Occupations

Have you ever wondered if you descend from farmers, seaman, tailors, or even shoemakers? Studying the lives of your ancestors and how they earned their living can be exciting and rewarding. When I found out that my 4th Great Grandfather served in the British Navy under Admiral Nelson that was all I could talk about to my children or anyone who would listen. This grandfather left a history of the ships he served on and the famous battles such as Battle of the Nile that he fought in. I immediately started studying books on Admiral Nelson and that era of history. I even found a children’s book full of drawings on what life was like serving in the British Navy during the Napoleonic wars. Livelihoods provide a great insight into how your ancestors lived, but they also are essential to your genealogical research.

Knowing your ancestor’s occupation can help you differentiate between two John Smiths that are the same age, living in the same location, and both have a wife named Mary. If one John Smith is a farmer and the other is a blacksmith, it will be easier to keep them separate. Many sons followed the occupation of their fathers so knowing the father’s occupation can help you sort children to the right parents.

Occupations also give us clues to what other records may exist for your ancestor. Farmers would have land records if they owned their land. Those who worked for the railroad could possibly have a pension that could give clues about their family. FamilySearch Wiki has a listing for occupations and will give you a list of records available for the different professions. A Google search for occupations will bring you sites for occupations from different countries and time periods.

FamilySearch also has a great blog about “How to Discover Your Ancestor’s Occupation.” In this blog is a list of records that specify occupations. Some examples the blog gives are:

· Census records

· European parish records

· Obituaries

· City directories

· World War I and II draft registration cards and pension records

· Passenger lists

· Death and probate records

Whether you had an ancestor who ran a flour mill and practiced dentistry on the side (without a license) or was a farmer, understanding your ancestor’s occupation can help bring them to life and can also point you to other records that may help you extend your line further back.