Bottle works founder and glass founder

[Laurenbrown90]

Heya I'm new to all this and focusing on my 4x great grandad Edward Fenwick born1811 in snabdough, Northumberland. On his census record from when he was living in Seaham his occupation is "bottle works founder". Now me being a novice presumed he must of founded a bottle works, and Lord and behold there was a small fenwicks bottle house in Seaham. Later on in life he was down as "glass founder", i heard about the Fenwicks brewery and put to and to together and presumed maybe he was involved in this. On another forum however someone told me a glass founder was a job role, highly skilled and was the process of prepared the glass in the kilns. Can anyone hp me figure out more about these to things. I've tried searching online but limited info on the Seaham bottleworks. It mentions a Robert Fenwick but not Edward but mentions Robert was in partnership. Edward did have a brother called Robert so this is a possibility of being the same person but not sure if I'm running with this in the wrong direction. Any help greatly appreciated.

[stanmapstone]

Welcome to RootsChat
In the 1851 Census Edward Fenwick is a " Founder (Bottle Works)" living in Southwick
In the1861 census he is a "Glass Founder" living in Bishopwearmouth, Sunderland
In the 1871 Census he is a "Founder in Bottle Works" living in Southwick
In the 1881 Census he is a "Warehouseman in Bottle Works" living in Southwick
In the 1891 Census he is a "Labourer Bottle Works" aged 80, living in Southwick

When was he in Seaham?

[stanmapstone]

Glass making emerged in Seaham in the early eighteen fifties. Generally there were two
factories established in the Ropery area of the town, both being in competition against each
other.  The first company to set up works was the Seaham Bottle Company, which eventually
amalgamated with its rival, The Londonderry Bottle Co. A Sunderland man, John Candlish
was the owner of the business.  http://www.durhamintime.org.uk/durham_miner/seaham_bottleworks.pdf
See also http://www.east-durham.co.uk/londonderrys/londonderry_bottleworks%20ARTICLE%202.htm

You can see the Bottle Works on this 1856 map https://maps.nls.uk/view/102341566#zoom=5&lat=8985&lon=12006&layers=BT
Stan

[Laurenbrown90]

Oh dear I think I've actuslly got a bit muddled up. On looking back I have the same census's for the same areas you say, and a few prior, no sign of any in relation to Seaham. Someone actually assigned a picture to him on ancestry of the bottleworks in Seaham and maybe this is where ive got Seaham from.

[JenB]

Welcome to RootsChat
In the 1851 Census Edward Fenwick is a " Founder (Bottle Works)" living in Southwick
In the1861 census he is a "Glass Founder" living in Bishopwearmouth, Sunderland
In the 1871 Census he is a "Founder in Bottle Works" living in Southwick
In the 1881 Census he is a "Warehouseman in Bottle Works" living in Southwick
In the 1891 Census he is a "Labourer Bottle Works" aged 80, living in Southwick

When was he in Seaham?

He was also in Bishopwearmouth in 1841, as Bottle m[aker] j[ourneyman].

[Pennines]

Welcome to Rootschat Lauren.

Actually a 'Founder' can be an occupation -- at a Foundry! The definition below is from the Index of Old Occupations;

Founder    Foundryman - casts metal i.e. iron, brass

So maybe in this case, Edward did a similar job, but in a bottle or glass works/foundry.

[JenB]

On his census record from when he was living in Seaham his occupation is "bottle works founder". Now me being a novice presumed he must of founded a bottle works, and Lord and behold there was a small fenwicks bottle house in Seaham.

If we have the right person (living in Sunderland not Seaham) he was someone who worked in the bottle making industry, not someone who was proprietor of a bottle factory.

By the way, welcome to Rootschat 

[stanmapstone]

From A Dictionary of Occupational Terms, Sub-Order 2, makers of Glass and Glassware.
Founder: melter, metaler: (i) supervises filling of pot with "batch" and "cullet"; adds successive relays of material as mixture shrinks, until pot is filled with molten "metal"; draws a small portion of "metal" on iron rod, to ascertain if it is melted clear and free from "seeds" and bubbles of gas; (ii) (bottle factories) stoker; as above; also stokes furnaces. 

Stan

[Laurenbrown90]

Oh thanks so much everyone, seems I've put 2 and 2 together and assumed he had the small fenwicks bottleworks, never knew founder was a occupation. Thanks for helping me get on the right track