census occupation

karenc · Post by **karenc** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 11:55 am

Hi everyone,

Whilst doing some research last night i found an 1841 census relating to my 4xg grandparet Alexander Hynd. He stayed at stone craigs toll in cambusnethan and his occupation was tollkeeper.

In 1851 he had died, and on the census his wife janet had taken over the job.

I just wondered what being a tollkeeper would have involved? If anyone can help that would be great.

Karen

DavidWW · Post by **DavidWW** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 12:25 pm

He'd being working at a toll road (aka turnpike) payment point, see......

http://www.rls.org.uk/database/record.p ... -001-413-L

David

Post by **emanday** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 12:27 pm

Didn't tollkeepers collect "tolls" meaning a fee to use a road. Many landowners charged travellers for the priviledge of using the roads that crossed their land.

If you've ever passed a wee cottage, usually on a junction and round shaped or many sided with windows facing incoming tracks or roads, they were probably toll houses where your ancestor and his like lived.

karenc · Post by **karenc** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 1:17 pm

Thanks David and Mary

I assumed it was related to someone paying money to use a road etc but wasnt sure. i will definately have a look at the website though

Thanks

Karen

Post by **joette** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 2:50 pm

At Chiltren Open Air Museum there are a number of buildings from through the ages eg a prefab,barn,reproduction of an Iron Age dwelling etc.
One of the buildings is a Toll-House & furnished as it would have been in the 1800's.It did indeed have windows facing all directions of the road.
There was an earth closet in the garden,a chanty under the bed,wash-board in the scullery & tin bath on the back door & even night attire laid out on the beds.There is a post outside with the fees charged for particular things -more for driving pigs through than cows for example.
This is a great place to visit if you want to get a feel for how life used to be. In a lovely location & there are demonstrations of particular trades eg bodging,brickmaking & off course the lovely countryside to look at.There are childrens activities & was a fav spot when the children were younger & great for all ages too.

Russell · Post by **Russell** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 3:23 pm

Hi Joette

Slightly off topic but - why do we use the word bodge when we mean 'make a bit of a mess of something' when the original bodgers could make the most amazing furniture and fittings from green wood with only a foot operated lathe and simple tools like an adze ?

We have 'bodgers' attached to our local Country park (Muirshiel) in North Ayrshire.

Sorry to hijack a topic (I'm not really because it triggered the question!)

Russell

karenc · Post by **karenc** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 4:41 pm

Hi Russell,

thats ok that you hijacked my topic, my question had been answered anyway!

Also the question you asked is quite interesting too

Im sure someone will provide you with the answer

Karen

trotterbeck · Post by **trotterbeck** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 10:20 pm

Hi
Re Bodging
I wonder if there is a relationship to the fact that Bodgers set up their lathes in the woods using springy trees to apply the power to the lathe via a cord wrapped round the work piece.

It is a sort of "make do and mend" operation.

Not to be confused with a botched job though.

trotterbeck · Post by **trotterbeck** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 9:26 pm

Hi
re bodging again

You may like to see this thread

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/mbradio4/F2766 ... 7&latest=1

and this site

http://www.bodgers.org.uk/

Russell · Post by **Russell** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 10:01 pm

Thanks for both these sources.

The discussion thread was particularly interesting. I hadn't visited that site before.
The Bodger Site went straight into my 'craft' favourites for leisure reading.
I sometimes feel that my favourites folder breeds while I'm away. There always seem to be more sites than I remember putting in

Russell