Hi Listers Just a bit of background: My ggg grandfather was James Allen, a coral and jet carver born in Ireland. He later went to England and married Sarah Ann Phillips on the 17th Apr 1825 and they had six children. James shows up on the 1841 Census but not beyond, and his wife Sarah is a widow on the 1851 Census. My question is: What county would a coral carver be likely to come from? Would there have been a certain area where this occupation was practiced? Would there be apprenticeship records that I could tap into? Any and all help much appreciated. Faith Capnerhurst Chilliwack, BC Canada researching (England):CAPNERHURST/CAPENHURST, CHADD, CARRINGTON, SMITH, PARDOE, GREEN & ALLEN (Newfoundland): CLARK(E), HURDLE, DYKE, HALL, PARROT, FLEET, HUNT, & WISEMAN _________________________________________________________________ Internet explorer 8 lets you browse the web faster. http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9655582

Hi Faith - Your ancestor had a very interesting occupation! Perhaps he worked in Dublin or actually learned his craft in England? (One of my ancestors, surname GEORGE, in Tuebrook, West Derby, Liverpool, was an umbrella maker, then a hairdresser, and then a jeweller, on serial censuses and other records.) Doesn't answer your particular query, but lister Peter W. suggested reading (for background) about coral in "The Grove Encyclopedia of Decorative Arts," Oxford University Press -- Jean - This reference may help the Canadian lady re info on coral carving. Peter http://books.google.com.au/books?id=jGsVHV098K0C&pg=PA274&lpg=PA274&dq=coral+carving,+history,+19th+century&source=bl&ots=kPJOz9cWz-&sig=GvE5HgTsRfJs61Y0pGFLGXDSE5M&hl=en&ei=jugASpC1MpCMtgPqttj3BQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4 . To include Page 274: "Coral was widely used for jewellery during the 19th century, a pale pink colour being particularly suitable for cameos (e.g. a pendant and a pair of brooches carved with cameo portraits of Bacchus, Apollo and Venus, c. 1854, London). In the Art Deco period coral continued to be used to introduce colour into jewellery and was often carved into abstract geometric shapes and contrasted with transparent gemstones, precious metals or lacquer." J. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Faith Capnerhurst" <fcapnerhurst@msn.com> To: <irelandgenweb@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, May 05, 2009 3:15 PM Subject: Re: [Irish Genealogy] Coral Carvers > > Hi Listers Just a bit of background: > > My ggg grandfather was James Allen, a coral and jet carver born in > Ireland. He later went to England and married Sarah Ann Phillips on the > 17th Apr 1825 and they had six children. James shows up on the 1841 > Census but not beyond, and his wife Sarah is a widow on the 1851 Census. My question is: What county would a coral carver be likely to come from? Would there have been a certain area where this occupation was practiced? Would there be apprenticeship records that I could tap into? Any and all help much appreciated. Faith Capnerhurst Chilliwack, BC Canada researching (England):CAPNERHURST/CAPENHURST, CHADD, CARRINGTON, SMITH, PARDOE, GREEN & ALLEN > (Newfoundland): CLARK(E), HURDLE, DYKE, HALL, PARROT, FLEET, HUNT, & > WISEMAN