1871 Census - Meaning of Barrister's Son

[cozendon]

Hi,

I am delighted to have found this forum. The 1871 Census records my great, great grandfather as 'Barrister's Son (Scholar)'. Is anyone able to explain what this means?

Many thanks,

Steve

[heywood]

Welcome to Rootschat 

I would think he was the son of a barrister. You often see ‘farmer’s son’ etc after father’s occupation.
Would that apply?

[ajm314159]

It may just mean that he is in school, and his father is a barrister.

The “Rank, Profession, or Occupation” column was often filled in liked that, in my experience: a child's “Rank” is that he is a Son or Daughter of the father's Rank.

[cozendon]

Hi Heywood and ajm,

Thankyou for your replies. They are appreciated!

He, Charles Garnett, is seven in the 1871 Census. He lives with two others, Thomas Baines and Ellen Baines. Both are aged forty-three. Thomas is a Hairdresser, the occupation my great, great grandfather would eventually follow. However, his relationship to Thomas is given as 'adopted son'.

Thomas, Ellen and Charles were all born in and living in Sheffield.

My family are very good at discussing our family history but very little is known about the adoption. This is why, the term 'barrister's son' is intriguing.

Many thanks,

Steve

[Neale1961]

Welcome to the forum.     Without seeing the actual record, I can only suggest the following.
Scholar = the child was at school
Barrister's son = his father was a barrister.

If you are able to give more details regarding name, age and place, we can look at the census records and maybe make more comments.

ADDED - How odd that my reply has appeared after Rhyolite's reply, which was not there when I posted. The gremlins must be busy today!

[mckha489]

Charles’ marriage

GARNETT, Charles (Bachelor, age 26, Hair dresser, residing at Sheffield).
    Married Harriet WRIGHT, on June 6, 1889, by Alfred Wood (Licence) at
    Sheffield Parish Church, Church Street, Sheffield.  Father's name is ~ (~).
    Married in the presence of J W Lindsey,H Lindsey.

So…no name given for father.

Is this his birth?
No mother’s maiden name, so illegitimate.


GARNETT, CHARLES       - 
GRO Reference: 1863  J Quarter in ECCLESALL BIERLOW  Volume 09C  Page 280
Who was the mother?

[mckha489]

Is he the 1872 baptism,  date of birth 17 May 1863  at Sheffield, Cathedral Church of St Peter & St Paul
Son of Emily Garnett. Spinster.   Residence Fargate.


That birth matches  1939 for a Charles Garnett, retired hairdresser

[jorose]

It might be that the Baines had some knowledge of the situation of his birth, or that this was hearsay from Emily's family.

Looking for Emily Garnetts in the Ecclesall Bierlow area in 1861 I see a 15 year old servant in Norton, in the house of the Ryall family. They have a son, Charles, aged 21, who was a student at this time and later became a barrister.

This is not proof of anything and may not even be the right Emily but you could imagine in this sort of scenario that the Baines would have known the child was "son of the barrister his mother worked for" or similar.

[Neale1961]

Jorose, your suggestion looks very possible, and worthy of looking for a DNA connection.