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Author Topic: Drifting by  (Read 156 times)
andrewalston
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My granddad
Drifting by
« on: Monday 04 July 05 09:57 BST (UK) »
On a marriage certificate in Bolton in 1852, the groom's father's occupation is shown as "Drifter". Father is not necessarily from the area.
Is this more likely to be:
a) Someone who digs a drift mine in the coal industry.
b) Someone in the fishing industry using a drift net.
c) A wanderer from place to place.
d) Something I have not thought of!

It just shows how our language changes over the years!
Logged
Looking at ALSTON in south Ribble area, ALSTEAD  everywhere, HOWCROFT and MARSH in Bolton and Westhoughton, PICKERING in the Whitehaven area.


Census information is Crown Copyright. See www.nationalarchives.gov.uk for details.
ozwendy
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Re: Drifting by
« Reply #1 on: Wednesday 06 July 05 23:15 BST (UK) »
Hi

I would assume it means a wanderer, he was still living but absent. I think if it was the name of a job, say in a mill or a mine, they would have written "drifter in mill" or something to that effect so as to clarify the situation. If your father had a legitimate, full-time job you wouldn't want anyone to think he was a wandering drifter.

My great grandfather was a drifter, but my aunt likes to say he was an itinerant. (I think she thinks it makes it sound better)  Smiley

Just my thoughts, there may be a job called a "drifter"

Wendy
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Faricy -  Lancs.
Faricy, Gardner, Jones, Aldred, Battersby, Calland, Webb, Jones,Evans - Hindley, Lancs
Coleman, Price, Taylor, Ryan, Joyce, Barrett, Astin - Oldham/Failsworth, Lancs
Gardner, Evans, Jones, Williams,Sambrook, Davies,Wardman,Ellis  - Montgomeryshire/Worthern,Salop
Price, Thomas, Jones - Chester/Flint
Jones,Webb,Griffiths,Bagshaw,Bowen,Richards, - Dawley/Wellington,Salop
Faricy - Waterford/Cork - Ireland
Faricy, Robles - Austalia
andrewalston
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My granddad
Re: Drifting by
« Reply #2 on: Thursday 07 July 05 09:04 BST (UK) »
I'm convinced that it's the digging of a drift mine, or possibly its supervision. An itinerant would probably be described as "labourer".
The son signed the certificate (quite neatly too); I don't think an itinerant labourer's son would get much education.
Logged
Looking at ALSTON in south Ribble area, ALSTEAD  everywhere, HOWCROFT and MARSH in Bolton and Westhoughton, PICKERING in the Whitehaven area.


Census information is Crown Copyright. See www.nationalarchives.gov.uk for details.
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