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Document deciphering

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  • 09-05-2016 8:38pm
    #1
    spurious
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Education Moderators Posts: 27,111 CMod ✭✭✭✭


    Since the other thread is marked NLI, I did not want to add this there as it's from a passenger list. Mods feel free to move it if you like.

    This is from a passenger list of outgoing passengers from Queenstown in the 1890s. I am wondering what the beady-eyed among us think the occupation opposite many of the men is? Gul...?

    picture.php?albumid=2386&pictureid=15411


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    #2
    spurious
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Education Moderators Posts: 27,111 CMod ✭✭✭✭spurious


    Hmmm. Looking at it myself again here.

    Based on the Agr....entry, perhaps it is 'Gnl Wr.'? General worker? The same man would be listed as 'Labourer' on most other sources.


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    #3
    Alan259
    Registered Users Posts: 90 ✭✭Alan259


    At first glance, the first thing that popped into my head was 'general' something. I was thinking it might have been connected with the word below, so 'general servant' but I think your second post is on the ball. :)


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    #4
    tabbey
    Registered Users Posts: 1,943 ✭✭✭tabbey


    General Labourer


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    #5
    pedroeibar1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,108 ✭✭✭pedroeibar1


    tabbey wrote: »
    General Labourer

    +1 It's a regularly seen occupation description.


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    #6
    spurious
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Education Moderators Posts: 27,111 CMod ✭✭✭✭spurious


    Ah, it's 'Lr'. Thanks.


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    #7
    pedroeibar1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,108 ✭✭✭pedroeibar1


    I read it as 'Gnl lbr'. That is the most common description, and in my experience tends to be urban, whereas rural labourers are 'Farm lbr' or sometimes 'Farm wkr' or 'Agric lbr' . No hard & fast rule though.

    One that baffled me for a long time was a loopy 'O' with a snake running out of it followed by 'Lbr'. I later got a census record (19th c Glasgow) and discovered that he was a 'Quay labourer', (+/- a docker). Even knowing that it was hard to to make Quay fit!


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