Genealogy Chat

From a List of Old Occupations • MASON - stonecutter & a Master Mason would be a 'Time Served Mason' ie one who had served his seven year apprenticeship and who now had Apprentices serving their time with him (ie learning their trade) The "Other Masons" you mention would be most unlikely to mention their involvement in 'Free Masonary' as it was not a trade or profession and in those days more of a secret society which you did not make public to all and sundry Back in the 1910/20,s he was probably a member of the Guild of Masons and records may still exist, suggest you try Googleing "Guild of Masons"

I am delighted to say that I have managed to find someone who knows my cousin in Caernarfon. He will I am sure be able to shed some light on my grandfather. I would like to say a big thank you to you for your assistance. Regards Dave

Dave, a Stone Mason would be a very highly skilled and well paid occupation, particularly if he were a master mason, employing others aswell.

The thing is Peter though, this chap put it on his marriage cert. I wouldnt have thought you would do that as freemasonry isnt an occupation.

I found one site to do with stone masons only any good to you if yours was called Babbage. One thing I did find that could be of uses is sites on the other kind of Masons the masonic ones. At the turn of the century it was the in thing to belong to them if you were middle or upper class. and owning your own buissness put you in that catagory.(normaly) there history pages for different lodges lists members names.

Post Office is different to a bank! Often he would have had the wife and employed someone else to run that if he also had his own business. But as I said, look at the historicaldirectories website and see if it throws him up either way.

I am really not sure! The family I think at some point had either ownership or management of the Post Office in the main square of Caernarfon but seeing as he was not brought up with his father around and given that his mother was a domestic servant, I had assumed that he was a professional man in some way rather than a stone mason. What do you think? Could I be barking up completely the wrong tree?

A bank? I am assuming you mean a master stone mason? He wasnt talking about free masons was he!?! They would have there own website - if you know the place he lived you could find the nearest lodge and contact them. However, this is not the sort of information one would put forward for a marriage cert!

Cheers Heather - I am led to believe that my father thought that he was involved in a bank in some way. I will take your advice and see what I can find. Thanks again Dave

If he was a master mason he probably had his own business and employed people. So you could look in historical directories web site for him. He would also have had an apprenticeship so thats another avenue to look at. Try googling masons and see if they have records of apprenticeships anywhere.

Can anyone tell me whether there is a way of searching in a particular part of the Country (North Wales) for a particular trade. My grandfather does not appear on my father's birth certificate in 1917 but he is quoted on father's 1st and 2nd marriage certs as a mason/master mason. 2 thoughts, he either (a) found out who is father was or (b) made it up! But why would he say he was alive in his 1st cert but deceased on his 2nd if he had made it up? Have very little to go on (god this is like being a detective!). Thanks Dave