Census Occupations

[judythur]

1841 Fife, Scotland occupation given as J L H L W - I'm guessing, J? Jobbing or Journeyman Linen  Hand Loom Weaver.  Any better suggestions?

[RJ_Paton]

I agree that the last three are Hand Loom Weaver but could the first two refer to the type of loom as in Jacquard Loom

Just thought that might be a contradiction as a Jacquard loom is a mechanical loom using pre punched cards

The list of abbreviations for the 1841 census do list J as Journeyman

[Milliepede]

As a short cut is he around in 1851 or later with the same occupation perhaps written in full?!

[judythur]

Many thanks  for that - unfortunately he seems to have left home!

[judythur]

Thanks for that.  It's encouraging at least to know that it part of it probably does mean hand loom weaver.  In the household, the father & older brother are recorded as'Manf', so I take it manufacturer,  while the other brother is a 'Wright' and actually emigrated as a 'Carpenter'. I toyed with the idea that they may have been manufacturers of looms or parts thereof but couldn't put it together.  I shall read up on jacquard looms.
Cheers,

Judy

[RJ_Paton]

I think your original thought of "Journeyman Linen Hand Loom Weaver" may have been more accurate as Fife Weavers did use Linen although by some accounts around the 1850's it wasn't much of a living as the mechanical looms (the Jacquard looms & others) were replacing the Hand Looms and the industry was becoming centralised in different areas.

Some background Information can be seen at SCRAN
http://www.scran.ac.uk/scotland/pdf/SP2_10Economy.pdf

[judythur]

Thanks for that link to SCRAN - I'm finding it fascinating.
Judy