From: G6JPG@255soft.uk   
      
   On Fri, 11 Feb 2022 at 13:59:35, Colin Bignell  wrote   
   (my responses usually follow points raised):   
   >I'm new here, so please don't throw things if I have got the wrong group.   
   >   
   >First decade of 20th century, one of my ancestors entered House Breaker   
   >as his occupation on his marriage certificate. I am assuming he isn't   
   >admitting to a life of crime, but can anybody confirm or refute my   
   >assumption that he was what today would probably be called a demolition   
   >operative? I.e. he knocked down houses, possibly reclaiming anything   
   >with scrap value.   
   >   
   >I've been surprised by what some occupations turn out to be before, but   
   >the places I usually look up old job descriptions don't help here.   
   >   
   >   
   What did he say in the 1911 census? That might also give who (if anyone)   
   he worked for, and maybe whether his sons if any were in the same trade   
   (though if married in 190x, probably not old enough). (And the 1921, but   
   that'll cost you extra, even if you have a subscription to one of the   
   places you can look at the 1911, or go to a library.) And possibly the   
   1901 (or his father if too young).   
      
   I suspect you _are_ right that it means involvement in demolition; I did   
   wonder if it might be what we'd now call house _clearance_, but I think   
   your suggestion is more likely.   
      
   Of course, it'd be fun if he _was_ a burglar - or being facetious! (Is   
   there any obligation - either on participants to be honest and sober, or   
   on the registrar to check?)   
   --   
   J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf   
      
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