Unknown Occupation Abbreviation

[Ragna]

Hello, not been here for a while.

I have had the copy of a  document today from Kingham Boys Home where my two great uncles were placed in 1904.  We understand that it was because the family were so poor, and two of her boys were sent there and the two youngest were kept at home.

It is the person that was the applicant I would like to know his occupation. Was he a GP or the Social Services of the day or possibly a Church person.

I've tried to find him on the 1901 census without any luck (to see his occupation)

His name was  H S Woollcombe, Sec. G.O.S

I can't work out what the G.O.S stands for ?  (I'm guessing Sec is Secretary) His address was 185 High Street, Battersea SW.

Anyone got any clues

Thanking you in advance

[marcie dean]

Hi Ragna,
Tis only a guess but what about General Ordinance Surveyor.
Cartographers would travel and draw maps of areas and only hope to get paid
I read that somewhere but dont know how true it is.

marcie

[CaroleW]

There is a 1901 entry for a Herbert Woolcombe b Heavitree Devon c 1864 but occ is not very clear.  Looks like Secretary - Y - Guild

He is a boarder in the house of a Clergyman Charles E Brook aged 53 address looks like 123 Tussall Rd Lambeth

RG13 Piece 421 Folio 51 Page 29

[Ragna]

Thank you Marcie although, in this case  I think he was something more along the lines in the caring industry ....because it was him that recommended the boys to the home. I did wonder if it was something to do with a GP ?

[Ragna]

Thank you CaroleW. That makes sense that it could be him as the home was run by the church. 

Secretary Y Guild - So Guild of something beginning with S ...hmmmm possibly.

I feel a bit closer again Thank you both of you

[Dave Francis]

The Times, Wednesday, Oct 22, 1924; pg. 18; Issue 43789; col E

There was an obituary for Herbert Louis Woollcombe, secretary of the Charity Organisation Society.
He was born in Devon in 1862 and I can see a few Census entries for him.

Possibly H L Woollcombe, Sec. C.O.S. rather than H S Woollcombe, Sec. G.O.S. ?

[Ragna]

Yes, that's it 100%

Thank you so much Dave. I've looked again at the document and it is a C with ink on it making it a G. So this all makes sense that he was working for a Charity Organisation as the home was church based.

I did try and put in Woollcombe in Ancestry but because I was unaware of how old he was I struggled.

Thanks again. It's been a day of finding out so much