Genealogy Chat

A sister of my 3 x GGF had 6 children outside of marriage and was ususlly described as a charwoman on the census.

I had a relative listed as a dressmaker and she had 3 children with no father I can find. Oh I hope she was a real dressmaker. It would horrible to think otherwise.

I saw a census entry for a possible ancestor of mine classed as a charwoman she was 78 and living with a 62 year old also classed as a charwoman, my word!

search for ass or cock too - some amusing occupations
too.

"washerwoman" was another.

My 4x grandmother was described as a washerwoman on one census. She was newly widowed at the time and in her forties. I REALLY hope she was just taking washing in as it upsets me to think the poor woman must have been driven to such desperation.

I have two sisters who each had children outside marriage (one had two, both of whom died in infancy). They lived with their elderly parents and on the 1841 census are both described as "dressmakers". Both had had a child by that time. Their parents, who were in their late seventies, obviously couldn't work and they would have had to support them and the children.

The one whose two babies had died later married, aged 39, and went on to have another daughter.

Have an ancestor whose occupation changed from charwoman to dress maker!!

I've just realised - one of great-great-great grandad Hurst's youngest sisters (there was a twenty-two year age gap between eldest and youngest!) was listed in 1871 as an unmarried 35 year old "charwoman".

I don't know what she was really employed as but it might explain why some of these charwomen etc were old enough that they might be considered past "marriageable age" - maybe they didn't get married because they didn't have to . . .

nudgexx

nudge for those interested

To see the gay girl on the 1871 census.

Jenny Lindsey 1829 Scotland

Just googled 1881 census Robert Goodman.
Loads of comments about it.

Summer.

The Goodman family Im sure are a joke.The absence of a town or parish at the top of the image was pointed out to me as proof its not genuine.
Also if you turn back a page it says its the last one so why was this page then entered?
Too many unusual features.
However Robert Goodman could be an international pianist. Take another look.

another occupation for a prostitute was charwoman although Im sure there were plenty of genuine ones

Margaret, I never knew that!!
My GG granmother was listed as that. lol

Margaret, am indeed in the UK, I just suffer from insomnia. Good idea to nudge it though.

Incidently, I couldnt find them an another census. I do wonder about it, it's a very strange entry but the seeming fading would give authenticity to the age. I'm just not sure about it. It did give me a giggle but I also like a good mystery.

Summer

We will have to nudge this up for later..Im guessing you are not in UK

I was just about ot say the same thing. The head of house isn't James though it's Robert. I'd say you're right about the Lunatic. I do wonder about Cecily's age, that seems very strange, but then maybe she just got herself a toyboy lol.

The 1881 census for Robert Goodman has no place at the top where the census was taken. No area mentioned. Plus in the column next to Robert Goodman (head) it has Lunatic very faint but thats what ot seems to me.

From Dictionary.com

"ponce

1872, slang term, chiefly British, originally "a pimp, a man supported by women" (pouncey in same sense is attested from 1861), of unknown origin, perhaps from Fr. pensionnaire "boarder, lodger, person living without working."

also:"a man who is effeminate in his manner and fussy in the way he dresses"

lol one can only imagine... maybe the enumerator didn't like the man lol.

Look on the National Archives site I mentioned. I found it by googling gay girl occupation on census..

It has interesting people to look for in 1871 and if you continue on an account of a commissioner of police poisoned by walnut whips in 1922

I googled it and looked at the original image. It's incredibly faint. You can make out the International but the word after could be anything. I think someone just decided to have a little fun with it.

His son Robert definitely says Ponce though.