"Potman" as an census description of occupation ?

[charlotteCH]

The occupation  "potman" occurs in a census - what is this  please?

Thanks,
charlotte

[percy porter]

It could have been 'Postman' however many large houses who had stafff had a 'potman' who was basically a dish washer.

Was he in his own home?

Was there a large estate nearby?

Alan NZ

[Ruskie]

Hi Charlotte - can you tell us which census and give us the ref nos please  . Have you checked this person's occupation in other censuses? My first thought, without seeing the census, was that it may be pitman rather than potman ....  

[Ruskie]

This is from Gendocs and confirms what Alan said:

POT BOY or MAN
A person who worked in public houses washing and removing dirty pots also did other menial tasks.

[charlotteCH]

Ruskie and Alan,
Thank you for your swift replies.  The census transcription  in which I found this is 1901 website. I don't have access to the census image so the uncertainty remains.

I'd seached for James ASHWELL b.c. 1870  and found one such aged 32 b. Lambeth London, in civil parish of St Clements Dane.

So the transcriber could have mistaken the vowel or James Ashwell could have been working in kitchen of one of the large houses in London or a pub.   Nothing hinges on this- it was curiosity, that great spur in family history.
Thank you for your interest.
charlotte 

[Ruskie]

Probably not a pitman if in London  .

I just had a quick look and James is at 30 Stanhope St and is definitely a potman/barman. He is with stepfather John E Hodson who is a vegetable cook. Let me know if you'd like the details.
RG13/243/87/15

[charlotteCH]

Ruskie,
 Thanks for checking that out.  I'd guessed that in London he'd have been the pub man. 

The stepfather bit is intriguing - there's a new bit of info.
If it is not inconvenient, sometime  I'd be glad to know especially if there are any sisters mentioned in the household. The James Ashwell I'm wondering about had at least one sister. In 1950 she lived in Worthing- if this is  "my" James A. I'll bet she didn't talk about her potman brother!
Thanks again.
charlotte

[Ruskie]

No sorry, no sisters  ...

John E Hodson head mar 46 vegetable cook b Westminster St James
Margaret wife m 48 b London Lambeth (James' Mum?)
James Ashwell stepson single 32 potman/barman b London Lambeth
Louisa Ashwell niece single 20 book folder/binder at printers b London Holborn
Thomas Ashwell nephew 14 errand boy b Holborn

Bit of fun trying to work out where the niece and Nephew fit in  ...

Depending on the age of James' sister she may have married or be in service or working elsewhere. What's her name, dob etc? Would you like me to have a look for her?

Oh, you're too hard on James. Doesn't look like they lived in a depressed neighbourhood - several people nearby living on own means, with servants etc ...

[PrueM]

Just confirming the information that a Potman is related to the pub trade and was something like a barman and general dogsbody