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Using professions to trace family members

Sally Douglas has several ancestors who were clock and watch makers, silversmiths and artists. Discovering this has led to a search of Douglases with this profession, using Pigots directory, and other listings.

Her findings have now been included in the Douglas Archives, although it is still very much work in progress.

The above watch was made by James Douglas of Chertsey in 1774

Sons followed their fathers down the mines, daughters picked up seamstress skills from their mothers, sons followed their fathers, or grandfathers, in joining particular regiments, etc; small business owners added 'and sons' to their nameplates. Once a trade or profession has been identified, it is often a route to tracking that lost ancestor.

Sometimes, this is not too difficult, but in others it can be far from easy. Douglas watch makers seemed to move around, probably because there was only room for one in each town. "This town ain't big enough for the two us us, son - time for you to move on"!

So is you know your ancestor had a particular trade or profession, maybe his father did too. This clue might just help find the previous generation.

Douglas clock and watch makers that we have identified so far are listed here>>>

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