Do you have corkcutter ancestors?

[corkcutter]

Glad you enjoyed it Tim.  I'll be straight in contact with you if I find any more about your lot!

Cheryl

[Stoggler]

I too have found a cork cutting ancestor.  I am tracing the line of my surname (Johnson) and my g.g.g.g.grandfather (James Holmes Johnson) was born in about 1828 and lived in Stepney before emigrating with his wife (Ellen White) to Australia in 1858.  He remained a cork cutter all his life according to his death certificate in Victoria.

I also believe that his father was a cork cutter too, but I do not have any confirmed details on the father at the moment - can't even confirm his name.

Stuart

[corkcutter]

Hi Stuart,

Thank you for your submission to the index.  I am afraid I didn't have your man already.  Obviously Johnson is a very frequent name so it's likely that the names I do have on the index are connected, however, for what it is worth, here they are:

William Johnson, London, supplying corks to Petworth House in Sussex up to 1760.

James, working in Liverpool in 1807 - don't know if he is a master or journeyman.

James, working in Manchester, iin 1911 - a master.

William, working from the High St. in Bromsgrove Worcs iin 1828 - a master.

Do let me know if you find details of his father's name.

Best wishes

Cheryl

[sal]

Hi Cheryl

Found this today.

1881 census
RG11/4067 folio 58 page 34
2.2ct Morton St, Oldham, Lancs

Joseph Owens Head M 34 Cork Cutter b Flixton Cheshire
Hannah Owens Wife M 35 Cork Cutter b Manchester

Hope you can add this couple to your project

Sal

[corkcutter]

Thanks Sal,

They were new to me.

Cheryl

[Spike1]

Hi Tim,
          both my g g grand father and g grandfather were cork cutters / sorters and as there lived by and worked in the  east end docks of London I believed that it was to do with ships and rigging repairs. Is there any one else who could show some light on this occupation?
Regards
Spike

[corkcutter]

Hi Spike,

Although cork did get used for shipping, the main job of corkcutters and sorters was cutting corks for bottles and bungs for barrels.  They were sited near the docks because raw cork was a bulky thing to move around so the cutters tended to set up shop in dock areas.  Please could I have details (names, dates, address etc) that I can check against my corkcutters index?  If you can get hold of the magazine Practical Family History, July issue, you may find my article there about corkcutting interesting.

I'm Cheryl by the way.  Tim's and my strings on corkcutting have been blended by the moderator.

Best wishes.

[Spike1]

Hi Sal,
         Thank you for you reply. Richard Milligan (cork sorter)born 1829 lived in various addresses in the east end but living at 60, Sydney Street, in 1892 and his son James Milligan (cork cutter?) born1861 and in 1890 living at 154, High Street, Shadwell.
     Also do you have a Joseph Milligan on your records born 1795 +/- 3 years who was Richard's father?
Thank you
Spike

[corkcutter]

Hi Spike,

There were no Milligan's on my index I am afraid, though their details are now in with your name as a contact should anyone else contact me about the same line.

It is almost certain that your Milligans would have been employees rather than the boss.  The average size for a corkcutting shop was two to five men, though this increased in bigger concerns towards the 1890s.

We can never be sure of course, but it's a fair bet that your James worked for John Hill who ran a corkcutting shop at 171 Shadwell High Street at the right time.

Best wishes

Cheryl