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England Business and Occupations (view source)
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Some occupations are more likely to have records about the people in those occupations than others. There are many records of people in trades, such as bootmakers, tailors, and so on. | Some occupations are more likely to have records about the people in those occupations than others. There are many records of people in trades, such as bootmakers, tailors, and so on. | ||
== | == Classes of Tradesmen == | ||
To learn a trade, an individual had to be apprenticed. Records were usually created of the agreement between the master (the one doing the teaching) and the person (father, guardian) or the organization (parish) placing the apprentice. | To learn a trade, an individual had to be apprenticed. Records were usually created of the agreement between the master (the one doing the teaching) and the person (father, guardian) or the organization (parish) placing the apprentice. | ||
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'''Master''' was the level after journeyman. A master was the most skilled craftsman or the owner. | '''Master''' was the level after journeyman. A master was the most skilled craftsman or the owner. | ||
See more information about apprentices below under Apprenticeship Tax. | See more information about apprentices below under Apprenticeship Tax. | ||
== Guilds == | == Guilds == | ||
Often the craftsmen of the same trade banded together to regulate trade and protect their members’ interests. The organization they formed was a '''guild'''. Those belonging to the guild were given special privileges, such as voting, and were called '''freemen'''. In a city a freeman was also called a citizen. In a town or rural area, he was called a burgess. | Often the craftsmen of the same trade banded together to regulate trade and protect their members’ interests. The organization they formed was a '''guild'''. Those belonging to the guild were given special privileges, such as voting, and were called '''freemen'''. In a city a freeman was also called a citizen. In a town or rural area, he was called a burgess. | ||
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Freemen records are more useful than apprenticeship records because they usually give ages, birthplaces, parentage, and occupations. | Freemen records are more useful than apprenticeship records because they usually give ages, birthplaces, parentage, and occupations. | ||
== Finding Records == | == Finding Records == | ||
Guild records are usually among city or borough records or in the possession of the modern guild. Many are in London at the [http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/LGNL_Services/Leisure_and_culture/Libraries/City_of_London_libraries/guildhall_lib.htm Guildhall Library]. Chapter 14 in the following book explains guild records: | Guild records are usually among city or borough records or in the possession of the modern guild. Many are in London at the [http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/LGNL_Services/Leisure_and_culture/Libraries/City_of_London_libraries/guildhall_lib.htm Guildhall Library]. Chapter 14 in the following book explains guild records: | ||
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Freemen and apprenticeship records are usually at the [http://www.oz.net/~markhow/englishros.htm county record offices]. | Freemen and apprenticeship records are usually at the [http://www.oz.net/~markhow/englishros.htm county record offices]. | ||
== Apprenticeship Tax == | == Apprenticeship Tax == | ||
A child could be apprenticed by his father or by the parish council if the child was an orphan or a pauper. A person was apprenticed between the ages of 7 and 18 years. An indenture was a legal agreement that bound the apprentice to serve a number of years, usually 7. Indentures usually contain the names of the apprentice and the master, the master’s trade and residence, the terms of apprenticeship, and sometimes the name, occupation, and residence of the apprentice’s father. | A child could be apprenticed by his father or by the parish council if the child was an orphan or a pauper. A person was apprenticed between the ages of 7 and 18 years. An indenture was a legal agreement that bound the apprentice to serve a number of years, usually 7. Indentures usually contain the names of the apprentice and the master, the master’s trade and residence, the terms of apprenticeship, and sometimes the name, occupation, and residence of the apprentice’s father. | ||
Between 1710 and 1811 a tax was assessed on the masters of the many who were apprenticed. For more information about these tax records, see the [[ | Between 1710 and 1811 a tax was assessed on the masters of the many who were apprenticed. For more information about these tax records, see the [[England Taxation|Taxation]] topic page. | ||
== Professional Occupations == | == Professional Occupations == | ||
Doctors, lawyers, ministers, and other professionals were educated at British schools and universities rather than through apprenticeship. While not members of guilds, they did have organizations that published biographical directories of members and sometimes histories. | Doctors, lawyers, ministers, and other professionals were educated at British schools and universities rather than through apprenticeship. While not members of guilds, they did have organizations that published biographical directories of members and sometimes histories. | ||
== Definitions and Histories of Occupations == | == Definitions and Histories of Occupations == | ||
The following book categorizes the duties of many occupations in England: | The following book categorizes the duties of many occupations in England: | ||