Genealogy Chat

How likely is it that someone would change their jobs from the time their child was born and when that child got married?

I have my great grandmothers’ father listed on her birth certificate as a commercial traveller, then on her marriage certificate as an Optician. I did consider that they were two different people except that there appears to be only the one May Eliza or even May from the area of which I know her to be from.

So could he have changed jobs or just lied or maybe it was a mistake on behalf of the person writing the certificate?

Gypsyjoe

Perhaps he sold reading glasses. I once knew someone when I was little who went round all the opticians selling frames, maybe he got interested and trained himself, or perhaps it looked more glam on the marr. cert to put optician!

My 2 x great grandfather was a Paper Stainer on my great grandmothers birth certificate, in 1846. He was a Beer Seller on the 1851 census, and on her marriage certificate he was an Oilman.
Another ancestor was a sail maker on 1851 census, a Civilian Clerk for the Army on 1861, and a Coffee House Keeper on the 1871 census.
Another ancestor had put on his marriage certificate father - Gentleman, and he was in fact a pauper in a workhouse.
So just shows, you dont have to believe all they said they were on the census.

Okay thanx for that, I think I'll stick with the commercial traveller as it's also what is on censuses.

Gypsyjoe

My husband's great grandfather was a Farmer, then a Policeman and ended his life as an Inn Keeper.

Kath. x