In Somerset, the term "bailiff" appears to have been used. It occurs three
times as an occupation in the 1851 census for Radstock, but not at all in
1861, although that's probably just due to methods adopted by the census
enumerator. The list of trade unions in "The Colliery Year Book 1939"
includes the Somerset Bailiff and Examiners’ Association, whilst the
corresponding organisation in Bristol was the Bristol and District Colliery
Overmen and Examiners’ Association.
The term "fireman" appears to have had more than one meaning. In his book
"Somerset Coalmining Life", Fred Flower includes a copy of a "Certificate of
Qualification of Fireman, Examiner or Deputy" issued by Somerset County
Council in 1913, which ties in with what's already been said here.
In Marsh & Ryan's "Historical Directory of Trade Unions", Volume 2, however,
the Somerset Enginemen and Firemen’s Union is mentioned, and in this context
I'd always assumed that "firemen" was something like the fireman on a
railway locomotive.
Keith Ramsey
|