Do you have corkcutter ancestors?

[stewart_M]

This month's edition of Practical Family History has an entire section of 4 pages dedicated to cork cutters and cork cutting!

In the article it refers to "Corkcutter" (Cheryl) and her corkcutting thread on this site which prompted me to make contact.  I bought the magazine purely for the article and it's very interesting particularly as I knew nothing about it whatsoever other than my great great great grandfather was one.

[genna]

Hi

When you mention that this month's edition of Practical Family History has a section on cork cutters do you mean the June issue? Two of my ancestors were cork cutters and I would like to read the article but the newagent only has the July issue 

Genna

[stewart_M]

Hi Genna

The article is in the July edition.  Half way down the right hand side of the front cover you'll see it says "Old occupations: Corkcutters"

[genna]

Hi

Thanks for the info. Off to town to buy a copy.

Cheers Genna

[corkcutter]

Dear Leah,

Thank you for the information about William Sanger.  Unfortunately, he was not on the index (though he is now!)  He was working in an area where corkcutting was not that common, though, at some distance, Bristol, Bath and Salisbury all had workshops.

I will keep your details in case I come across any more information on Sanger.

Best wishes, Cheryl (corkcutter)

[Timbottawa]

Even here in Canada, one of the larger chains of book shops carries Practical Family History.  So, after learning that the July edition has Cheryl's cork cutting article, I went round to the nearest branch (and subsequently, several others) on July 1st.  Sure enough, there was Practical Family History ... the May edition!

I guess I'll have ot wait another couple of months until the next boat from the UK arrives.

Tim

[corkcutter]

Hi Tim.

Hope the wait is worth the suspense!

Cheryl

[Athenalaz]

Hi again Cheryl

Re William Sanger, cork cutter - it appears that at some point in the mid-1820s he ended up in London (one of his sons states being born 1829 Lambeth on a census report) - would cork cutting have been more popular in London by any chance?

Just wondering if this is the reason they came to London from Bristol.

Regards

Leah

[corkcutter]

Dear Leah,
Thanks for the further information on William.  Of course, we shall never know his personal reasons for moving, but this drift into London by corkcutterswas very common.  London was  THE place for corkcutting and so acted as a magnet for qualified journeymen who were struggling for a living elsewhere. At that time, you were not supposed to move to another area without having a job pre-arranged there, but I have found some evidence that corkcutting was among those trades that supplied some kind of travel ticket and introduction to masters in other towns.

Best wishes

Cheryl