Doherty/Tea dealer/ Belfast 1907

[em26]

Hello,

I thought i would see if anyone could help me on this thread.
I am looking for some information on the profession of my gg grandfather.
His name was Charles Doherty and he was a Tea Dealer in Belfast i have him as working at 1 Exchange Buildings,Waring street in Belfast in 1907.
Also if anyone can confirm the profession of his son Joseph Doherty dob 1883 that would be great,  i have quite a few possibilites for him... stone cutter,tailor, rope spinner or grocer.
Any help greatly appreciated
Thank you

[scotmum]

Well, until someone with more knowledge on the subject comes along, I would imagine that as such places as the Nambarrie Tea Company Limited, which was founded in Belfast in 1860, were in operation, then deliveries of the raw product were probably received via the ships coming into the Harbour and so possibly sales of the goods to various interested parties took place at the Exchange.

[scotmum]

Forgot to say, the following site has lots of interesting general info on tea, including an article about tea smuggling:

http://www.tea.co.uk/index.php?pgId=6

And for a modern day picture of the then business premises:

http://www.victorianweb.org/art/architecture/lanyon/4.html

[em26]

Hi Scotmum,

Thank you very much for your message and suggestions i will have a look at the links you posted.
I actually contacted Nambarrie to see if they had any records of Charles but unfortunaltey they were unable to help me.
Thanks again for your help
Emily

[em26]

Just wanted to say thank you for link to the picture of what would have been the exchange building. It was great to see where he would have worked.
Thankyou !!!!!
Emily

[scotmum]

Glad you found the links interesting. Maybe someone will be able to add further info for you later. Meantime, Bear in mind that Belfast would have been a 'wholesale' centre, with the access to the docks leading to much importing and exporting of goods, so most possible that your ancestor was not actually working for the likes of Nambarrie or Punjana tea.

[aghadowey]

Also had relatives involved in tea trade in Northern Ireland but not in Belfast. Many firms were involved in blending, packaging and selling of tea.

[em26]

Hi Aghadowey,

Thank you for your message.
Did you have much luck tracing details of your ancestors from their trade?
I am starting to realise that (as you said) due to the amount of firms involved in the tea trade i think i may have a hard time tracing my gg grandfather's proffession.
But i am keeping my fingers crossed!

[scotmum]

Can I ask,  how did you find him working at the location in 1907? Is it noted in a directory or otherwise?