Genealogy Chat

Can someone have a look at the occupation of James Hanson aged 64 in Bethnal Green on the 1871 census please (with wife Esther, son George, daughter Mary Ann Asbey). In the 1851 he was a lighterman, it now says tobbaconist and ..............? bit of a change of work, wasnt it. Can anyone see what the second word is please. Im sure its something simple but my brain cant do it. Many thanks.

Gawd.. It looks like Flats..

Could be Flater Tabacco process???

Glad its not just me then! Another thing I want to find out now that I am at last on the track of the Hansons thanks to Joan and Lou last week bless them - the youngest boy George is it theirs or the daughters and I can now see the daughter has a surname in her name - Asbey. I thought this may be the mothers surname for looked up an Esther Asbey for a marriage and guess what there she is marrying SAMUEL Hanson with James Hanson as a witness. Now, what do I make of that. Was she married to Sam then Jim and George is Jims - what a complex life they led, worse than East Enders now, isnt it.

Is that a job Tony or are you making it up! lol Ive looked on old occupations but cant see it. And it does say on the census (I think!!) tobbaconist and .......... What would a tobboconist sell as well as tobacco? Not fags is it?!?:) Ill go back and have another look. Ive looked again, do you think that it begins with O rather than that being an "and"? If you see what I mean

Could it be Tobacconist & Hatter? There are a few of them

Really Sam, thats a weird combination isnt it. What they sold cigs and hats? Thanks sam, it did cross my mind originally it was hatter but such a strange combination. I think I will have a look in historical directories to see if he is mentioned there. Thanks everyone!!

Cant find any clues in Encyclopidia but there were many types of tabacco sold for pipes and some was flat peices Ready rubbed etc.

How about Tobacconist & Stationer

Sorry Barbara, you got there before me.

Blow me, you are all so brilliant. I wonder which it is. I will have yet another look! Still a big shift from lighterman though isnt it. Though I can tell the whole family were pretty well upwardly achieving. I mean a lighterman was above average job and the sons (my GGFx2) became a Master cabinet carver and I can see the younger boy George is a carpenter, so perhaps the old man did want to better himself. Back to the image!

There's a Tobacconist & Stationery shop here in our village, it's been going since the 1850's apparantly, so maybe it was quite a common combination Lou

Yes I see what you mean an abbreviated Statnr? But Im a bit worried about the S. All the other S are sitting on the line. If you look at the Fireman at the bottom, you can see the F drops below the line, like on James' occupation. Oh yes Lou, I can understand that as a combo more than the hatter. But as sam said, Ive googled and there are quite a lot of tobacconists and hatters would you believe. I suppose a real "gentleman's shop"!

Hi Heather, I agree that the first letter doesn't look like the other S's on this or the neighbouring pages. But, then again, it doesn't look much like anything else! I thought it was a abbreviation of hatter until I read more of this thread but now I'm not so sure. I guess this may be one of those where you get to pick the occupation you like best until something else comes along to help you clarify the situation! You said he was a lighterman in 1851 but have you found him on the 1861 yet. Maybe that would give some hint on this puzzling transformation. Louise

Hi Lou, I dont have access to the 1861, guess I could ask for a look up but dont like to keep asking! I will whip over to records board and ask. Thanks.

Hi everyone, just an update. Have found the guy living with his son in law and daughter aged 76 and a 'retired STATIONER' Thought youd all be desperate to know that! Thanks everyone.

I can sleep tonight now ;)