Staithmen - social status query

[Spidersnake]

Hi

I know my ancestor (Ralph Bearup) was a Staithman at Benwell Colliery in the early 1800s. I have found various definitions of what this means.

But what I would like to know is the social status of this job. How was it regarded? I presume a certain level of education was required.

Does anyone has any idea?

Thanks

[sillgen]

I would think it was a job requiring experience rather than education.  Anything above ground would be better than those who toiled in the actual mine though.
Andrea

[dragongirl]

Hi
 A STAITHMAN according to the Occupation site is a Man employed in weighing and shipping. On the Durham Mining site they seemed to be up there with the Overmen and undermanagers on the Occupation sheets. So would think would be Literate and  good with numbers on one report they
were reporting to the Mine Owners

[stanmapstone]

A Staithman, aka landing stage man; is employed on a "staith" (a term used mainly on the North East Coast for a landing stage where coal vessels were loaded); in addition to the ordinary duties of a landing stage man, he also sweeps-up coal dust and pieces of coal dropped during coaling operations and wheels them in a truck or barrow, to loading stocks.
"A Dictionary of Occupational Terms"

Stan

[stanmapstone]

Hi
 A STAITHMAN according to the Occupation site is a Man employed in weighing and shipping. On the Durham Mining site they seemed to be up there with the Overmen and undermanagers on the Occupation sheets. So would think would be Literate and  good with numbers on one report they
were reporting to the Mine Owners

Very few collieries had Staithes at the mine, they were usually miles away on the nearest river or port. The Despatcher aka colliery weigh house clerk, truck weigher, wagon weighman, weigh clerk, at a colliery was responsible for weighing the trucks of coal as they left the colliery sidings, he kept a record of the weight and number of each wagon and attached a ticket to the wagon with the weight and destination written on. At the staithes these tickets would be removed from the wagons to record the amount of coal loaded into the ship.

Stan

[Spidersnake]

Many thanks to those who have replied.

The picture I have found of Benwell colliery shows it on a river or at least next to water.

In the Newcastle Courant he is always referred to a Mr R Bearup of Benwell Colliery eg. death of Elizabeth Nixon, fourth daughter of the late Mr R Bearup of Benwell Colliery. This is what makes me think it is a position of standing. There are other similar entries.

I have an image of his signature 1801 which makes me think he's educated to a certain degree.

Not bad for a illegitimate lad in the late 1700s.

[Michael Dixon]

 Spidersnake,

 Just a wee snippet- to help or to hinder....

 I was born and brought up in a village called Bebside Colliery ( about 3 miles west of Blyth).

The community had grown up around a coal pit, sunk in 1850s. Although most of the men of the community worked in or at the pit, not all of them did.

But the address of all , including the teachers, grocers, doctor etc. would have been " Bebside Colliery" meaning they lived there, not necessarily worked in/for the colliery.


 Perhaps your staithman lived within a community called Benwell Colliery, without actual working at the colliery ?

Michael
 

[stanmapstone]

Staithman, steethman, the man who overlooks the shipping of coals.
Northumberland words  Richard Oliver Heslop - 1894


Stan

[WolfieSmith]

This looks like him in 1841 census.

Benwell Bank Top,
Ralph Bearep, 66, Tailor, N,
Elizabeth, 20, Y,
Jane 15, Y,
HO107/824/5/31/6

Then in 1851 with John and Elizabeth Nixon and family

Benwell
Ralph Bearup, Visitor, 77, b. Whickham
HO107/2404/36/9

I checked a couple of the early baptisms of his children and he's a Tailor on there as well.

Whickham St.Mary,
Annetta Bearup of Whickham, born Oct 25th 1802, baptized 23 Jan 1803, 1st daughter Ralph Bearup, Tayler, Native of this Parish, by his wife Margaret Coxon, daughter of Robert Coxon, Native of Hexham.

Newcastle St. John.
Margaret, born 19 Mar, baptized 7 July 1805, daughter of Ralph Bearep (Tayler), Native of Whickham, Durham, by his wife Margaret, daughter of Robert Coxon, native of Hexham, Northumberland,

Then theres these two.

Newcastle St. John,
10 Oct 1813. Ralph, son of Ralph and Marg. Bearep of Benwell Colliery. Fathers Occupation is down as "Receiver of the Land Sale".

Newcastle St. John,
23 Nov 1817. Jane, daughter of Ralph and Marg. Bearep of Bank Top. Fathers Occupation is down as "Agent".

He didn't seem to be doing manual work on the Staithes.

Alan.