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Beginners => Family History Beginners Board => Topic started by: unicorn80 on Sunday 20 December 20 12:49 GMT (UK)
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Hi, I have an ancestor whose occupation in 1885 is given as a Well Sinker. Any ideas what this is? Would it be connected to the manufacture of iron? Other members of the family are Puddlers so would the two be connected in any way?
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A well sinker digs wells - probably for water. :-\
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I would look at his occupation through the censuses - it might give more clues about which sort of wells he sank. :)
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https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=215893.0
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Just for information and possible future use --- there is a website with an index of old occupations --
https://rmhh.co.uk/occup/index.html
Both the occupations you mention are included. Just click on the first letter of each occupation and tab down until you see the one you want.
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My definition of Well sinker came from "A Dictionary of old trades, tiles and occupations" - a really useful book.
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A Sinker with no other description ........... probably could sink a Well on his lunch break.
A sinker in mining was a worker in the 1800s who specialized in creating new vertical mine shafts. The job was highly skilled and the workers who did this work were often regarded as an elite workforce.
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Hi thanks everyone for your help and, especially, the links. All I know about this chap (from his son's marriage cert.) is that his name was " _ Butler (Dec'd) Well Sinker". Finding it impossible to track him down on any census. The son was born in Birmingham, which is why I wondered whether there was any other form of well sinker other than digging wells for water.
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https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/forum/index.php?threads/birminghams-water-supply.1551/
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Slightly different:
Some of my ancestors (1700s) from the Midlands were once pit sinkers. They moved west through Shropshire and then Denbighshire borders , sinking coal mine shafts.
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That's a new one, I've never heard of it before. You learn something every day on here. :D
Carol