Meaning of occupation in 1841 census of Stevenson.

[Sarco]

In 1841 John Auld b. abt 1819 is with wife Janet and new son David. His occupation is given as "C.M."

Can anybody help with what "C.M." might mean?

In every census from then until his death in 1883 his occupation was railway Guard.

Thanks in advance

Darryl
Sydney Australia

[gaffy]

I've seen C.M. used before in various census records to mean coal miner.

Stevenson was a coal mining area with the pits being mostly exhausted at the end of the 1800s, so is this a possibility? Are there other mentions of "C.M." in nearby entries?

[barryd]

My specialty is County Durham where there are pages and pages of C.M.'s. Allot of C.M.'s took the offer of other employment if offered. John Auld looks like he did that. Coal mining was not a pleasant occupation.

[Lambendsor (aka IGS)]

Might it be for "carpet manufacturer"?

The Kilmarnock and Riccarton Post-Office Directory for 1846-47 lists a "Auld, John, Carpet weaver, Wellington Street"

https://archive.org/stream/kilmarnockriccar184647kil#page/n3/mode/2up

[Lambendsor (aka IGS)]

P.S. And I mostly suggest the above because the 1868 Kilmarnock Directory lists "Auld, John, railway guard, 9 Langlands street"

https://archive.org/stream/postofficekilmar1868kilm#page/n5/mode/2up

[stanmapstone]

There is a list of 1841 Census Occupations for the Kilmarnock Area at  http://www.rootschat.com/links/01ef5/

Stan

[Sarco]

Thanks for all the prompt replies, much appreciated. The list of occupations is very interesting thanks to Stan.

The list leaves open a few possibilities unfortunately with Carpet and Rug Manufacture being very numerous. But then more numerous again are those involved with Cotton Manufacture. Coal Miners are recorded on the list as Miner Coal (don't know if its the same on the enumerators's schedules).

On balance then, its probable that C.M. means that he was involved in Cotton Manufacture without specifying what job he actually did.

Now to find out what railway he was operating on.

Regards

Darryl
Sydney Australia

[stanmapstone]

The national railway network came through Kilmarnock in 1843, when the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock & Ayr Railway was opened, which is probably when he changed his occupation.

Stan

[Sarco]

Boy, that was quick Stan, I've just come back to this thread after posting a railways thread and here's the answer!

Was that the name of the company or a description of the route?

Darryl