Joseph Greener was born in 1810 (From the Ryton Parish Register: 23 Sept 1810 Baptism of Joseph Greener born April 29 1810 at Chopwell Greenhead 1st son of John Greener, farmer, native of this parish by his wife Elizabeth Laws native of this parish). So, his father was a farmer. There were two sons who were older than Joseph as well as a daughter and another son who were younger. In 1841 he is described as an Inn Keeper. In the 1851 Census he is a Railway Guard Luggage Train. And when his daughter Ann marries George Smith on 22 February 1857 he is described under "Rank or Profession of Father" as a Butcher. By 1861 he has disappeared - presumably dead, though I haven't yet found his death. My first reaction was that there was more than one Joseph Greener and I'd missed the other(s). But I can't find another Joseph Greener of anything like the same age. Before I go on looking, can I please have an opinion from Those Who Know: is it likely that one man would have had three such varied occupations in 17 years in the first half of the 19th Century? -- John Lynch