From: keith_nuttle@sbcglobal.net
On 2/11/2022 9:21 AM, J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
> 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?)
This is not a definitive, but I did a internet search and the hits
"House Breaker" was refereed to as a negative term.
From the context of the hits, it appears to be what you first thought,
some one who breaks into a house and sells his spoils
--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)
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