Genealogy Chat

Maureen kindly found what could be the sone I am looking for on 1871 but I cannot read his occupation looks like Shore raker any ideas RG10 652 folio 15 Alfred Kemp born 1857 age 14 in Lambeth

It looks like Shore Raker to me. Georgina.

looks like shore raker to me too. Can't see it on my old occupations lists and nothing useful comes up by googling. nell

thanks Nell wonder what it means

I wonder about that looks like they were all sleeping under the Railway Arches doesnt it, maybe he cleaned wet leaves off the lines !!!!!!!

Beautiful handwriting, I would be certain that it is Shore Raker, and would suggest that it probably describes cleaning up the shores of the Thames at low tide because in those times everyone living near rivers threw their rubbish in to be carried down and deposited elsewhere. Or, it may be like 'beachcomber' but as raker means something to do with sanitation I'd go with the first option.

thanks for that Gloria you are probably right, I feel so sorry for him he must have left home because he didnt like his new stepfather much. Wish I could find his mother and sister though.

No problem. I know what you mean, when I go through some of the records and just read the odd one or two I could weep at the lives some people led, like the parish burials where they have no money to be buried decently, or you see witnesses to a burials because there were no family or mourners, and the number of women who died in childbirth and the babies and children who never lived to adulthood. We complain permanently but they just seem to have got on with it. It really focuses the mind when you think that your young ancestor would have found all manner of rubbish plus dead animals and bodies. We don't appreciate what we've got. Gloria

and the one on here the other day she went to the records office and saw stuff all about her relative, who had died in an Asylum and was not allowed to see her family and she did not know they were keeping all her letters to them, as they did not believe in contact of any kind,she cried in the records office when she saw what this lady had made for someone in the family, and they never gave it to them.She used to ask when they were going to visit her. I do appreciate what I have since I started doing this. Its strange how easy I cry over long long lost rellies.Wish I could have helped them !!!

You've got me going now. It just goes to prove that the world would be a much better place if we took the trouble to be just that little bit nicer, more polite and aware instead of so self interested. We can't help our ancestors but we could help those who are still around.

My motto in life has always been do to others what you would like done to you. Very simple really.