Marine store dealer

[Susan48]

In the 1871 census my 2xgt-grandfather gave his occupation as 'Marine store dealer', which puzzled me as I didn't think the family had any connection with the sea. It was only later I learnt that the term often referred to dealers in secondhand goods, and this definition has proved to be the correct one for my ancestor. The family lived in Colchester, Essex, in Magdalen Street which was a busy thoroughfare in the less salubrious part of the town. When I was trying out the online version of the British Newspaper Archive a year ago I did a search using just two terms - the family surname plus 'Colchester'. I couldn't believe the number of hits! Not all were relevant, but the gems included a number concerning my 2xgt-grandparents. Their shop on Magdalen Street did indeed deal in secondhand goods, some of which had been stolen and sold to the shop for cash. In many cases the police caught up with the culprits, my gt-gt-grandfather gave evidence, and the case was reported in the newspapers, naming names. The story has an ironic twist, however, as I found my gt-gt-grandfather in the list of Merchant Navy Seamen on findmypast! He had registered at the age of 17 in 1848 but doesn't seem to have travelled far. His entry however was pure gold as it gave a physical description, including height and colour of hair and eyes.

 

[peter]

It's worth mentioning - for those who aren't familiar with the geography of the British Isles, that Colchester was a port from the Iron Age until the 20th century. See for example Colchester Heritage Explorer and Wikipedia.

 

[Stuart]

One of the less reputable of my Mum's Bull ancestors was listed as "dealer In marine stores" in the 1851 census, then "dealer in stores" in 1861, and finally "peddler" in 1871. This was in Wetherden in the middle of Suffolk, so the meaning here is clear enough. And if it wasn't, he and his son appeared in court in 1861 and admitted stealing wool from a granary, and were jailed.

In 1881 a related Seth Bull was also "marine store dealer" in the next-door village of Elmswell. And Seth was in court for stealing in 1885, this time coal, and was jailed too. You get the picture!

I can see why ships' stores were often sold off at the end of a voyage, hence "marine stores" could be second-hand. But that was true of other things as well, so it's not obvious why this name spread inland (in East Anglia, at least).

 

[peter]

Wetherden in the middle of Suffolk

Not so fast.... Wetherden might be in the middle of Suffolk, but it's only 4 miles from Stowmarket.

Stowmarket Wharf was at one end of the Stowmarket Navigation, which opened in 1793. The Haughley Watercourse, which passes close to Wetherden connects to the River Gipping and thence to Stowmarket - though whether it was ever navigable I've been unable to establish.

After the arrival of the railways in the 1840s the Stowmarket Navigation was leased to the railways, but they had no incentive to maintain it (though apparently they were under a legal obligation to do so). It may well be that the change in your ancestor's recorded occupation from 1851 to 1861 reflects the decline of the waterway.

 

[peter]

The family lived in Colchester, Essex, in Magdalen Street

Magdalen Street becomes Hythe Hill, which runs down to Hythe Quay - so it's a convenient location for a marine stores dealer.

 

[Tim]

I came across a new occupation today, Inspector of Scavengers. On row 5

 

[Stuart]

I came across a new occupation today, Inspector of Scavengers. On row 5
View attachment 2548

Scavengers were licensed by local commissioners under the Paving and Scavengers Act of 1817 (and I suspect other acts as well). They would bid for a license for each street or small area, and deliver the "soil" (variously described) to contractors who would pay them for it. If deprived of this by a householder or business removing and disposing of their own, they could sue them. An inspector would no doubt be out checking up on the scavengers, making sure that the streets were swept and cleared at the intervals specified in their licence: e.g. twice a week.