the first letter is a capital F as most of my 19th century ancestors used to write it on numerous certificates and the family Bible.
(Birmingham Register Office gives scans of the original certificates if possible so you can see the actual signatures)
I think its fireman too. Don't forget this might not be what we think of as a fireman (with a big red engine!). The term was often used for the person who stoked fires for steam engines in railway engines, ships and factories etc.
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