Occupation query 1881 Census (LDS)

[Silvilocks]

I've just found the census entry for my great-grandparents on LDS, and I'm confuzzled by the details of their occupation. Both husband and wife are shown as 'Gardener (7)'. Does anyone have any idea what the (7) might mean? I haven't come across any other occupations with numbers after them, and I can't think what it might indicate. Any suggestions much appreciated.

Silvilocks

[Chris in 1066Land]

Hi Silvilocks

It may not be a 7 - can you give us the full reference number to find it or can you post a scan of it here

Then would be better able to help you / answer your query

Chris in 1066Land

[Silvilocks]

Hi Chris

Reference is RG11 2026/81 Page 5 - John and Mary Brown.

I know it's going to be almost impossible to work out without seeing the original (another one for the trip to the Records Office), but I just wondered if anyone else had found anything similar. It's possible the 7 is a clerical mark of some sort, but I haven't noticed them usually occurring on two consecuive lines.

Silvilocks

[Chris in 1066Land]

Hi Silvilocks

Opppps - dont have access to the original 1881 census

Have got it on CD; have got parts of it on Fiche (the FFHS transcription) and of course the transcription on the LDS web site - but not the original.

Library has only got parts of the original that apply to this area

Seems everyone uses the LDS site these days

Chris in 1066Land

[Steve Ley]

What county is it for ? I have the 1881 for Nottingham images if that is any use.
Some of my ancesters were farmers and it would include as a number the acre's they farmed.

Steve.

[Silvilocks]

Thanks Steve, but it's Wiltshire. I wonder if the number relates to an amount of land in some way. I was thinking of them being gardeners in the sense of them working in private gardens, but if they were what today would be called market gardeners, it's possible they had a large piece of land for it. Someone else has also suggested to me that the 7 could be a 'Y', which could indicate yeoman, in the sense of landowner on a small to medium scale, which again could tie in with them gardening as a business.

One things for sure, if they had green fingers, I didn't inherit them! I can kill a plant just by walking past it 

Silvilocks

[Sylviaann]

I heard somewhere that occupations were given numbers for statistical purposes.  I don't know where I read that.  I've never seen it myself. 

Sylviaann

[Sylviaann]

Yes it was the classification of occupations.  If you search for that you will find a site which gives you a lot to read but way down there is an appendix which shows some classifications and no. 7 is agriculture.

Hope this helps

Sylviaann

[Silvilocks]

Thanks Sylviaann, that's cleared it up  The article specifically refers to gardeners at one point, and it's clear that my g-grandparents were 'commercial gardeners rather than domestic.

Thanks again for your help

Silvilocks