Author Topic: Did your ancestor work as a chemical labourer or alkali worker?  (Read 13584 times)

Offline JYB

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Re: Did your ancestor work as a chemical labourer or alkali worker?
« Reply #9 on: Wednesday 21 January 15 09:31 GMT (UK) »
Hi
I have a great uncle Robert Hamilton Bebbington who worked in the Alkali Works as a Clerk he died aged 16yrs of a respiratory disease looking at the 1901 census it appears a lot of people living in Hemming Street Winnington were employed at the Works and the Manager Thomas A Johnson lived in "Field House" Hemming Street also listed in Field House was a Lady Governess, Housemaid and Cook.

Offline PaulThommo

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Re: Did your ancestor work as a chemical labourer or alkali worker?
« Reply #10 on: Tuesday 18 September 18 10:01 BST (UK) »
My 2xG. Grandfather relocated from the Stokesley area in north Yorkshire to South Shields in Durham and married in 1824, he had been a farmer but by the 1851 census he was an alkali labourer. 1861 census has him as a labourer, 1871 he is an unemployed labourer and 1881 census (aged 77) he was a farm labourer. Yet when he died in 1883 his death certificate states he was a chemical labourer.

It must have been a hard life in those days being a labourer, you must have had to work until you died, no old age pension and put your feet up. I think we are lucky nowadays.
Thompson - Stokesley, Great Ayton, Little Ayton &  Easby Nth Yorkshire. Westoe, South Shields, Gateshead
Dobson - Westoe & South Shields
Jefferson - South Shields
Rippon - Jarrow & South Shields
Purves & Harvey - South Shields

Offline Mart 'n' Al

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Re: Did your ancestor work as a chemical labourer or alkali worker?
« Reply #11 on: Tuesday 18 September 18 10:28 BST (UK) »
I have a page on which some people are described as 'Ag lab' . My ancestor is just described as 'A lab'. I've always wondered whether this was just an error by the census taker but now I wonder if that was his occupation.

Martin

Offline stanmapstone

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Re: Did your ancestor work as a chemical labourer or alkali worker?
« Reply #12 on: Tuesday 18 September 18 11:19 BST (UK) »
The official abbreviation for  Agricultural labourer is Ag. Lab. 1841-81 censuses. In the 1881 census  occupations are entered as "Labourer At Alkali Works" or similar.

Stan
Census Information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk


Offline Mart 'n' Al

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Re: Did your ancestor work as a chemical labourer or alkali worker?
« Reply #13 on: Tuesday 18 September 18 11:59 BST (UK) »
Stan, so do you think the "A Lab" is just a mistake, or does it mean something different to Ag Lab?

Martin

Offline stanmapstone

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Re: Did your ancestor work as a chemical labourer or alkali worker?
« Reply #14 on: Tuesday 18 September 18 12:12 BST (UK) »
I think it is a mistake for Ag Lab.

Stan
Census Information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Offline Mart 'n' Al

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Re: Did your ancestor work as a chemical labourer or alkali worker?
« Reply #15 on: Tuesday 18 September 18 12:18 BST (UK) »
Thanks for your thoughts, Stan, I agree, but it causes family discussion!

Martin

Offline Lisa_Dee1969

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Re: Did your ancestor work as a chemical labourer or alkali worker?
« Reply #16 on: Saturday 18 September 21 21:52 BST (UK) »
My ancestors Hayes all worked here in late 1800s and 1900s be great for any info
Alfred Rogers 1863