Brian, 1841 was pretty early in Railway history. It was mostly main lines that were operating at that time. Railway work demanded an ability to read and write, which was not generally an attribute of the ag labs at this period.  Jobs were advertised in the newspapers.  I know for a fact that one of my ancestors moved from Bristol to Pontypridd in the late 1840s in response to such an advert.  Jeff ----- Original Message ---- From: Brian Blackwell <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Friday, 31 October, 2008 11:08:40 AM Subject: Re: [GLS] Rural Gloucestershire to the cities My Blackwell line moved from Bisley/Miserden to Birmingham around 1830, was there any organised method of attracting manpower into Birmingham or just "word of mouth". My rural 4xgg Richard Blackwell worked for the railway on his 1841 marriage certificate (Birmingham) does anyone know if the railway was near Bisley/Miserden for him to have had a railway connection before he arrived in Birmingham? Richard gave Miserdine as his place of birth on the 1851 Birmingham census. Brian Blackwell Sechelt  BC _____________________________________________ Have you considered adding "postems" to "your" events on www.freebmd.org.uk , giving your contact details?  Other researchers will then be able to make contact. Click on the info button to add your postem. ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message