The Book of English Trades

 

I had the link to this book tucked in among the links in my post The Calico Printer but it really should have it's own spotlight.

The Book of English Trades and Library of the Useful Arts, 1827

The book has descriptions of over 75 trades, some with woodcut images. If known they give the origins of the trade.

The Optician

At the rear of the book are drawings and explanations of some machinery used at that time, including a water mill

Water Mill 

Many of my ancestors' trades are in there including carpenter, shoemaker, calico printer, spinner, bookseller, wheelwright, tailor... to name a few.

Relevant Links

The Book of English Trades and Library of the Useful Arts, 1827

A to Z Ancestor Occupations

Blogging A to Z this year my theme was Ancestor Occupations. I researched and wrote about different occupations held by some of my ancestors. I tried to keep these posts as short as possible with images, which are apparently worth a thousand words. 

I find if you have a clear idea of your theme, keep your posts short(ish), and write as many scheduled posts as you can before April begins it makes it an enjoyable challenge. I would have liked to read more from others but some were too long to fit into my reading schedule. I did read and comment on some if the title caught my interest. 

Here is a list of my posts:

A is for Antiques Dealer

B is for Brass Finisher

C is for Cabinetmaker

D is for Donkey Chair Proprietor

E is for Engineer

F is for Fruit Merchant

G is for Goldsmith

H is for Horse Breeder

I is for Iron Workers

J is for Jeweler

K is for Keeping Lodgers

L is for Landlord

M is for Miller

N is for North West Mounted Police

O is for Owner of Coatwell Paint & Varnish

P is for Pig Farmer

Q is for Quarantine Worker

R is for  Reporter

S is for Seamstress

T is for Tailor

U is for Ulverton Woolen Mill Builder & Worker

V is for Victualler

W is for Wireless Operator

X is for Xylographer

Y is for Yardmaster

Z is for  Zoo Workers

This is a list of A to Z Blogs I enjoyed and commented on regularly:

Molly's Canopy

Family History Across the Sea

Family History Fun

Tui Snider: Exploring Historic Cemeteries

Canada Genealogy: or Jane's Your Aunt 

GeniAus

Plus one! There is a non-genealogy blog I enjoyed following... The Multicolored Diary 

The Author, Csenge Virág Zalka is a professional storyteller and researcher from Budapest, Hungary and her theme was Folktales of Endangered Species. Some of these animals I had never heard of and it was interesting to read the folklore surrounding each species. Her posts were short, informative and fun to read. 

This is the third A to Z Challenge I have done. These are the other two...

A to Z Challenge 2016 - Genealogy Tips

A to Z Challenge 2018 -  My Family Tree Places

Jewelers, Watchmakers and Optometrists

I find that most of my DNA matches are on my mother's father's line. Specifically that of my 2x great grandfather's brother, Francis Mavor that immigrated to New Brunswick with his large family. We are doing a little give and take - they are taking me forward and I am taking them back. There are not many relatives around on my side, as many of my 2x ggf's children had no offspring, or their children never married, so it is nice to have people to share my research with. 

In my 12 Days of Ancestors, day 5 post I wrote about two of Francis' grandsons who owned Mavor Bros Jewelers and Watchmakers. Jewelers would also do engraving, make pins and badges, and some sold eyeglasses. 

In the 1920 January issue of The Trader, the official publication of the Canadian Jeweler, James and George placed an ad to hire a watchmaker.

The Trader, January 1920, pg 97

In the October 1923 issue of The Optical Journal and Review of Optometry there was a small notice that James Mavor is congratulated on the birth of a daughter. 

Optical Journal and Review of Optometry, Oct 1923, pg 50

If your ancestor was a jeweler he may be mentioned in one of these publications. 



