Do the mighty fall?

[NicoC]

Not sure whether this is where this belongs but I'm kind of stuck & it seems to be a general question rather than a specific one.  I am currently researching my mother's side of the tree. On her marriage certificate her father is listed as James Street occupation 'canter' (which apparently is one of those people who stands on street corners spouting the bible). I have found her (Ellen Street) in the 1901 census age 3 & her father is henry James Street occupation Bus conductor. So far so good. Then in the 1891 census he is with his previous wife Lillian & he is Henry J W Street occupation Solicitors clerk (incidently I can find no reference to Lilian's death or to Henry's marriage to Alice, Ellen's mother).

This seems a bit of a step down, Solicitor's clerk to Bus conductor to mad old fool! Anyway, so I've found him with his parents Henry James Street & Eliza Wareham, so duly ordered the marriage certificate & it lists his father as a scrivener (which apparently is a kind of posh clerk!) & his father Samuel Street as a 'Gentleman'!  This all seems like a huge descent from grace from a gentleman grandfather down to a canter. Is this likely, did it happen or have I slipped up along the way & picked up a different track of a posh family not my rubbish 'common' one  (there is incidently a story that my family had lots of money & that James Street lost it all- could it be for once that one of the family stories is true?!)?

I know this seems like an epic, just after some second opinions!

Thanks

Nico

[Rena]

Hi,

My father in law's family paid for him to be articled to a solicitor's clerk but as soon as he came of age he can be found on the next census working on the railways, then eventually did what all little boys dreamt of when I was young - being an engine driver and seeing 'the world' 

Hard as it is for me to understand I have come across several men who have turned away from their privileged lifestyle to preach on subjects close to their hearts, e.g. that everybody is equal.   To a lesser degree I believe there have been some 'canters' in the Parliamentary House of Commons who renounced their hereditary titles in order to become Members of Parliament.  (It's debatable whether receiving an MP's salary and expenses would render them less well off).

Rena

[ev]

hi nicoc

on the 1891 census i think it reads auctioneers clerk
"canting caller" was another name for an auctioneer
canter sounds close to this

ev

[toni*]

a bit off the topic here but it reminds me of that solicitor / lawyer guy on the simpsons!

[NicoC]

hi nicoc

on the 1891 census i think it reads auctioneers clerk
"canting caller" was another name for an auctioner
canter sounds close to this

ev

You're right it does, I was typing (incorrectly) from memory so, that's really interesting, so maybe he went back to that? After a brief sojourn 'on the buses'. Thanks very much!

[NicoC]

a bit off the topic here but it reminds me of that solicitor / lawyer guy on the simpsons!

"works on commision..., No, money down!"

[trish251]

I must admit this caught my eye

Solicitor's clerk to Bus conductor to mad old fool!    - so I went looking for the family.

I haven't yet found the marriage of Alice and Henry, but I think I have found the death of Alice's first husband (& she appears to have been his second wife from 1891). Sadly daughter Florence Emma Hayes was born after his death - viz
Death Dec 1891 Joseph Hayes 34 Stourbridge 6c 93
Birth Mar 1892 Florence Emma Hayes Storubridge 6c 170

Still looking for the marriage

Trish

[CatOne]

Marriage -

Henry James W Street to Lilian Frisby June 1890 Wolstanton Vol 6b Page 226

[trish251]

In 1901, there is a Lilian Frisby, professional singer - born Hitchin (as per Lilian street in 1891) listed as single  RG13/4301 145/15 Methley Yorkshire, boarder with the Elliott family

Trish