Another handwriting problem

Tombaston · Post by **Tombaston** » 07 Apr 2007 07:38

Can anyone decipher this occupation from the 1851 census? The first part is 'Wife of do. &' (do. being Labourer and Thatcher) but I cannot work out the second part. I think it is something like 'Dame's School' but this doesn't make sense.

The entry is for Mary Fagg, wife of William Fagg on HO107/1632, folio 784, page 16, second line on the page.

ID:2289

margarita · Post by **margarita** » 07 Apr 2007 07:43

I believe a Dame School was a type of small school run by a woman in her own home - presumably before compulsory state education was introduced.

As far as I know anyone could run one so presumably this was her way of supplementing husband's income. It may be an indication of the level of education that she herself had.

If you Google 'Dame School' you will find some further information

margarita

ireneblackburn · Post by **ireneblackburn** » 07 Apr 2007 12:48

It looks like 'Wife of do V Dame's School', perhaps V is for Village? but it is more likley to be a slash separating the two things since on the previous page he has 'Scholar V son of do'

Irene

Tombaston · Post by **Tombaston** » 08 Apr 2007 08:55

thank you both

SBrickell · Post by **SBrickell** » 15 May 2007 20:08

The first part means 'Wife of ditto',in other words, look at her husband's occupation, then there's an ampersand (ie '&'), and then 'Dame School'

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