What in the devil is a Whip Thong Maker?

[Jan Ann]

Hi There

My GG Grandad William Richards is listed on all censi as a Whip Thong Maker - Sounds a little risky!

Does anyone know what this occupation is and can anyone tell me if this is someway connected to gun making which is espescially connected with the Richards family.

Cheers
Jan

[RJ_Paton]

from a search on Google .... it is quite a specialised occupation and exactly what it says ..... a maker of thongs (braided section) of whip

Thong: Usually the braided part of the flexible bit of the whip. Some long European equestrian whips have a thong made from a single strip of leather. 

..... the trade is more involved with saddelry and the Horse trade than with firearms.

[Cal241]

HI
Ok I was the brave one and did a search for Whip Thong Maker !!
I thought it was the part you hold and I think I was right. This is a quote from an Oz whip making site


'All whips six to sixteen plait, have a balanced
handle (balanced against the weight  in the thong).'
This is the site if you are really interested !!!

http://www.aussiewhipmaker.com/WhipMaking.htm

Cal

[suey]

I hope this link works - take a look at the picture of this whip, the white part curled round the length of the whip is the thong, this is the part your GG Grandad made 

http://www.drivingessentials.com/whips_specialty.htm

Suey

[Jan Ann]

Hi everyone!

Thanks for the replies!  This has been most fascinating!

Cheers
Jan

[cmcmull]

Hi Jan,  I know this is a long time ago but are you still linked to this site.  William Richards whip thong maker is also in my tree as he is a nephew of my ancestor Betsy Richards Shaw.

I'd love to make contact and share some history.
Regards, Carmel

[jbml]

Ok I was the brave one and did a search for Whip Thong Maker !!
I thought it was the part you hold and I think I was right.

I don't, and you weren't.

The term "thong" is still current usage for a specific part of the whip: see this link

http://thehuntingshop.co.uk/Whips-Thongs-Lashes

[cmcmull]

Hi Jan.  I see the Spooner name in your list of names and I have a dna match with Jen Lancaster who is a Spooner descendant.  I am descended from another sister Betsy Richards b1820 in Nottingham.   She married Thomas Shaw and emigrated to Brisbane on Sabrina in January 1856.

[jbml]

Well, that was me not Jan who has Spooner ancestors ... but mine were tailors of Colchester who moved into the East End of London in the 19th century and changed their name to King and then King-Spooner to hide a case of bigamy in the 1860s ...