Genealogy Chat

Most of my ancestors come from a small hamlet in the countryside and are Agricultural Labourers. I've just come across one who was a Carman. I'm guessing it's something similar to an Ag. Lab. but can anyone be more specific? Thanks Lyndsey

it is normally a cart driver, example coal carman

Many ag labs went to be carmen, using their horse skills for delivery work in the towns. It happened a lot when agriculture went into decline and the advent of railways and canals to most small towns made transportation of goods quicker and easier.The wages were usually better than working on the land. Jay

That's very interesting. I guess they would have been transporting agricultural produce. There were/are still no railways around that area, or major canals/rivers. I’m just working my way through the census records looking at their occupations and up to now (1891) they’ve all been Ag. Labs, now their occupations are getting a bit more varied. Thanks Lyndsey

Hi Ken, A journeyman is the term for a tradesman or craftsman who has probably completed an apprenticeship. You may see for instance 'journeyman builder' etc. It has nothing to do with a 'carman'. Paul

Carman/Charman/Carrier/ Carter/Cartman Driver of (horse-drawn) vehicles for transporting goods. Carmen were often employed by railway companies for local deliveries and collections of goods and parcels. Modern day van driver. Also sometimes someone who drove horse-drawn trams was called a Carman. remove brackets www(.)rmhh(.)co(.)uk/occup/index(.)html

There are three levels of skilled tradesmen:- Apprentice - learning his trade. Journeyman - qualified tradesman Master - qualified and employing others. This is for any trade, not just carters (in fact I don't think you would have journeyman carters, as it was not a skilled job). Kath. x