Genealogy Chat

hi there I got a marriage cert through which named the occupation of father as 'gentleman' What does that mean? his sons were :cabinet maker, and weaver so it doesn't sound like he ws of the 'upper class' so does gentleman means he didn't have a job? cheers karen

Hi I just googled old occupations and it said: Gentleman Gentry; Aristocrat, whose income came from his land

ta karen, he doesn't sound posh though if his kids were a weaver and cabinet maker (which i suppose means he made cupboards). his wife was a house keeper n 1861 census, but no mention of him. And can't fint him at all on any records as yet!!. k

In theory it meant he lived off his income from investments. This might mean a lot of money or a modest amount. However, it was commonplace for people to upgrade the info at marriages etc, so sometimes people got very carried away! My g-grandfather was a gentleman on his dau's marriage cert. He was actually a retired librarian and I suppose did have a private income if you include the rent from a few lodgers!! Merry

Sounds posh. Relatives often 'upgraded' their dad's occupations. I have several ag labs who became farmers or gardeners and a milk carrier who became a provisions merchant, though he was dead and not likely to disagree! nell

I think Gentleman was often used for someone who had retired. I know one of mine was a retired chemist. I also have a couple who called themselves Yeoman on earlier census's and then became gentlemen. I think they were fairly well off but not titled and owned property rather than rented it.

thanks helen and merry you've also made me chuckle ( and a well needed chuckle it was) , prehaps I will become ' a provider of intelletual ability in the dimensions of physcial science'. ta v much k

A cabinet maker was a skilled trade, which required a lengthy appenticeship................ Reg

ta reg my dad was an engineering pattern maker, and lots of other ancestors were joiners, shipwrights and mechanics so it seems to run in the family. I do suspect that a cabinet meker was a skilled worker, sorry just got one on me today and feeling flipant. k

I harboured thoughts of a country gentleman farmer when I had this on a marriage cert - the dad was actually a retired licensee. I think Phoenix said it was used on one of hers when the guy was just unemployed.

ta heather so basically when i am looking to find him an an early census it could say anything for his occupation as when his son got married he may have retired!!! i have a feeling he may have been older than his wife as he must have died when his wife was still youngish, which fits with the old retired gentleman idea. cheers k

Worth checking for a Will? If he could live without working he may have left some dosh?