Fireman in Southwark late 19th century

[jillinderby]

I wonder if anyone can help me please? We have an ancestor, William Houlton, who worked as a fireman in the Southwark area of Surrey as shown on the censuses of 1881, 1891 and 1901.

I have contacted the London Fire Brigade and they don't seem to have him on their records and they suggested he might have worked for a private firm or factory. I know it's a long shot, but has anyone any idea what firms were around that area at that time or where I might be able to find more information?

Many thanks,
Jill.

[wilkybob]

Hi Jill
Not much help,
but the term Fireman covered many occupations, not just firefighting.
A fireman could well have been a locomotive (train) fireman in charge of looking after the boiler fire on a steam train. The same goes for firemen in mills and factories. These firemen looked after the boilers in factories. Southwark is next to the river Thames, so he could just as easy been a ships fireman looking after the fires in the ships/boats engine room. That's just a few, but I assure you there are many other fireman occupations

Bob

[Necromancer]

London Fire Brigade and they don't seem to have him on their records and they suggested he might have worked for a private firm or factory.

1901 actually says 'Private Fireman'


(he was a Butcher in 1871 ! )

[jillinderby]

Hi Newfy,

I know he was a butcher in 1871 but in 1881 and 1891 he was a fireman and in 1901 as you say, a private fireman.

To me it seemed that after 1871 he changed his career from being a butcher to being a fireman and that by 1901, when he was 66,  he was perhaps working at a private firm.

Jill.

[jillinderby]

Hi Bob,

Thank you for your reply. Must admit I hadn't considered all these options. Think I'll give this one up as a bad job!

Thanks for your help.

Best wishes,
Jill.

[Necromancer]

Hi again, it wasnt clear from your query that you knew that the 1901 occupation was 'different'

We have an ancestor, William Houlton, who worked as a fireman in the Southwark area of Surrey as shown on the censuses of 1881, 1891 and 1901.

I was merely linking the feedback you had from the LFB to what I found on the census - and highlighting the career change. Didnt expect it would help, but one never knows what a requestor knows ...

Have you tried 'Googling' for Private Firms .... or searching Business Directories ?

HtH

[jillinderby]

Hi HtH,

Thanks for the suggestion of searching Business Directories. Will try that.

Jill.