Author Topic: Coal Mining Occupation  (Read 2229 times)

Offline Linna

  • RootsChat Extra
  • **
  • Posts: 79
    • View Profile
Coal Mining Occupation
« on: Saturday 13 May 17 15:45 BST (UK) »
I was reviewing a 1939 register entry for one of my ancestors and came across an occupation I cannot decipher. I have been on the Durham and Welsh sites recommended by others in this forum but can't find the occupation.
I have attached an image and hope that someone can enlighten me.

1939 Register reference is 7324J-009 XJGY line 39 for Albert Jay.

Thanks
Dorset/Hampshire:
Newman, Fry, Hancock, Hoare and Budden

Offline Rena

  • RootsChat Marquessate
  • *******
  • Posts: 4,786
  • Crown Copyright: www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: Coal Mining Occupation
« Reply #1 on: Saturday 13 May 17 16:17 BST (UK) »
Somebody will probably come along with exactly the right answer but I can only distinguish two words with certainty.

"Colliery" --- "Boy"

Young boys did a myriad of jobs; if the last letter was an "r", I could see the middle word as "Sorter" = Colliery Sorter Boy.   I haven't the foggiest notion of what needs sorting down a mine, but have found an old occupation list.

*pick sorter
    sorts blunt from sharp picks and other tools at pit bottom and distributes them to colliers; or places them in numbered holes ready for colliers.

http://doot.spub.co.uk/code.php?value=047
Aberdeen: Findlay-Shirras,McCarthy: MidLothian: Mason,Telford,Darling,Cruikshanks,Bennett,Sime, Bell: Lanarks:Crum, Brown, MacKenzie,Cameron, Glen, Millar; Ross: Urray:Mackenzie:  Moray: Findlay; Marshall/Marischell: Perthshire: Brown Ferguson: Wales: McCarthy, Thomas: England: Almond, Askin, Dodson, Well(es). Harrison, Maw, McCarthy, Munford, Pye, Shearing, Smith, Smythe, Speight, Strike, Wallis/Wallace, Ward, Wells;Germany: Flamme,Ehlers, Bielstein, Germer, Mohlm, Reupke

Offline tonepad

  • RootsChat Aristocrat
  • ******
  • Posts: 1,320
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: Coal Mining Occupation
« Reply #2 on: Saturday 13 May 17 16:20 BST (UK) »
Is it a poor spelling of:

Colliery errand boy
Aucock/Aukett~Kent/Sussex, Broadway~Oxfordshire, Danks~Warwickshire, Fenn~Kent/Norfolk, Goatham~Kent, Hunt~Kent, Parker~Middlesex, Perry~Kent, Sellers~Kent/Yorkshire, Sladden~Kent, Wright~Kent/Essex

Offline JenB

  • RootsChat Marquessate
  • *******
  • Posts: 16,830
    • View Profile
Re: Coal Mining Occupation
« Reply #3 on: Saturday 13 May 17 16:21 BST (UK) »
It's colliery screen boy.

This coal was passed over a 'screen' through which the small pieces and other detritus fell, leaving only the larger pieces of coal. This job was often done by young boys.
All Census Look Ups Are Crown Copyright from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk


Offline stanmapstone

  • RootsChat Marquessate
  • *******
  • Posts: 25,798
    • View Profile
Re: Coal Mining Occupation
« Reply #4 on: Saturday 13 May 17 16:58 BST (UK) »
A screen boy picked out dirt (stone or other impurity) from the coal as it passed on the picking belts. The coal did not pass over a "screen". See Horden Collieries Ltd. Screens - Blackhall at http://ppparchive.durham.gov.uk/photos/picviewer.asp?next=25 

Stan
Census Information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Offline JenB

  • RootsChat Marquessate
  • *******
  • Posts: 16,830
    • View Profile
Re: Coal Mining Occupation
« Reply #5 on: Saturday 13 May 17 17:02 BST (UK) »
The coal did not pass over a "screen".

Thank you for putting me right  :-X
All Census Look Ups Are Crown Copyright from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Offline stanmapstone

  • RootsChat Marquessate
  • *******
  • Posts: 25,798
    • View Profile
Re: Coal Mining Occupation
« Reply #6 on: Saturday 13 May 17 17:07 BST (UK) »
You can see Screen Boys at an earlier time at http://www.healeyhero.co.uk/rescue/pits/Clifton/Screens.jpg

Stan
Census Information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Offline radstockjeff

  • RootsChat Veteran
  • *****
  • Posts: 688
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: Coal Mining Occupation
« Reply #7 on: Saturday 13 May 17 17:11 BST (UK) »
Could it be "colliery bottom" boy?
Nurse, Musther, Smith, Julnes, Rogers, Parsons,Grieves(Greaves,Greeves),Wood,Cray,Scrine,Shellard,Greenstock,

There's nothing wrong with being mediocre...as long as you're good at it!

Offline radstockjeff

  • RootsChat Veteran
  • *****
  • Posts: 688
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: Coal Mining Occupation
« Reply #8 on: Saturday 13 May 17 18:30 BST (UK) »
May be another name for a trapper - a young boy who would be employed at the air doors, opening and closing to allow the passage of tubs to and from the face.
Nurse, Musther, Smith, Julnes, Rogers, Parsons,Grieves(Greaves,Greeves),Wood,Cray,Scrine,Shellard,Greenstock,

There's nothing wrong with being mediocre...as long as you're good at it!