Relevant Links

Jeweler's Circular

Canadian Jewellers Association

The Trader and Canadian Jeweler

The Watchmaker & Jeweller, Silversmith & Optician

The Commonwealth Jeweller & Watchmaker 1923

Fogerty's Directory of The Jewelry and Kindred Trades in The United States 1877

List of Philadelphia Silversmiths and Allied Artificers From 1682 To 1850

The Commonwealth Jeweller & Watchmaker (Australia)

Women as Watchmakers (article)

The annual report of the Society of Arts & Crafts of Boston, Massachusetts

An exhibition of early New York silver 1932

Former clock & watchmakers and their work 1894

Old clocks and watches & their makers

Catalogue of Supplies for Watchmakers, Jewelers and Kindred Trades 1899

Watchmakers' and Jewelers' Practical Receipt Book (recipes) 1892

The silversmiths of Virginia, together with watchmakers and jewelers,1694 to 1850

The Optical Review

The Blue Book of Optometrists

Directory of the California Board of Optometry

Clothiers, Tailors and Haberdashers

I have tailors on two branches of my family tree.  I have written about Andrew Tait, a Master Tailor in Liverpool and Bath that invented a secret pocket in pants. My great grandfather's brother Thomas Seale was a merchant tailor, having a shop on Princess Street in Kingston, Ontario. He had a specialty department of water-proof clothing and camping materials.

Kingston Directory, 1878, pg 72 (at Ancestry)

If your ancestor was a merchant tailor, clothier or haberdasher, look in trade magazines, directories, newspaper ads and ads in other local publications. My great grand uncle placed an ad in the Queen's College Journal, Kingston. 

Queen's College Journal 1878, pg 144

Relevant Links

The Clothier and Furnisher

Clothiers' and Haberdashers' Weekly

Fairchild's men's and boy’s wear Directory NY

The Modern Tailor Outfitter and Clothier

A list of some eminent members of the Mercers company of London 1872

Cost and selling price for merchant tailors

The Haberdasher, NJ

Tailor And Cutter Magazine

International Commercial Directories

No country has everything they need or would like, and there are records of Trade existing back to the 19th century BC.  As methods of transportation evolved... camels, horses, ships, railroads, etc... merchants went farther afield to buy and sell their wares.

Now a Department of Commerce or a Department of Trade would publish directories like this one published in USA for Southern Australia. 

Trade Directory of South Australia 1919

There were also guides for commercial travelers with information on where to go, how to get there, what to bring, what banks there are, recommended hotels etc.

Commercial Travelers Guide to Latin America, pg 355  

Relevant Links

Timeline of International Trade

Trade Routes

The commercial directory of Scotland, Ireland, and the four most Northern counties of England for 1821-22 & 23

Hamilton's Mexican handbook and commercial directory 1883

Commercial directory of Latin America 1892

Commercial Directory of the Jews of the United Kingdom 1894

Commercial guide and trade directory of Japan 1895

Commercial directory of Manila 1901

Commercial directory of Honduras, 1911

Trade Directory of South Australia 1919

Commercial Directory of the United Provinces of India,1941-42

Commercial Traveler’s Guide to Latin America 1920

Database of London's Livery Companies

The project began in 2008 with creating the database of the Clothworkers' Company, Apprenticeship and Freeman records, and has since added ten other companies. 

Clothshearer - Jan Luyken

Most worshipful companies of trades started as an association of artisans that set regulations for the trade, kept track of the doings of apprenticeships and masters, and paid for funerals. Many are now social and charitable associations.    




Relevant Links

Records of London's Livery Companies Online, Apprentices and Freemen 1400-1900

Canada 150 - Men's Wear Review

During our country's 150th anniversary celebration of confederation I will write posts titled Canada 150 with a link to a publication or website I find that may help you tell the story of your Canadian ancestors.
Click on the Canada 150 label on the right or at the bottom to see all the posts.

Today I have for you...

Men’s Wear Review

Throughout there are portraits of company and store owners or managers. 

Directors of Semi-Ready Ltd, Montreal 1911

Look for a personal section...

