According to the 1861 census John PYE, 32, was a Master Blacksmith employing one man in Shawbury. Sometime around 1871, (I don't have access to the census of that year) he moved to Higher Ercall but had moved to Shrewsbury by about 1879. By 1881 census he's working as a Blacksmith's labourer. What would cause him to have ceased to be a Master Blacksmith and become a blacksmith's labourer?

----- Original Message ----- From: "Charani" To: "List Shrops" <eng-shropshire-plus@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, September 05, 2006 2:19 PM Subject: [ENG-SHROP] Blacksmith from Master to Labourer > Sometime around 1871, (I don't have access to the census of that year) > he moved to Higher Ercall but had moved to Shrewsbury by about 1879. Has someone sent you the details and/or image of the 1871? Or at least tried to find your man? If not, I'll give it a go for you. Toni ~ Ontario, Canada

Hi Charani, Have sent you the 1871 off list. I would suggest to you that your John Pye was still a Blacksmith employing in 1881 and the error is probably the enumerators. If you note there is a full stop after the word Blacksmith. Cheers, Keith Roberts. Charani <familyhistory@charani.plus.com> wrote: According to the 1861 census John PYE, 32, was a Master Blacksmith employing one man in Shawbury. Sometime around 1871, (I don't have access to the census of that year) he moved to Higher Ercall but had moved to Shrewsbury by about 1879. By 1881 census he's working as a Blacksmith's labourer. What would cause him to have ceased to be a Master Blacksmith and become a blacksmith's labourer? ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ENG-SHROPSHIRE-PLUS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Hi Charani Your John Pye appears to be a blacksmith employer in 1871 if you email me at chouikh2006@btinternet.com I will send you the details and image of list regards Mellie Why Does My Coat Of Arms Have Buckles At The Back?

The answer is, any of the things that would cause a person to move 'down' the career ladder these days, just in a 19thC form. As a master blacksmith he ran his own business and would be vulnerable to bad debts, general economic downturn and loss of business due to the railways. But since he has gone from master blacksmith to labourer, my bet would be that he had some illness or injury that prevented him doing the job. This could be anything from poor sight, to industrial accident to too much beer (very thirsty work). Or just general decline and weakness due to a chronic condition such as TB. So I reckon the answer to your question could be on his death cert. Judy On 5 Sep 2006, at 19:19, Charani wrote: > What would cause him to have ceased to be a Master Blacksmith and > become a blacksmith's labourer?

>>But since he has gone from master blacksmith to labourer, my bet would be that he had some illness or injury that prevented him doing the job. This could be anything from poor sight, to industrial accident to too much beer (very thirsty work). Or just general decline and weakness due to a chronic condition such as TB. So I reckon the answer to your question could be on his death cert.<< I had been contemplating why he had "down turned" and it appears to be between 1871 and 1881. I came up with the same thoughts as you. I guess its something for us to bear in mind for all our ancestors! Mellie Why Does My Coat Of Arms Have Buckles At The Back?