Genealogy Chat

One of my ancestors was listed as a gentleman (I think twice - once on his wife's death and once on his daughter's marriage) Both took place in the late 1850s.

It's interesting that the daughter whose marriage I refer to was the daughter who registered her mother's death.

I presume she may have been confused about her father's status as she was about 8 when her father died and he was a head butler to a large Estate.

However, not knowing what her father's background actually was (he may have fallen on hard times and worked as a butler?) and I don't know how they would define gentlemen in the 1850s, I am not discounting it out of hand.

So I am wondering what would have been the criteria was for a gentleman in the 1850s?

I always thought it was someone of independent means who had income he didnt have to physically work for.
The Old Occupations site has this as a defination:
Gentleman, Gentry; Aristocrat, whose income came from his land

Thanks very much Shirley :)

I didn't regard it as an occupation lol so didn't think of looking in the old occupations.

I suspect it was just the daughter growing up on an Estate and getting confused.

Well the Head Butler had quite a status in the hierarchy of servants and some would have been very autocratic in their demeanor so would have come across as having status to others. Housemaids etc would have been very in awe of them

That's a very good point Shirley :) That sounds very reasonable to me.

I don't believe everything that is said by ancestors but I don't automatically discount them either just in case. lol

PS Sorry for the delay in answering you, I'm having problems with my internet connection today.

Alas Piglet's Pal, my ancestor died whilst in service. By all accounts he depended upon his income. However, I can understand why your ancestor may have said that. I think one of his daughters though was of independent means. I'll have to check that.

Thanks :)