
Lindy