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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Caithness => Topic started by: Cynfran on Saturday 08 October 11 13:42 BST (UK)
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My then 75 year old great grandfather's occupation is described on his son's 1913 death certificate as a 'stone breaker'. Apart from the obvious literal meaning, does anyone please know what this would have entailed? He had been a crofter / fisherman for most of his life.
Cynfran
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Hi Cynfran
One explanation here http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/DUMFRIES-GALLOWAY/2010-02/1265125383
Monica :)
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Thanks Monica
Not the easiest of occupations for a 75 year old, but no doubt he had worked hard all his life and still had another 14 years in him!
Regards
Cynfran
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A Caithness Keith relative of mine 4 generations back (from The Corr at Forse {pic attached} or upper Clyth) worked at a quarry smashing up rocks for metalling roads. The quarry was between Latheron and Halkirk, I heard this from my Great Aunt Georgina Keith many years ago so can't recall the quarry's name
He walked 10 miles to work and broke rocks into small pieces then walked 10 miles home. We have an easy life these days
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He might also have been involved in the production of Caithness flags. Castletown was a centre of production of these which were exported for paving etc'.
Skoosh
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Yes, I am aware of the production of caithness slabs nearby and still at a quarry near Halkirk.
I rememember my Aunt being specific saying he was involved in breaking stones to make surfaces for road before tarmacadam use
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The quarry would most likely have been at Spittal, which is still producing flagstones. The waste would have been crushed for road-making. I am interested in who the relative was, as members of my family worked there in the early 20thC.
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Yes that is possible but would spittal be too far to walk from 2 miles on the casamire (sp) road to Wick? the ancestor of mine walked there and back with hard work inbetween.
The family ancestor of mine would have been from the Keith family of thr Corr and would have worked there in the early 20th C too. I'll ask my mun later and see if I can get a first name.
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sorry, I meant 2 miles from Latheron on the road to wick on the now A9 road
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You're right enough Bruce. He must have been in some wee local quarry opened for the purpose. The Causeymire is, I think, the spelling.
Skoosh.
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So much for stone breakers and stonemasons. Does anyone have any knowledge of "stone cutters"?
One of my female ancestors (maiden name Jane Murray) died in the Jedburgh Union poorhouse in 1868. She came originally from Northern Ireland, almost certainly from Belfast, and her death-certificate gives the occupation of her father William Murray as "stonemason".
I have a copy of Martin's Belfast Directory of 1841-42, and it lists a William Murray, "stone cutter", in the city. It's highly unlikely that Jane's father would still have been alive and working then, but these directories were often out of date before they were printed. Alternatively, a son of the same name might have inherited the family business. If "stone cutter" is equivalent to "stonemason". I think it must be a bit more than "stone breaker", as a labourer breaking up stones wouldn't have had an entry in a trade directory.
Harry