Packet/Railway Porter - Bethnal Green Area

[AmisUK]

Hi,

My 4th Great Grandfather Alfred BROWN was born in Shoreditch abt. 1804 to 1810, and he has the following occupations on census records:

1841 - Packet Porter
1851 - Railway Porter
1861 - Porter
1871 - Porter
1881 - Porter

Throughout this time he lived in Bethnal Green, and I was wondering if there would be any other records regarding the railway, as it would be interesting to know where/which station he worked at.

Any help would be appreciated.

Regards
Paul

[Redroger]

I suspect that he switched to the railway after 1841, this seems a little early for railway employment. There are many railway records including some staff records at the National Archives, Kew.

[AmisUK]

So a Packet Porter wouldn't have been linked to the railway?

Are their any online records that might help with regards to his time with the railway? I would be great if it could confirm his age, as it differs on the census records, and has therefore made it difficult to find his parents.

[youngtug]

The only packet that I can think of that could need a porter would be a packet boat. They where small boats used for transporting mail, goods and passengers.Mostly coastal and river based. Although probably also they may have used some canals.

[youngtug]

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Packet_boat

[KGarrad]

The only packet that I can think of that could need a porter would be a packet boat. They where small boats used for transporting mail, goods and passengers.Mostly coastal and river based. Although probably also they may have used some canals.

Not necessarily!

I look out my window and watch the Isle of Man Steam Packet boats coming and going!

Packet boats usually refers to boats carrying mail.
See this Wiki page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Packet_trade

Maybe he was connected to the Woolwich Steam Packet Company?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woolwich_Steam_Packet_Company

[AmisUK]

Thank you youngtug and KGarrag, I wasn't aware of the possiblity of it being involved with boats.

[Redroger]

I agree that Mail boats, Packet boats are likely, however, London was a major commercial centre even then, and it is quite possible he was working as a porter for one of the carriers in the City, possibly even the GPO, but I think this is less likely as he would probably have said so on the census return. I think he worked for a shipping company or a carrier, and thought it a better prospect to switch to the railway.