Police Consatable Wanlockhead Dumfries-shire

[Margow]

John Paterson may have been a shoemaker before he joined the police force and gone back to that occupation after he left.  What was his occupation when he married Janet Hadden in 1876?

[RJ_Paton]

The Police (Scotland) Act 1890 established pension service rights for Constables, although on slightly different terms than those Constables in England

The acts set a requirement of at least 25 years' service, reduced to 15 (England and Wales) or 20 (Scotland) years for retirement due to "infirmity of mind or body" and waived for retirement due to injury in the line of duty.

So basically if the TB which caused his death was evident earlier he may have been able to retire with 20 years service.

added : Given the updates re TB timeline this would appear unlikely

[AlanBoyd]

deleted (duplicate of above)

[dowdstree]

John Paterson's occupation on his marriage certificate is Shoemaker.

Janet Hadden is a housemaid and her address is The Manse, Wamphrey.

Dorrie

[AlanBoyd]

So basically if the TB which caused his death was evident earlier he may have been able to retire with 20 years service.

Apparently the survival after diagnosable TB was only for ~2-3 years.

https://www.valmcbeath.com/victorian-era-england-1837-1901/victorian-era-consumption/

[AlanBoyd]

Obviously other factors could override this, but why would someone diagnosed with TB move from a rural area to a city? By the 1890s the idea of sanatoria had appeared, with ‘fresh air’ being touted as the best hope for survival.

Does the death certificate give any indication of how long he had been suffering from TB (don’t Scottish certificates normally have this information)?

[RJ_Paton]

I was somewhat confused as to why someone with what was probably a secure job as a Police Constable in 1891 should end up as a Porter in 1901.

As I said before the life was hard, 10hr shifts 7 days a week ( it wasn't until 1914 that Constables in Scotland got a statutory right to 1 day off in 7)

Wages - the average wage was considerably less than could be obtained in most industries

The 1890 Act although it introduced 25 yr service pensions and ill health retirals actually reduced the benefits on offer

Rigid army style discipline - many of the senior officers (above Inspector) were recruited directly as they retired from the Army

The job wasn't as secure as modern eyes may consider it or as attractive in comparison to many other jobs.

[TAMOWEN4]

Thanks to all for information.  I believe I'm on the right track.