occupation

[patrish]

Hi every body,

 Please I need help with an occupation HO107/1531/269/P20

James Long 48 b Somerset  a  Philosophical  Instrument Maker. Is there such a thing? or have I read it wrongly?

Many thanks Patrish.

[subee]

Hi Patrish,

I googled and found a James White 1824 -1884 who was an Optical and Philosophical Instrument Maker!!

subee x

[patrish]

Oh Subee,

That is really interesting, I was interested in the Emma White aged 16 a visitor above James Long.  I have never been able to find her or her family before her marriage in 1853 on the marriage cert is says father Thomas White a Mathematical Instrument Maker,  I wonder if they could be related? Don't suppose you have the ref for him?

Can you tell me how you Googled it please.

Many thanks Patrish.

[subee]

Hi Patrish,

I just put in optical and philosophical instrumet maker and he was he was the first one that popped up!! Have a go and see what you get- glad to help

subee x

[HannahJ]

Hi Patrish,

Just a guess, but I'd assume that he was a scientific instrument maker - science was commonly referred to as natural philosophy up till the 20th century. 

I'm very jealous - all mine are ag labs/fish wives!

Hannah

[miss marple]

"Philosophical instruments" seems to mean scientific apparatus such as the camera obscura, microscope, telescope and so on – plus more entertaining things like the kaleidoscopes and zoetropes. (http://brightbytes.com/collection/toys.html has a fascinating collection.) Sounds like a fun occupation!

[patrish]

Hi Hannah and Miss Marple,

I have grave doubts as to whether this was such a "good" occupation, it probably sounds better than it actually was, this family were quite lowly working class from the east end of London.

[miss marple]

Well, at least he had a job, Patrish – I suppose that was something in those days! Sounds good, though, doesn't it? Much more interesting than my cobblers and miners.

[AngelaR]

Got to be more interesting than Ag Lab too.....

Angela