James Martin occupation?

[Rustypup]

 
    I have found 3 occupations for the following:
 
    James Martin b1788 Sorn
    On son's death record in 1861 listed as general teacher
    On wife's death record in 1867 listed as labourer
    On 1851 census listed as pauper formerly stone breaker at Coylton

    Have been unable to find death record and can't understand the different occupations.

       Rustypup

[GR2]

A variety of occupations is not unusual. Stone-breaker/labourer go together quite well. He was a labourer who, at one point, broke stones (probably for road making/mending). Assuming you have the same person, "general teacher" is perhaps the more surprising occupation, but school was not compulsory in Scotland until 1872. Each parish had its school, but there were all sorts of small, semi-official and unofficial dame-schools and the like. If I were you, I'd try to find him in the 1841 census to get another snapshot of his "career". When someone went to register a death, they might not be sure of the father's occupation. If they were, they might not give the final occupation.

[ColC]

I note that James is noted as an Ag Lab in 1841.
I was unable to find him in 1861 but Robert now married is in Dreghorn. Archibald is also in Dreghorn with his mother who is noted as Elizabeth Balfour, I believe this is her maiden name as family search note her as this on the children's birth records.
So the question is do you have the right death record for his son?

Colin 

[josey]

1861 listed as general teacher
1867 listed as labourer
 

1841 ag lab

I have never heard the expression general teacher - wonder if it's a transcription error for general labourer?

[rosie17]

Have you tried the old parish records as 1 match comes up for a James Martin 1852-1853 in Ayr all parish's maybe worth a try

[loobylooayr]

Would agree with Josey - Is it possible that the word "teacher" on James's son's death cert is actually a poorly written labourer?
It seems unlikely that he would be a stone breaker in 1851 and a labourer in 1867 yet was a teacher in 1861 

Looby

[loobylooayr]

Just wondering Rustypup, you said that you can't find a death record for James Martin. Is there any indication on his son's and wife's death records that he had died before them?

Looby

[Rustypup]

  Agree general teacher an error, as he came from a long list of miners couldn't figure the teacher
  thing out.

  OPR 1852/53 James Martin is a child of 8 who died of scarlatina.

  Listed 1841 as agricultural labourer and 1851 as pauper (stone breaker) both at Knockshoggle
  Holm, Coylton.

  Must have died between 1851 and 1861 as recorded as deceased on son George's death and
  also wife Elisabeth was widow on her death in 1867 at Dreghorn.

  Even if he is recorded as a pauper in 1851 there should be a record of his death somewhere?
  Was there a poorhouse in that area at that time?

         Rustypup

[loobylooayr]

Hi Rustypup,

If James died before 1855, there is a good chance no record of his death or burial exists unfortunately.
1855 is the year when Statutory registration of BMDs came into force. Before that year deaths etc would be recorded in the Parish Records, but there was no obligation to do so. Death records are therefore very sparse. The information on this link will explain why  http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/content/help/index.aspx?r=554&1353


If James died after 1855 - there should be a death certificate. Remember to look for spelling variations i.e Marten/Marton etc. and also remember to look for unrecorded age too if searching on Scotlands People.

Looby