Coal Porters

[Phoenix]

Does anyone know whether a coal porter would be just a coal man or a dock official?

I have an ancestor who is described on burial in the 1770s as a porter, but there is a death notice for his son in 1839 where the son is described as "many years coal porter" in the port of Cley, Norfolk.

In the 1770s, the only people who have their occupations recorded are sailors, customs officers and merchants.

[kiterunner]

As far as I know he would just be carrying sacks of coal.

[Phoenix]

That's what I thought, Kite. It just seems an odd thing to boast of. You'd hardly be likely to say "for many years a docker"

[Olde Crone]

There were fellowships of all types of porters including coal porters but I think this was just a London thing.

OC