Occupation: Commercial Traveller's In Ireland

[gazza1966]

Hi There,

I do know my 2xgrandfather John Flanagan's occupation as a Commercial Traveller, as it states on his death record in 1897, 47 yrs old in No.10 Villa Bank, Arran Quay, Dublin.

If possible, please can someone out there point in in the right direction on an organisation of records on Commercial Travellers.
 
I tried google search, but nothing comes up.

Kind Regards
     Gary

[lizdb]

I wouldn't think there is/was one.

There is no professional body linked to the occupation, or central organisation.

Happy to be proved wrong!

[gazza1966]

Hi lizdb,
Thankyou for answering, and sorry if i sound bad i just hope your wrong ,

Regards
 Gary

[BallyaltikilliganG]

try a Thoms all ireland or just dublin sections directory say 1880-1890 look for his name in trade lists eg shoe manufacturers most CT focus on a single trade

[gazza1966]

Hi BallyaltikilliganG,

Thank You for pointing me in the right direction.
Kind Regards
        Gary

[aghadowey]

It may be that he previously served his time in a shop before becoming a salesman for a business. For example, a tea traveller might have worked in a grocery store and then with that experience was able to get employment for a firm that sold tea.

Have you checked other certificates (marriage? children's births, marriages or deaths?) to see if another occupation is listed?

[gazza1966]

Hi aghadowey,

Thank you for answering, yes i have noticed a few changes in John's occupation, this is the marriage and the three children of John Flanagan and with John's occupation.

Marriage:1883 Waterford, John's Occupation: Accountant

Daughter Jessie's birth: 1884 Co.Down, John's Occupation: Book Keeper
Daughter Jessie's Marriage: 1906 Co.Down, John's Occupation: Traveller

Son William's birth: 1886 Waterford, John's Occupation: Traveller
Son William's Marriage: 1916 Co.Cork, John's Occupation: Mason

Son George's birth: 1893 Belfast, John's Occupation: Traveller

aghadowey do you think i should get a subscripton on one of the ancestry site, and lookup on the Thom's Street Directory.

Regards
 Gary
 

 

[aghadowey]

The only occupation listed that doesn't fit is mason but as that's from a son's marriage certificate could just be a mistake (perhaps officiant got mixed up or son just thought it was correct). Accountant/book-keeper to commercial traveller is logical but it's just a matter of luck if he's listed in directories. If you do go down that route then be sure to check by addresses known rather than just surname listing as there are usually more listings under the address but not everyone listed by name in directories.

Might also be worth searching old newspapers for adverts or news articles.

[gazza1966]

aghadowey thanks for all the info you have sent to me.
I appreciate with your advice, and its recently i found a John Flanagan death in 1897 in Dublin as a Commercial Traveller, then by 1901 Census the son of John my grandfather William Flanagan 14yrs was in a boarding school for boys in Dublin, so to me it adds up.
John's wife my 2xgrandmother  Gertrude Tiffin/Flanagan remarried in Co.Down in 1898, about 6 months after John died.
Kind Regards
   Gary