View Full Version : Occupation of 8 year old girl on 1871 Census??
Elizabeth Herts
02-10-08, 15:08
RG10; 4403; 76; 30
At the top of the page are Thomas Lees and family.
Can anyone read the first word of the occupation of Lucy Lees, aged 8?
? pointer in factory
Poor mite, I have never found anyone that young working, as although some might have been working I don't think they always admitted it on the census.
Hi Elizabeth,
It looks like "??? painter in Factory".
Perhaps the 1st 3 letters are an abbreviation - aop.
No idea what it means.
herky
Orangeblossom
02-10-08, 15:19
It looks like Aop but I have no idea what that is lol
Possibly Arp or Orp?
Margaret in Burton
02-10-08, 15:29
Do you think it is supposed to be app pointer as in apprentice?
What is a pointer in a factory anyway? Probably in the mills.
Elaine ..Spain
02-10-08, 15:32
Pointer / Pin Pointer = 1) Lace-maker 2) Sharpened needles or pins in manufacture
from the Old Occupations website
Old Occupations - P (http://rmhh.co.uk/occup/p.html)
Margaret in Burton
02-10-08, 15:32
Just googled and a pointer is the person making the points of needles.
You beat me Elaine
Joan of Archives
02-10-08, 17:06
I found one of OH's working as a straw plaiter aged 5 !!
That's my youngest so far.
:)
Uncle John
02-10-08, 17:16
In Luton, straw plaiting was "out-work" done in people's homes, so the whole family would be involved.
Little Nell
02-10-08, 17:28
I think most children of poorer families would be "occupied" either in minding little ones, or helping parents who worked at home, or working in factories or stone-picking etc in rural areas. I'm quite sure most poorer married women worked too, though that's not often recorded on the census either.
Joan of Archives
02-10-08, 17:35
Wow UJ that's not bad! Arlesey Beds that's where, lol!
:D
Elizabeth Herts
02-10-08, 19:36
It's horrendous to think what those poor children endured. I have several not making 20 (probably because of the conditions in their lives).
However, I wonder if some of today's youngsters are aware of just how lucky they are! (The emphasis being on "some").
Uncle John
02-10-08, 23:48
Wow UJ that's not bad! Arlesey Beds that's where, lol!
When we moved to Luton the plaiting work had died out (imported) but hat-making was still going strong. In the rural parts of the county the staple industry was growing Brussels sprouts. Now it's oilseed rape/canola.
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