Occupation "Car Driver"-1901& 1911- Co. Monaghan

[Suemagoo]

I have found on the 1901 and 1911 Census for Glasslough Street, Co. Monaghan, a ancestor who at that time his occupation was listed as "car driver"?. His name is Thomas Graham. There is another Thomas Graham also living on Glasslough Street and his occupation was "coachman". Both had sons named Thomas and both were "law clerks" so it took me ages to figure out which family was mine. Can someone advise would a "car driver" during those times be a taxi driver? I don't know how many cars were even on the road during 1901 and 1911 and I would assume a coachman drove a horse and carriage?? Thanks in advance.

[stanmapstone]

I don't know how many cars were even on the road during 1901 and 1911 and I would assume a coachman drove a horse and carriage?? Thanks in advance.

See Evolution of Motor Cars in Ireland https://www.kennco.ie/cars-in-ireland/

Stan

[gaffy]

For the context you've given, I would assume horse power.  The coachman carried passengers.  The car driver was today's van driver (goods).

[Maiden Stone]

Could it have been a jaunting-car? It was drawn by a horse. Passengers were on outward-facing seats behind the driver. Still in use in Kerry in modern times.  I've just read a newspaper article from 1847 on Ireland Reaching Out website which suggested that Irish police should use them to pursue or search for criminals.

[Maiden Stone]

Was it definitely "car driver" not cab driver?

For the context you've given, I would assume horse power.  The coachman carried passengers.  The car driver was today's van driver (goods).

Would a goods carrier more likely be called a carter? 

[KGarrad]

Could he have been a tram driver?
I have heard of these being called car drivers before.

City of Derry Tramways ran between 1897 and 1919.

[hallmark]

census has

12162 car drivers in 1901  ...101 in Monaghan

12208  car drivers in 1911  ...102 in Monaghan

[heywood]

To echo hallmark, lots of car drivers mentioned in newspapers of the time.

I suppose they did any jobs that needed transport.

Thomas Graham, father of the older Thomas was a coachman on son’s  birth in 1870.

Thomas, father of Thomas William 1893 was a bus driver on son’s birth.

[hallmark]

Looking at http://www.rootschat.com/links/01m7s/  which is the result of search from census for "Car Driver"

the different types of drivers are differentiated depending on where they drove.

Car Driver
Driver of Steam Roller
Creamery Engine Driver
Breadcart Driver


etc