James' occupation

[cath151]

Hi,
I have the McDonagh family in Manchester in 1841, but finding it hard to decipher James aged 15 occupation (looks like Ind to me but unlikely given his age and social stature).
Also his mother Catherine ...a Needle ?, I know they worked in the mills when they came from Ireland. Head of house James is a painter.
Many thanks
Cathy

[Flattybasher9]

Stretched and darkened

Regards

Malky

[arthurk]

Needle Work for the mother, but I can't see anything beyond Ind for James at present, despite the crossing out and/or correction.

Arthur

Edit to add:
Could "Ind" be a euphemism for Unemployed?

[cath151]

Thanks Malky for making it clearer .
Quite possibly Arthur, did nt think of that and Needle Work...of course!
Thanks both
Cathy

[jusnoneed]

Hi, just wondering if it could be Imbcl meaning Imbecile? I know that's how it often appears in later census pages.

[orkrad]

 Could it possibly be "indolent" meaning not employed? I'm not sure if that would be an officially  recognised occupation.

Regards Orkrad

[cath151]

I wonder, it could be , looking at it again. Thanks jusnoneed that's a good thought.

and indolent sounds a wonderful occupation for a teenager ! Thanks Orkrad,  I can t find him for sure in later censuses although there are several possibilities.
Cathy

[arthurk]

There's a copy of the 1841 Enumerators' instructions at
http://www.hunimex.com/warwick/census/1841_enum_inst.html

According to this, "Ind" could only be used as an abbreviation for "Independent", and this term was supposed to be used only for men, widows or single women having no profession or calling, but living on their means.

Wives and children living in the family home and assisting their husbands/parents, but not apprenticed or receiving wages, did not need to have an occupation recorded.

I'm not quite sure where that leaves James, though. Although recorded as 15 years old, he could have been nearly 20 - might he have been between jobs, and possibly living temporarily on a pay-off?

Arthur

[cath151]

Thanks Arthur, that's what puzzled me as he came from  a very working class family and therefore would nt have independent means as in his own money. I think you are probably right, perhaps between jobs or unemployed or perhaps jusnoneed was on to something..
 Thanks
Cathy