ESSEX-UK-L Archives

From:
Subject: Re: Occupation - 1901 Census
Date: Sat, 2 Nov 2002 17:01:02 EST

In a message dated 02/11/2002 21:41:51 GMT Standard Time,
writes:


> On the 1901 Census an occupation is shown as - Comm Boatman C Guards and
> Employment status as HM Navy.
> Could SKS help me with the interpretation of this please?
>

In 1901 the Coastguard service was under the control of the Admiralty - which
explains 'C Guards' and 'HM Navy'.

'Comm' could stand for all sorts of things - 'Common', 'Commercial' or
'Communications' are three that immediately spring to mind.

'Common' seems unlikely as the Admiralty tended to use the word 'ordinary',
as in Ordinary Seaman.

'Commercial' has possibilities - a boatman who owned his own boat that was
put at the service of the Coastguards when needed. Can anyone say if this is
likely?

'Communications' is the most likely to me - someone who worked as a boatman
but who had additional skills as a communications person on semaphore flags
or flashing lamps - see http://www.mcagency.org.uk/coastguard/communic.htm

Dave Dobbin
BUNDOCK/BUNDICK in Essex, DOBBIN and BUNSE(A)LL in Deptford, ARTER in
Northampton and SMITH in Sharnbrooke

This thread:

• Occupation - 1901 Census by "Ron Blair" <>

  • Re: Occupation - 1901 Census by

  • Fw: Occupation - 1901 Census by "Richard Gurney" <>
    • Occupation - 1901 Census by "Peter Cavill" <>
      • Re: Occupation - 1901 Census by "bren" <>
        • Re: Occupation - 1901 Census by "ray parker" <>