More unusual occupation and help tracing ancestor

[roycymru]

Hello

Hoping for your help again. I have a William Evans (Bachelor) marrying a Margaret Jones (Spinster, address Pontyberem) on 12 Mar 1882 at St. John's Church, Pontyberem. Margaret was age 21 with father Tomas Jones whose occupation was Pattern Maker (I think, please see attached?). In census records her birth location is "Llanelly" but this could include places like Llannon or Pontyberem.

I thought tracing Margaret in 1861 (depending on when she was actually born), 1871 and 1881 would be relatively straight forward, given the more unusual occupation of her father and Thomas as a first name of her father isn't as common as some other names, but am having no luck. Can the more eagle eyed of you help?

I am also having trouble finding what exactly a Pattern Maker did in the 19th century, was it to do with materials or metals or something else. Google isn't helping much with this. So any info on this would also be appreciated

[stanmapstone]

In a Dictionary of Occupational Terms there are 12 different categories of Pattern Maker, so it depends very much on the industry.
This has been asked before on RootsChat see https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=482045.0
Stan

[stanmapstone]

From the OED  pattern-maker  n. a person who makes patterns; spec.  (a) a person who arranges textile patterns for weaving;  (b) a person who makes patterns for castings.

Stan

[osprey]

not sure if this occupation is similar enough

1861 3 Club House, Glyn, Llannon RG9/4117 folio 9 pg 14
Thomas Jones head mar 26 engine fitter
Betsy wife 23 dressmaker b.Llangendeirne
David brother 20 iron moulder
Mary sister 17 dressmaker
Sarah sister 10
Margaret dau under 1 month
all born Llanelly apart from Betsy

1871 RG10/5471 folio 12 pg 17 but no Margaret at home

Different family in 1881 head by Thomas Jones pattern maker RG11/5372 folio 128 pg 34. I'll try to trace him back...

[osprey]

not the 1881 one, he does have a daughter Margaret in 1871 but she's only 4, so too young to be yours.

Worth noting that his occupation was pattern maker, clerk checking classifications noted iron manufacturing. Also, in 1871 he was a joiner.

[stanmapstone]

From a Dictionary of Occupational Terms

[ThrelfallYorky]

From the time and area, most certainly making patterns for casting metal.

[BillyF]

https://www.ukbmd.org.uk/reg/districts/llanelly.html

The above links to a table showing the boundary changes over the years.

Not sure exactly what was at the Industrial Museum site on the outskitrs of Kidwelly, tinplate I think. Knowing just how far workers walked in those days, it would be within their ( not mine !! ) walking distance.

[roycymru]

Thanks for all the feedback to date. As suggested, given how industrial Llanelly was then, something to do with metal seems the most likely. The engine fitter with brother a moulder seem a good possibility, as he may have started as a fitter bit joined his brother in the Tin/Iron works and ended up doing something more specialised. Any sign of him and his family in 1871 and 1881 as it might give more clues?