Irish Occupations

[Kellbell]

Thank you Christopher, that may be very useful information.  Are all of those locations you mentioned in Northern Ireland?  I know he was from N. Ireland and that he was Protestant, and a ferryman, but nothing else.  Is there a source I could use to find names of people listed by occupation in Northern Ireland that you know of? 

[Christopher]

Hi Kellbell,

The places I've mentioned are in the north of Ireland.  I'm almost certain there's no source available which would show eighteenth century names and occupations. The best chance of finding whereabouts your ancestor lived would be to look at Griffith's Valuations (1848-64) in the hope that some families named Burke, who may be related to your ancestor, were living in an area where there was a ferry.

Antrim 30 Burke families
Armagh 47
Cavan 5
Derry 25
Donegal 12
Down 12
Fermanagh 14
Monaghan 2
Tyrone 9

Christopher

[Kellbell]

Thank you very much Christopher.  I will look into that for sure.  Are the numbers next to the towns listed page numbers from the book you mentioned? 

[Christopher]

Thank you very much Christopher.  I will look into that for sure.  Are the numbers next to the towns listed page numbers from the book you mentioned? 

The figures show the number of Burke families per county

[aghadowey]

As I said earlier he could have run a small ferry across a river (in which case he could also have farmed a bit of land or worked as a farm labourer)- there were several across the River Bann alone but as it seems you aren't sure it was his occupation in Ireland it really doesn't help much.

[Kellbell]

Thank you both for all your input.    The numbers of Burke families in particular areas as well as the understanding that the term "ferryman" isn't necessarily literal helps.  Although it is true that I do not have solid proof yet that it was his occupation prior to going to PEI, it at least gives me somewhere to look.  It's more than I had before! lol   I need to start somewhere I suppose.  

[Milliepede]

I have one who came over to England and is listed as a land surveyor in 1847. This sounds quite important to me but is probably something quite ordinary!

[Puck]

How about Patrick Ryan born in Ireland, shown in the 1881 Census as a Gunner in the Royal Marine Artillery - but his Father's occupation was a Shoemaker - and i still don't know where they came from.

Puck

[Rabbit B]

Hi Everyone, Hi Christopher,

My great Grandfather was head groom, so the story in the family goes. I think that he worked for :-

Lord Londonderry, but I cannot find his Irish estates anywhere, despite a lot of searching! Have you any idea how I could find out where it is?  

I have found a marriage which is a possible, but he came over to Liverpool later on and worked as a dock labourer.  So the groom might have been his father.

I am well and truly stuck on this line.   I'd be so grateful for any pointers you can give me

Rabbit B