Week 26: My ancestor was a fisherman

[Jill on the A272]

Week 26: Fisherman



This is an opportunity to showcase a fisherman from your family tree, you might want to offer a short biography and speak about their work eg
Name
Birth location/date
Family background
Where you've found them on the census
Their workplace/employer
Any tips on researching this occupation?

[Next week: Gamekeeper/Bailiff]

[PhotoFamily]

What about fishmongers?!

And then - recreational fishermen and fisherwomen...

[Jill on the A272]

What about fishmongers?!

And then - recreational fishermen and fisherwomen...

Feel free to include any occupation based on fish, though these threads are intended to be about the workplace rather than hobbies.

[PhotoFamily]

Leeds Mason (~1733-1800) apprenticed to a Fishmonger in 1746 in London, gaining the Freedom of the Company in 1754. He married Molly Mason in 1757 by Licence.
He served as Prime Warden of the Fishmonger's Company 1796-1798, having previously served as lesser Warden roles in the previous years -
Fishmonger's Court Minutes
21 Jun 1784
.....
This Court also proceeded in the Election of a Fifth Warden of this Mistery of Fishmongers of the City of London for the two years now next ensuing.


Leeds Mason was the Uncle of my direct ancestor, Edward Coverly. Edward's father died when Edward was still a boy. Edward entered Christ's Hospital, and remained there until he was discharged in 1783 - to his uncle, Leeds Mason - to apprentice as a Fishmonger.

Edward Coverly (1769-1846), as previously stated, entered Christ's Hospital soon after his father's death. His mother also died about 1783. Edward apprenticed to a Fishmonger in 1783 and was "made Free by Service" in 1790. In 1799, a Fishmonger's Court elected Edward Coverly to be the Company's Under Beadle (of note, his uncle, "Mr Mason" was present at the meeting).
In 1806, Edward Coverly was elected Upper Beadle of the Company. There were no other candidates for the office.
In 1816, the Company's Court reported that Edward had been found to be maintaining a shop, and leaving the Hall at night to spend time there. The Court issued him a warning to discontinue the additional work, but found that he did not, and therefore, he resigned. It is not clear how well he was able to support himself and his family during the next years. In the 1841 census, he is living with his two youngest children, apparently living off of a small Fishmonger Company annuity. He died in 1846.