Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Until my parents' generation the overwhelming majority of them were farmers in all branches of the family.
But occasionally other occupations appeared: miller, innkeeper, ferryman...he was also a blacksmith, cheesemaker, cordwainer, hat maker (a woman), brewer (a woman), a saloon and pool hall keeper.
And two lads, cousins, who married about the same time, each couple standing as witnesses at the others wedding, lived near each other....and one day they walked to work together and never came back.
They worked in an explosives factory, and that day they were packing dynamite and something went terribly wrong. They blew up the entire factory, killing themselves and one other packer. The paper reported that only about 100 pounds of human remains were recovered from the trees for the funerals of the three.
One of the most interesting things I have learned was about my great-, or great-great-grandfather, Columbus McGee. He was in the Molly Maguires, a militant coal miners' union in Pennsylvania in the late 19th Century. Columbus McGee was actually charged with and acquitted of the murder of a Pinkerton agent, so this is one very direct illustration of how, if things had just gone a little differently I wouldn't exist.
Rag collector? Don't know what you would do with rags exactly.
Sell them to cloth or rug makers?
Quote:
Originally Posted by ArkansasSlim
And I don't know what he would be classified as, but he hauled freight, by wagon, from Little Rock to Pike County AR and made deliveries along the way.
Teamster, possibly or drayman.
Quote:
Originally Posted by njkate
My great grandfather in addition to being a plumber was the Superintendent of Sewars in the city he lived in..that one always cracked me up
Somebody had to do it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by kevxu
And two lads, cousins, who married about the same time, each couple standing as witnesses at the others wedding, lived near each other....and one day they walked to work together and never came back.
They worked in an explosives factory, and that day they were packing dynamite and something went terribly wrong.
Damn! At first read I thought one of the men and one of the women ahd run away together. That would have beena lot more fun!
I read in a history book once that common names like Smith, Carpenter, Wheeler, Mason, etc, probably have English ancestry. Many generations ago people derived their last names from the occupation they were in.
I'm no expert but that kinda makes sense.
Something like that. I don't really know what the majority of my ancestors did, but my father's father's family was Welsh and I'm guessing someone far up that line made wheels, judging by our name. Judging by my father's mother's maiden name, I'm guessing someone in her family worked in the Cocoa industry.
Something like that. I don't really know what the majority of my ancestors did, but my father's father's family was Welsh and I'm guessing someone far up that line made wheels, judging by our name. Judging by my father's mother's maiden name, I'm guessing someone in her family worked in the Cocoa industry.
not all names are occupational.
Some have to do with kinship, some with place name, some just taken to have a name like Green or Brown.
Some have to do with a characteristic: Short, White (hair color) or just taken like Green, etc to have a name.
Sorry if this post seems obvious or maybe you were joking?
These were all in Germany.....County Judge 1691-1724; Deputy 1701-1707; Court Administrator 1717-1729; Castle Master 1722-1727; Alderman 1694-1716; Pastor 1722-1761; Pastor 1936; Shoe Maker 1790; Post Master ?; Decorator 1869; Ship Builder 1900.
There were a great number of Doctors and one painter/sculpturer.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
not all names are occupational.
