What is my ancestor wearing and what date would this be please

[Cockneygirl]

Hi Ali,
Thankyou for your reply and I appreciate your help, I too have been lokking at freemason sites and have found nothing, I have even emailed a photo to them and nobody seems to know. Have also looked at oddfellows and druids but again no luck. I really appreciate your help anyway, many thanks, kind regards, Cockneygirl. 


Hi Sefonia,
Many thanks for your reply too, yes that does sound interesting about the Mariner , he was listed as a Mariner in the details on the birth of one of his daughters but his earlier childrens births listed him as a baker. So as you say it might be something to do with
Royal Ark mariner, I will try looking again. Many thanks for your reply all suggestions are most welcome. Kind regards, Cockneygirl

[Michael J]

Not a Royal Ark Mariner in freemasonry - this is their apron & collar.

I'm pretty certain he's a member of the Buffaloes.

Michael.

[Cockneygirl]

Hi Michael,
Okay thankyou very much I will try contacting them, many thanks, Cockneygirl

[Richard Knott]

I think the 'mariner' entry was a mistake; all the other evidence is that the family were bakers. When looking at the entries I noticed that there was a Baker family with several baptismal entries and the father was a mariner, so perhaps the vicar just got confused!

I remain sceptical as to whether this photograph is of a baker. Did they have the time or money to join these societies?

Richard

[bishenbertie]

I think the photo is too early for the Buffoloes although I could be wrong.

Have you thought of putting the photo on the photo board asking those kind people who do a marvelous job to add some colour. 

Also some-one may recognise the badges on the military board.

[PrueM]

According to http://www.raobgc.org.uk the Royal Antedeluvian Order of Buffaloes was officially named in the 1840s 

Having said that, I've looked through a web image search and all the photos of BUffaloes seem to have them with medal ribbons and aprons, not wide collars like this one.

There were so many fraternal societies in the 19th century, it might be impossible to pinpoint the one this fellow belonged to...

As for having time/money to belong to one, I understand that it was extremely popular and virtually anyone in a trade or profession had the means and opportunity to join.  THey were providers of insurance/assurance, pensions etc. as well as social organisations.

Cheers
Prue

[PaulineJ]

the Buffaloes motif is an Ivy leaf.
I can't see anything like that on the 'photo.

[sefiona]

There is a Bakers society 1858 on called Bakers' Benevolent Society. They look after retired bakers.

[mosher]

CockneyGirl,

Maybe try emailing the man on this web site:

http://www.fraternalsecrets.org

On the Q&A page, others have asked similar questions and received an answer.  I don't know if the site is still monitored but it is worth a try!

Aly