Constances of Longhope, Steam Saw Mills, Job Advert (General)

by Jefff , West London, Middlesex, Friday, March 11, 2016, 02:08 (3181 days ago) @ Jefff

A while back I was researching the Saw Mills on the BNA old newspapers site and found this rather attractive job vacancy. I cannot give a direct link to the image, but here's an exact transcript.

"Man of Ross, and General Advertiser", Thursday 21st September 1865.

"WANTED, an ENGINE DRIVER.
Messrs J. Constance and Sons, Saw Mills, Longhope, can offer the above place to a person who understands his work in connection therewith. Personal and immediate application is required. A sober, steady, man will have constant employment. Wages 13/. per week, or 12/. per week and half a gallon of cider per day."

As a mechanical engineer with a liking for steam engines and a drop of dry cider, I'm wondering if this was the perfect job for me ?. However I can't help but think the job description may change following an updated Health & Safety Risk Assessment, particularly wrt to "sober" and "cider".... especially as the Driver is effectively responsible for maintaining output of the whole Steam Saw mill.

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If anyone has the time I'd be interested, please, to see which "steady and sober" man was driving the mill's stationary engine in the 1871 Census as a result of this advert. The 1881 Census may be freely searched on Ancestry, searching "engine" and "Longhope" gave this hit;

1881 Census, Village, Longhope, Glos.
Household Role Gender Age Birthplace
David James Head M 29 Engine Driver Staty. Lea, Herefordshire, England
Emma James Wife F 27 Longhope, Gloucestershire, England.

From this site's PRs;

Record_ID: 9697
Entry_Number: 220
Year: 1879
Month: Jun
Day: 5
Grooms_Surname: JAMES
Grooms_Forenames: David
Grooms_Age: of Full Age
Groom_Condition: Batchelor
Grooms_Occupation: Engine Driver
Grooms_Residence: Longhope
Grooms_Fathers_Surname: James
Grooms_Fathers_Forenames: David
Grooms_Fathers_Occupation: Carpenter
Brides_Surname: WATKINS
Brides_Forenames: Emma
Brides_Age: of Full Age
Brides_Condition: Spinster
Brides_Occupation: n/s
Brides_Residence: Longhope
Brides_Fathers_Surname: Watkins
Brides_Fathers_Forenames: John
Brides_Fathers_Occupation: Labourer
Licence_or_Banns: Banns
Date_of_Banns:
Signature_or_Mark: Both Sign
Witness_1: W S Watkins
Witness_2: E Watkins
Other_Witnesses:
Officiating_Minister: F C Guise Vicar
Event: Marriage
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P206 IN 1/7
Page_Number: 110
Parish_Chapel: Longhope
Soundex_Groom: J520
Soundex_Bride: W325

It looks like the GWR paid even better than the Saw Mills !;

Record_ID 136105
Entry_Number 781
Year 1882
Month Jun
Day 18
Parents_Surname JAMES
Child_Forenames David Harry
Fathers_Forenames David
Mothers_Forenames Emma
Mothers_Surname
Residence Longhope
Occupation Engine Driver on the Railway
Officiating_Minister F.C.Guise Vicar
Event Baptism
Memoranda
Notes
Register_Reference
Page_Number 98
Parish_Chapel Longhope
Soundex J520

Record_ID 136154
Entry_Number 830
Year 1884
Month Sep
Day 7
Parents_Surname JAMES
Child_Forenames Evan Charles
Fathers_Forenames David
Mothers_Forenames Emma
Mothers_Surname
Residence Longhope
Occupation Engine Driver on the Railway
Officiating_Minister F.C.Guise Vicar
Event Baptism
Memoranda
Notes
Register_Reference
Page_Number 104
Parish_Chapel Longhope
Soundex J520

Record_ID: 1006982
Entry_Number: 310
Year: 1909
Month: May
Day: 31
Grooms_Surname: JAMES
Grooms_Forenames: Evan Charles
Grooms_Age: 24
Groom_Condition: Batchelor
Grooms_Occupation: Baker
Grooms_Residence: The Walk Longhope
Grooms_Fathers_Surname: James
Grooms_Fathers_Forenames: David [deceased]
Grooms_Fathers_Occupation: Engine Driver
Brides_Surname: WEBLEY
Brides_Forenames: Ellen Matilda
Brides_Age: 22
Brides_Condition: Spinster
Brides_Occupation: [not stated]
Brides_Residence: The Rectory Longhope
Brides_Fathers_Surname: Webley
Brides_Fathers_Forenames: Thomas
Brides_Fathers_Occupation: Labourer
Licence_or_Banns: Banns
Date_of_Banns:
Signature_or_Mark: Both Sign
Witness_1: Charles Webley
Witness_2: Blanche Williams
Other_Witnesses:
Officiating_Minister: George Barr M.A. Rector
Event: Marriage
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P206 IN 1/7
Page_Number: 155
Parish_Chapel: Longhope
Soundex_Groom: J520
Soundex_Bride: W140

Record_ID: 31030
Entry_Number: 357
Year: 1922
Month: Feb
Day: 14
Grooms_Surname: JAMES
Grooms_Forenames: David Harry
Grooms_Age: 39
Groom_Condition: Bachelor
Grooms_Occupation: Farmer
Grooms_Residence: Longhope
Grooms_Fathers_Surname: James
Grooms_Fathers_Forenames: David
Grooms_Fathers_Occupation: Engine Driver
Brides_Surname: WATKINS
Brides_Forenames: Kate Eliza
Brides_Age: 40
Brides_Condition: Spinster
Brides_Occupation: [not stated]
Brides_Residence: Westbury on Severn
Brides_Fathers_Surname: Watkins
Brides_Fathers_Forenames: James
Brides_Fathers_Occupation: Gardener
Licence_or_Banns: Banns
Date_of_Banns:
Signature_or_Mark: Both sign
Witness_1: John Wilby
Witness_2: Annie Cole
Other_Witnesses:
Officiating_Minister: Arthur Kelly Vicar
Event: Marriage
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P354 IN 1/19
Page_Number: 179
Parish_Chapel: Westbury on Severn
Soundex_Groom: J520
Soundex_Bride: W325

So it seems neither son followed their father into the railways, despite the traditional image that boys always wanted to be train drivers. Perhaps he died due to his work ?.
He died before 1909, maybe earlier, I cannot find him in the 1891 or 1901 Census, or his Death Record yet.

But I see wife Emma remarries in 1898;

Groom Surname Groom Forename Bride Surname Bride Forename District Parish Building Year Register Entry
GINGELL Henry WATKINS Emma Forest of Dean Westbury-on-Severn (FoD) Register Office 1898 11 98
GINGELL Henry JAMES Emma Forest of Dean Westbury-on-Severn (FoD) Register Office 1898 11 98

Cannot find a burial for David, or an Inquest or Will, but this may be his death, why so young, I cannot see any mention in the local papers ?;

Death Details
Surname Given Names Age Year Died District Register Entry
JAMES David 46 1897 Westbury on Severn, Newnham (from 1893) 448 1