Saddler profession

[npl]

Hello Rootschatters,

I am wondering if anyone can help me please. My grandfather's profession was a saddler in Dublin. It says this on his marriage certificate in 1903. Would anyone have any clues as to where he learned his trade in Dublin? Would there have been a guild of some sort at that time perhaps?

Thank you in advance,

Nora

[purlin]

There most certainly were Guilds for all the main trades, Saddlers would be well represented.  The Irish Guilds are quite often associated or affiliated with the Welsh, English and Scottish Guilds.
Check out Google I'm sure you will find lots of information.

His trade would have been learnt as a Journeyman to a Master Saddler.  He and his parents would have signed indentures to bind him legally to a Master Saddler for a period of apprenticeship. Once his apprenticeship had been served, usually at the age of 21 he may have gone into business on his own as a Master Saddler.

[Sinann]

This dates from 1915, Kelly's Directory of the Leather Trades in Ireland.
http://www.failteromhat.com/kelly1915all.php

I just spoke to a member of (possibly) the only saddle making family left in Ireland and he said there isn't any guild now and no formal apprenticeship.
He isn't aware if there ever was.

[Sinann]

There was a Dublin Saddlers' Society
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_Trades_Union_Congress
so they had to be organised to some degree.
If it's the same man James Chambers appears to be a Harness Maker.
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Dublin/Inn_s_Quay/St__Ignatius_Road/18414/

[npl]

Thank you Purlin and Sinann for your replies. My grandfathers name was Patrick MITCHELL. I know he went into the army and practiced his trade there, what I was wondering is if I could find out who he was apprenticed to or if there are any records in existence of apprentices of the late 1890s.

I know it's a long shot but I thought it worth trying.

Kindest regards, 

Nora

[youngtug]

First you are an apprentice, then a journeyman. After finishing an apprenticeship you become a journeyman, someone who works for someone else. Some then work for themselves and employ others. in earlier times the guild had to recognize you as a master tradesman before you could trade.
Not sure about a saddlery guild in Dublin in the late 1800s but i found this; 
   http://www.rootschat.com/links/01jhd/
       

[Sinann]

I see his marriage, he was living in Ranelagh, tried to see who he might be working for there. Ranelagh comes under Rathmines and Rathger East so I put saddler into that area in 1901 and there are two Saddle Masters
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01jhg/
He could have worked for one of them.

[npl]

Hello Youngtug,

Thank you for your help. I shall keep a note of what you found. It is very helpful.

Kindest regards,

Nora

[npl]

Hello Sinann,

Thank you for your help. I will have a look on the internet to see if I can find any records of these people and maybe apprenticeship records.

Kindest regards,

Nora