WADDINGTON, John - from Cotton Spinner to Watchmaker?

[OzJane]

Is it possible that John Waddington moved from being a cotton spinner to a watchmaker?

I have John born 1832 to Thomas (a weaver) & Sarah in Tyldesley in 1832.

John married Ellen Holliday in 1852 in Prestwich and his occupation is given as a 'mule spinner'.
In the 1861 Census John and Ellen are living in Kearsley and he is a 'cotton spinner', they have 3 children:Sarah Anne (1853), Charlotte (1858), Richard (1860).
In the 1871 Census they are living in Farnworth and John is listed as 'Watchmaker & Jeweller', they have 5 children: Sarah Anne (1853), Charlotte (1858), Richard (1860), Selina (1862), William (1865).
In the 1881 Census they are still in Farnworth (Ellen is listed as 'Helen) and John is a 'Clock & Watch Maker. There are 3 children still at home: Richard (1860), Seline (1862), William (1865).

Is it at all possible that a cotton spinner in his mid twenties could have become a watchmaker?
I initially thought I may have the wrong family but the dates and the children fit almost perfectly. Given the names are not all that common in the family, the combination of names and birthdates is convincing me.
Would be grateful to you all if you could confirm the possibility of such a career change, or let me know what I have missed and am barking up the wrong tree.
Many thanks
Ozjane

[chempat]

One of my husband's ancestors was an excise officer for 2 censuses, then a clock and watch maker (as were several of his sons) and excise officer, and then back to just an excise officer.  Perhaps he was not very good at it?

So it does happen.

[Raybistre]

A little bit of info on Lancs watch & Clock making here: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/nostalgia/genealogy-your-ancestors-involved-horology--3385845
atb
Ray

[amondg]

Checked the new GRO index to see if all the children had the same mother indicating the same family.
Surname listed as registered/transcribed

Sarah Ann Warrington 1852 mmn Halliday reg. district Bury
Elizabeth Waddington 1856  mmn Halliday reg. district Bury death reg. 1856 age 0
Charlotte Warrington 1857   mmn Halliday reg. district Bury
Richard Waddington 1859    mmn Halliday  reg. district Bolton
Salina Wadington  1862       mmn Halliday           same
William Waddington  1865    mmn Halliday           same
Thomas Waddington  1866   mmn Halliday           same  death reg. 1868 age 1
Ellen Waddington      1868    mmn Halliday          same  death reg. 1868 either age 2 months or 4 months looks like years but actually months. There are two Ellen Waddington deaths in Bolton. 

[OzJane]

Thanks Chempat - good to know that it seems possible - it's just that the skill set seems quite different - however as you say, it is not out of the question.
Raybistre - I'd forgotten the directories, will do a thorough check in the cold light of day and let you know how it goes. Also  appreciate the link, great background.
Amondg, thanks so much for checking the GRO index, didn't know about Elizabeth. The family does seem to be the same. The children I mentioned are there, mother Halliday. The other two, Thomas and Ellen I checked on the Lancashire parish Clerk site:
Baptism: 27 Jan 1867 St John the Evangelist, Farnworth with Kearsley, Lancashire, England
Thomas Waddington - Son of John Waddington & Ellen
    Abode: Kearsley
    Occupation: Spinner
    Baptised by: W. H. Taylor
    Register: Baptisms 1864 - 1873, Page 84, Entry 665
    Source: LDS Film 1538438
Baptism: 10 Oct 1868 St John the Evangelist, Farnworth with Kearsley, Lancashire, England
Ellen Waddington - [Child] of John Waddington & Ellen
    Abode: Farnworth
    Occupation: Spinner
    Baptised by: Robt. Daunt
    Register: Baptisms 1864 - 1873, Page 130, Entry 1039
    Source: LDS Film 1538438

Again, he is listed as a 'Spinner' so that would seem to suggest that sometime between 1868 and 1871, John became a Watchmaker.
Thanks for your help - really appreciated.
Jane

[amondg]

When daughter Sarah Ann married James Wolfendale 1878 her father John Waddington is a brickmaker

[OzJane]

Thanks again amondg, I'd seen that but was pretending it wasn't there
It just confuses the matter further! Still you can't help who your relatives are.
As no one has suggested I'm mixing families, which is not beyond the realms of possibility, it seems that John did change careers a few times.
Again appreciate your input.
Jane

[Maiden Stone]

He may have taken the decision to retrain during the Lancashire Cotton Famine which was a result of the American Civil War. Perhaps attended night-school at the Mechanics' Institute. He would have ample time for study when he was laid-off work. Or his change of job may have been due to a health problem or accident.
"Brickmaker" on daughter's marriage cert may have been a mistake for watchmaker. He was still a watchmaker on 1881 census.

[OzJane]

Agreed Maiden Stone - you're too quick for me, I just had the thought that there may have been a transcription error on the  1878 entry. He is identified on both the 1881 census and his daughter, Selina's marriage record, as a Watchmaker.
Cheers