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Archiver > DEVON > 2011-06 > 1308218997


From: Diana Trenchard <>
Subject: Re: [DEV] Richard Coombe Helson
Date: Thu, 16 Jun 2011 11:09:57 +0100


Linda,

Be careful not to confuse present-day definitions of work with those
of the 19th century. We use 'contractor' to mean the person employing
others to fulfil a contract. Then it meant someone who was contracted
to do something.

A 'road contractor' then was someone employed by a parish or other
administrative body to repair roads. It is therefore probable that
someone employed as a contractor in Plymouth had a similar occupation
of maintaining roads etc in the city. Sorry for 'downgrading' your
ancestor.

Diana



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