Thames waterman/lighterman/captain?

[nanny jan]

Hi,

John Hutcheson Pain (b 1827 Woolwich) appears on 1851 census as a waterman, 1852 marriage certificate as a lighterman, on Captain Registers of Lloyds of London 1862, 1865 and on his son's birth certificate (1867) as a waterman.

Do these changes indicate a career progression or demotion?   

His last confirmed sighting is the 1867 birth certificate......he was the informant.

Thanks,

Nanny Jan

[CaroleW]

Hi

Possibly much the same but perhaps dependant on the type of boat

Lighterman - a boatman who worked on a lighter which was a large open flat-bottomed boat used in loading and unloading larger sea going ships

Waterman - a person who worked with or on boats usually on rivers

[seaweed]

My guess is he started off as a Thames Waterman/Lighterman, then went to sea and after obtaining his Home Trade  Mates certificate and for whatever reason returned to being a Waterman.
I would not see it as a question of a career progression or demotion. Just someone trying to earn a living in changing circumstances.

[nanny jan]

Thanks CaroleW and seaweed.


Nanny Jan