Journeymen

[Debbss]

Hi

Were 'journeymen' their version of modern days 'travellers'?

Many thanks

Debbs

[Elaine ..Spain]

Definition for you Debbs ..
Journeyman - A tradesman who has served his trade apprenticeship and mastered his craft, not bound to serve a master, but originally hired by the day. The name derives from the French for day - jour.

Source: http://rmhh.co.uk/occup/ (Old occupations website)

[Debbss]

Oh thanks Elaine, I shall store that link as good resource

So he was actually quite skilled then, the opposite to what I thought, a bit of an 'odd-job' man
Debbs

[Fuzzy]

http://www.census1891.com/occupations.htm

Also a victorian occupation website Debbs that i have found really handy! Came across Stevedore the other day, wouldn't have had a clue but for the site!!

[Debbss]

Lol! Thats so funny as when I very first started this a few months I found my GGfather was Stevedore, I had some romantic notion about his job, bless!

Then I found out what it meant!

But thanks, its another good one for the link library

[Olde Crone Holden]

Um, can I point out that both those words are in the dictionary! No specialised site required.

OC

[Debbss]

ooops! Thats us told off!

[Olde Crone Holden]

Nooooooo, not telling anyone off, just pointing out that the dictionary contains most words and is an easier first port of call than specialised websites.

OC

[Debbss]

I was more interested to know if there were any other descriptions or opinions of the trade name as I have a line in my family that I now suspect were Gypsies or Travellers, so just trying to clarify the things they wrote as their trade in the census. I do try to source other places prior to coming on here and using up other peoples time, but sometimes just a different 'take' on things helps.
My huge Encarta dictionary is never far from my side,I can assure you :0 it is my friend, especially since starting this new hobby - strike that - addiction! lol!
Debbs

[Olde Crone Holden]

I don't think the expression Traveller was used in the 19th century for gypsies. Traveller is a late 20th century description for people who lived on the move with no fixed abode but who are NOT gypsies or tinkers.

In the 19th century, a traveller would have been a commercial traveller - what we would call a salesman today, lol, but one who travelled around with a suitcase full of tinned peaches etc, visiting grocers and so on.

OC