Genealogy Chat

My GtX3 Uncle Thomas Duffin had as his occupation in the 1881 Travg Secy Amald Socy Ry Serts (Off C....Comp) That is exactly as it is written. at the time he was living at 194D street, London middx (RG11 F 0088/81 page 44 He had lived in southampton, Toronto Canada and his wife was born in St Hellier Jersey so he obviously travelled that is probably the first word, the fourth may be society. Any ideas? Ann Glos

Hi Ann I have a vague memory of someone else asking a similar question a while back ... the person on the census was some sort of Travelling Secretary. It's so annoying, I do wish I could remember more to locate the thread. Maybe Travelling Secretary for the ..... Society? I'll try and put my thinking cap on - or maybe someone will read this and realise what I'm talking about lol! Mandy :) x

Ry could be shortened for Railway ... It looks like their version of shorthand is the first few letters followed by the last letter. In that same pattern, maybe Serts is 'servants' .. did they have Railway Servants though? I'm not experienced enough at this genealogy stuff yet to know!

Ann I GOT IT!!!!!! I was right, oooh I'm so excited! It's the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants - google it and it's now the National Union of Railwaymen. Mandy :)))) PS, when I googled, I also entered the year 1880 in the query box

wow Mandy, who's a clever girl then. Thank you so much, mystery solved. Wonder what he was doing in canada? Still it's progress as I hadn't thought to look for Gt Gt Grandfather's brothers and sisters before. Thanks again you are wonderful!!!! Love Ann

thank you penny very much. Ann glos

Hi Ann Well i was soooo excited because it was really the first time I'd helped someone properly! Glad it helped you!! Love Mandy x