Doreen: It's hard to tell, I think, as many occupations of that time can be misleading. For example, my ancestor Benjamin PASSMORE, who died in Misers Row in 1849 was an "engineer". But this didn't mean what it does today, it just meant he looked after a stationary engine, probably a pump for a coal mine. Similarly, a female servant in a working class family was often just a niece who needed feeding. Your miner who employed 25 men would have been a "butty-miner". The butty system, which was widespread in the Black Country, involved one miner leasing part of a mine for a period of time from the mine owner. He then worked it himself and with other miners (whom he paid) and he sold the coal they all produced. So not at all a conventional employer, but admittedly not the lowest of the low. Perhaps I should keep a more open mind after all! Best wishes Paul Prescott ----- Original Message ----- From: <Petchey432@aol.com> To: <ENG-BLACK-COUNTRY-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, March 05, 2006 5:04 PM Subject: Re: [B.C.] Misers' Row > Hi Paul, I don't think Misers Row could have been all that poor, as next > door but one to my ancestor they had a house servant, and my Absolam > Walker is > stated as a coal miner employing 25 men. That must have been a first for > our > family, they were all labourers or miners of either slate or coal, not > even an > ag lab amongst them. Doreen > > > ==== ENG-BLACK-COUNTRY Mailing List ==== > The Assistant List Admins are Jean Morgan and Jan Ross > (Couldn't do it without those two great ladies) > >