Of A Personal Nature, 1916

Relevant Links

The men's Wear Review 1911-1922

Canada 150 - Furniture Dealers and Undertakers

During our country's 150th anniversary celebration of confederation I will write posts titled Canada 150 with a link to a publication or website I find that may help you tell the story of your Canadian ancestors.
Click on the Canada 150 label on the right or at the bottom to see all the posts.

Today I have for you...

Canadian Furniture World and The Undertaker

The first issue was published in September 1911. The binder for 1911 holds all 1912 issues as well.  Thereafter each binder holds a year of issues.  Check each month. Look for ancestor names throughout, but especially in the column titled Among the Retailers and Knobs of News.

Knobs of News November 1912

In the Undertaker department, the column Professional Notes tells news of ancestors in the business.

Professional Notes, The Undertaker January 1917

In the issues are also directories of furniture makers, undertakers and associated trades.

Relevant Links

Canadian Furniture World and The Undertaker 1911-1923

List of St Louis, MO Undertakers

The Gunsmith

My husband has a lot of interests. He was a scuba instructor, he liked ice climbing, camping and boating, and his passion was shooting. He belonged to the Dominion of Canada Rifle Association and was on the Canadian Bisley Team in the Queen's Prize full bore rifle shoot in 1986. He didn't win but he did okay and he found it exciting just to be at such a prestigious shoot, with people from all over the world. He still has a varied collection of firearms, makes his own ammo and heads out to the shooting range every once in a while. 

Canadian Team at Bisley, 1909

One thing he was not interested in.... my hobby of genealogy.   

That is until I started researching his family and discovered his ancestor was an armorer. 
Nicholas Juchereau, besides taking care of the Quebec holdings of his uncle, Noel Juchereau, sieur des Chastelets, was a distinguished captain of the Régiment de Carignan-Salières and it was his duty to arm his men. So while in France in 1645 he chose Jacques Nolin as his armurier. His duty was to make and repair all weaponry, including firearms. 

Now I piqued my husband's interest, and it only got better when he learned Jacques' great-grandson went on to become a well-respected fur trader. 

Check your local library or archives for lists of gun makers, like the 1967 book on Colonial Australian Gunsmiths and for rifle associations.

Another place to check is the Patent office for firearms, rifles, etc.. 




Relevant Links

The Book of Rifles (1948) Smith

American Gun Makers, 1953

The Modern Gunsmith, Vol 1 & 2

Firearms in American history, 1900s

Manuel de l'armurier, du fourbisseur et de l'arquebusier, 1832

Hints on the use and handling of firearms generally, the revolver in particular 1885

Class book for the School of Musketry, Hythe; prepared for the use of officers 1861

Queen’s Prize Winners

The Calico Printer

My 2x great grandfather's sister, Ann Purdie Falconer Tait was a calico printfield worker in Glasgow in 1859 when she married Robert Sinclair, a calico engraver.  

Book of English Trades 1827, pg.64, mark 103

I didn't know much about calico printing so I looked for more information and found the following books and websites on the subject.

The Calico Printers Association was founded in Britain in 1899 with the merge of 46 textile companies and 13 textile merchants. 

The Dictionary of Dyeing and Calico Printing has recipes for making the colours, so I looked up my favourite colour ... green!

Green colours, pg.260

Relevant Links

Calico Printing defined

Book of English Trades and Library of Useful Arts 1827

The British manufacturers companion and callico printers assistant 1795

A practical treatise on dyeing and calico-printing 1846

A dictionary of dyeing and calico printing : containing a brief account of dyeing and printing textile fabrics 1869

Calico printing and turkey red dying

Calico printers Assoc – where different records are held in UK

Calico printer images on Google

A Practical Handbook of Dyeing and Calico-printing

Industries of the World – Calico printing

Samples from the Calico Printers Association

Calico Print Workers – Sue Wilkes blog post