The man was a collier (according to the OED, "one whose occupation or trade is to procure or supply coal (formerly charcoal); one engaged in the coal trade").  I don't know what part of Sullivan County is involved here, but it is on the state line and Ruth Ottawa needs to talk to a "local" or two who knows about southwest Virginia.  I've recently been transcribing some oral history interviews from Dante, Virginia (Russell County), maybe 20 miles from Kingsport, Tennessee (in Sullivan County), where there were large coal towns by the 1930s.  One would have to think that  in 1880 the locals were aware of the presence of coal, were extracting it in some fashion, and needed transporters.  Sullivan County was down river from that part of Virginia, whatever access the overland roads would have provided.  As a side note, let me say that the coal towns were fascinating settlements of many ethnicities; Dante, Virginia (modern popular maybe 500) had hundreds of Hungarians, Italians, and other recently arrived Europeans as well as descendants of those who came earlier to the region (Scotch-Irish, English, Germans) and African Americans from the Deep South.  It would be fascinaing to look at the place's 1940 census.  Michael Montgomery Message: 6 Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2010 12:49:17 -0500 From: Ruth McLaughlin <[email protected]> Subject: [S-I] a "profession" of a Scotch-Irish inhabitant of Sullivan Co., Tennessee To: [email protected] Having difficulty trying to figure out the "profession, occupation or trade" for the father?in an 1880 Sullivan County Census record? for James & Sarah M. Smith and their 7 children. They are part of a Scotch-Irish family in TN under heavy scrutiny right now. The census-taker's handwriting is pretty clear and dark, but that still doesn't seem to help! It reads "Cole Coluer." Any ideas? One suggestion of something to do with coal was ruled out by a local who tells us there was no coal mining in that area of eastern Tennessee.The closest coal mining would be a 2-hour drive under modern conditions. The Y-DNA of this man's Smith family matches 37- for 37-markers (67-marker results espected any day) with several males (and one in particular) from a well-researched Smith family which was part of 1718 Scotch-Irish migration from Ulster, settling first in Chester, New Hampshire and ultimately New Boston, NH. DNA has contributed the first hint of a southern connection, despite decades of work. Any thoughts you might have on the significance of this 37 for 37, Linda or others, and ow far back, as well as ideas as to James Smith's "profession" would be appreciated. I have a feeling I may be back with more questions. Tennessee research is a new field for me, but I know not so new to many of you. Ruth Ottawa *******************************