Genealogy Chat

Would anyone know how i would trace my Irish ancestor who came to London in the 1850's looking for work,looks probable that he found employment with the Metropolitan board of works under the management of Sir Joseph Bazalgette,most likely that he may have been a labourer constructing the London sewage system.How would i find this company today & how ( if exsists ),would i view the employment records for names ?.

Andrew I would be very surprised if any records of labourers still existed, if they ever did. The usual arrangement was to pay a Ganger a fixed sum, and he would employ his own navvies and pay them himself. But I could be wrong! OC

I take it you have found him in census records? I would think labourers were paid a day rate and were casual - unlikely anything would exist unless he was one of those who died during the building works. Lord Baz is the great grandad of the Endermol TV Bazellgette - interesting that the genes were obviously entrepreunerial and without fear for trying something new.

try contacting London Metropolitan Archives.

You should work backwards with the info you know through marriage/birth certs to trace this man. If he were in London in 1850 he should appear on all the census from 1851 until his death. If he married in London/England you should be able to trace his marriage. If you are new to research, check out the getting started articles and threads to help newbies. Good luck (Oh and as I said in reply to your pm - get yourself an ancestry sub).