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Agricultural labourers (ag labs):- a large percentage of Caffyns worked as ag labs; they were general unskilled farm hands - hard workings and badly paid.
Carman:- both Jacob Caffyn at the turn of the 19th century and Alfred Caffyn 100 years later worked as carmen. They had transport (definitely horse drawn for Jacob and probably Alfred as well) and delivered goods. Railway carman, such as Thomas William Caffyn, were only connected to the railway in that they delivered goods to and from the railway station.
China riveter:- this was a family trade for David Caffyn; in the 1851 census he was working as a bricklayer but by the 1871 he was working as a china mender. By the 1881 census he and his children were all working as china riveters - which is a grander name for a china mender. They would rivet china handles onto cups and pots and so on. By the 1901 census Davids youngest son had upgraded his career to china restorer.
Clerk in Holy Orders/clerk/clark:- this always referred to a member of the clergy rather than a paper handling clerk of nowadays. Philip Caffin gave his occupation as clerk in holy orders in the 1881 census when he was curate of Litton Church in Somerset.
Druggist:- the old fashioned term for a pharmacist. Mary Ann Caffin’s husband died just 3 years after their marriage leaving her with five children (from his first marriage) to bring up. I don’t know if she already worked as a druggist or if her brother in laws connections (he was a surgeon) started her in this career. It was at the time a fairly hazardous job then (mid nineteenth century) as the present day safeguards did not exist then and it was not unknown for druggists to be harmed by their medicines.
Cordwainer:- parish records show that Peter Caffin was working as a cordwainer in the early 19th century and seventy years later Edwin Caffyn also listed it as his occupation. Cordwainer is an old fashioned form of shoe maker - originally a cordwainer was someone who worked specifically with Cordovan Spanish leather but it became a general term refering to any leather work.
Errand Boy:- at just 12 years old Thomas Caffyn listed his occupation in the 1871 census as errand boy. An errand boy was a lowly paid job, a dogsbody in an office or shop; someone who took messages in a pre telephone age, did the sweeping up and made the tea. An errand boy could be the first step towards a trade but 10 years later Thomas is working as a gardener.
Ferry boat fireman:- not as I first thought someone who worked on ferry boats waiting for fires to put out but someone who stoked the fire or boiler on the ferry. Charles Caffin listed ferry boat fireman as his occupation in the American census of 1880; he was living in Ohio.
Fruiterer:- funnily enough this was someone who sold fruit! Peter Caffyn alternately lists his career as fruiterer or greengrocer and Abigail, George and John Caffyn, siblings, lived together in Brighton and all worked as fruiterers.
Governess:- a popular job with girls needing to work before they married. As a governess they would be a mixture of teacher and child minder. Fanny Caffyn worked as a governess until her marrige in 1862; Alice Mary until her marriage in 1872 whilst Edith Annie was still a governess in 1901 at the age of 32years.
Guilder:- this would vary according to what type of guilder. In the 1881 census J Caffyn did not specify what type of guilder he was (just as he did not specify his full name!) but a guilder would guild/paint/cover items in gold leaf.
Journeyman tailor:- a journeyman could relate to any trade but in this case Robert Caffyn was a tailor - a journeyman would be a fully qualified tradesman who had served as an apprentice.
Land Agent:- both Arthur and his brother Peter Caffin acted as land agents according to the 1901 census. As such they would handle the day to day affairs of an estate - in this case presumably their own land as they were also millers and farmers of an estate in Worth, Sussex.
Laundry maid:- Mary Catherine Caffin was working as a laundry wash maid at the time of the 1901 census. As such she either worked in a private house washing and ironing the laundry or worked in a commerical laundry washing the clothes that were brought in.
Lighterman:- William Caffin was working as a lighterman in the 1851 census in Bermondsey. He and his family were living close to the Thames where he worked. A lighterman operated a flat bottomed boat running it between the ships and the quay passing goods between them. They got their name because they made the ships lighter as they unloaded them.
Silk winder:- the industrial revolution saw a huge increase in the number of factory workers including Eliza, widow of John Caffyn. In addition to bringing up their seven children she worked as a silk winder in Bethnal Green, London. A silk winder thickened the silk strands by twisting and winding several strands together.
Sugar boiler confectioner:- Arthur Caffyn recorded this as his occupation in the 1901 census for Hailsham. Quite simply he boiled sugar to make sweets. I wonder if he had any connection with Lily Caffyn who ran a sweet shop in Bath!
Tin plate worker:- a manufacturer of metal items from tin plate (a flat metal sheet of iron coated with tin). According to the 1881 census this was William Frank Wallers career.
Vellum binder:- before becoming an upolsterer Arthur Caffyn worked as a vellum binder. This was someone who used vellum (fine parchment paper) to bind books.
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