Exmouth 1890 Jeweler/Watchmaker Assistant Records

[PhotoFamily]

I have an ancestor in the 1891 census who is "Jeweler/Watchmaker Assistant" in Exmouth.

Does anyone know if he would have had a formal apprenticeship? Would there be any surviving records of that?

Thanks
Sarah

[kylejustin]

if he worked with gold it is possible. i have an ancestor who worked in london and manchester as a jeweller/watchmaker/goldsmith. i havn't looked for apprenticeship records, but i wouldnt know where to look!

[Olde Crone Holden]

Assistant suggests he wasn't qual;ified, to my mind, otherwise he would be Jeweller journeyman, Master or apprentice.

As a jewellery apprenticeship and a watchmaking apprenticeship are two different things, he wouldn't be qualified to do both. sounds as if he was a gofer for a jeweller's establishment.

AFTERTHOUGHT - how is he described on the 1901/1911?

OC

[PhotoFamily]

He moved to Canada. Eventually lives in a small town, initially a farmer, then the towns post man - and jeweler/watchmaker.

[greyingrey]

Don't want to hijack Photo's thread, but I've got some watchmakers, so if anyone knows of any apprenticeship records, I'd be very grateful to hear about them

[PhotoFamily]

Hi, greyingrey -
What part of England, and what time period?
Sarah

[Olde Crone Holden]

Sounds to me as if he was never a qualified professional but had picked up enough knowledge to get by. Or he may have served part of an apprenticeship.

OC

[PhotoFamily]

here's some records that are available for watchmakers:

http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titlehitlist&columns=*%2C0%2C0&keyword=watchmaker&prekeyword=watchmaker