James Green, Coal miner of Lawyer?

[AsH62]

Hi. My ancestor James Green 1837-1886 was born in Camerton, baptised in Midsomer Norton and then lived at Carlingcott, Camerton for the rest of his life. His father Elijah was a blacksmith and James was a coal miner in the 1851, 1861 and 1871 census returns.
However in 1881 he was a lawyer and I assumed that I had got him muddled with another James Green or the transcription should have said Labourer but it is accurate. In 1912 his daughter got married and he was 'James Green lawyer deceased' on the marriage certificate.
Am I missing something here, how could he have been a lawyer of was it a courtesy name for someone who helps people with paperwork?
Any help with this would be great, I keep checking and rechecking everything to see if I've made a mistake and it's driving me mad!
Thanks
Alison

[rosie99]

I think it says Sawyer in 1881 not Lawyer

RG11/2429 f6 p5

[AsH62]

I never thought of that, I can't believe I didn't't see it but that makes a lot more sense. I have no idea what a sawyer is but it sounds more in keeping with him and his background. This is how it was written on the marriage certificate (see attachment) and now I am looking for 'sawyer' that's what I am seeing - so many thanks
A

[rosie99]

You are not the first one to get them muddled, I have done the same 

[AsH62]

Thank you, that's kind!
A

[rosie99]

If only these enumerators wrote clearly     The 'S' on the returns is not consistent.

I enumerated a census many years ago when I was in my early 20's,  I often wonder what future generations will make of my handwriting 

[AsH62]

 

[JohninSussex]

I never thought of that, I can't believe I didn't't see it but that makes a lot more sense. I have no idea what a sawyer is

And of course you know what a lawyer is.

A lawyer is someone skilled in the use of the law.  So a sawyer is ...

[stanmapstone]

In the "Dictionary of Occupational Terms" there are 62 different types of sawyer.  but most commonly it will be a Wood Sawyer, aka mill sawyer, who cut up timber, with a hand saw or a power driven machine saw.

Stan