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Odd occupation in 1911 Irish census

Discussion in 'General Genealogical Queries' started by JamesW, Sep 12, 2020.

  1. JamesW

    JamesW LostCousins Member

    In the 1911 Irish census Lewis Porter's occupation is listed as "singer in a bleach works". Was this some sort of rudimentary musak for the workers? I think it is probably a technical term, but I have not found it after a little googling. Lewis was my grandmother's first cousin.
     
  2. Tim

    Tim Megastar and Moderator Staff Member

    Have you got a link the census? Maybe we can work it out?
     
  3. peter

    peter Administrator Staff Member

    Could it be from 'singe' rather than 'sing'?
     
  4. JamesW

    JamesW LostCousins Member

    The link to the record is http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai001550790/

    I did think of the possibility that the word "singer" is actually from "singe" but I can't find a reference to singe in reference to bleaching. I have made an assumption that the bleach works was processing flax, but this may be incorrect. It could have been producing bleach, for all I know. But on the assumption that it might be in relation to flax processing I searched and found an informative article at decktowel.com. I have sent a query to their info email. I'll post anything I find out here.
     
  5. JamesW

    JamesW LostCousins Member

    Well that was quick. I have heard back from the president of the decktowel company who says:

    Interesting, I have not heard of that position before. I am wondering if maybe something was misconstrued. A sizer in a fabric manufacturer back in the day was someone who applied sizing to the fabric. That’s about all I can think of. Conversely in the tobacco factories in Cuba there was position know as a reader. They read from literary classics to the tobacco rollers as they rolled cigars. Maybe a singer had a similar role in the bleach works!!
    The 1911 census was filled in by a household member, and in this case it was Lewis himself, so I'm pretty sure the word is "singer". The fact about the readers in Cuban tobacco factories does lend a little support to the notion that the factory might have paid for a singer to entertain the workers.

    Or, maybe Lewis was a bit of a wag and described himself as a singer because he sang a lot as he worked.
     
  6. Tim

    Tim Megastar and Moderator Staff Member

    Well it does look like singer :)
    And it's not mentioned in this list.
     
  7. Sue_3

    Sue_3 LostCousins Member

    It is in this list though!
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  8. Heather

    Heather LostCousins Member

    Thanks Sue_3 I have four lists of occupations and it wasn't listed in any of those, always good to find another one and one with so much detail in it.
     
    • Thanks! Thanks! x 1

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