occupation symbol

[pitturi]

I have found several family members in the 1841 census but rather than give occupation there are symbols I have not seen such as a scrolled " J" or an "F ". These are against male members but others on the pages have full occupation written.

Ideas please.

James Alder

[SteveD]

Maybe there are some answers here:

http://www.familyhistory.uk.com/index.php?opti on=com_content&task=view&id=74&Itemid=29

[dot.hawkes]

a journeyman term related to a craftsman or tradesman that was out of his 7 year apprenticeship, which usually began at 14, but he was not a master craftsman or tadesman and was therefore working for a master. Journeymen were under the rules and codes of the Guilds and these were very strict, more so for apprentices. Apprentices were not generally allowed to marry but joureymen were, though they had to have their masters permission, this is why many men married later in their 20s, as they had to be out of their apprenticeship and able to earn a living to support a wife and family and that was only possible when they had been working as a journeyman for several years.
The history od guild apprenticeship is very interesting actually, and a world away from the poor law apprenticeship life, which often began as young as 6 years old and could have been a girl or a boy, a very disturbing situation when we look back at it niw.