Saturday Night Genealogy Fun -- The Occupations of Your 2nd Great-Grandfathers

 Calling all Genea-Musings Fans: 

 It's Saturday Night again - 

Time for some more Genealogy Fun!!

Come on, everybody, join in and accept the mission and execute it with precision. 

1)  Our ancestors had to work to support themselves and their families.  Do you know what occupations your 2nd great-grandfathers had?  Tell us about them.  If one intrigues or mystifies you, ask a free Artificial Intelligence tool to tell you more about the occupation in that place and time.

2) Tell us about the occupations of your 2nd great-grandfathers (and any AI created description of those occupations) on in your own blog post, in a comment on this post, or in a Facebook post.  Please leave a link on this post if you write your own post.

Here's mine:

My eight 2nd great-grandfathers are (including their known occupations):

• Isaac Seaver (1823-1901), Massachusetts (a hay fork maker, a machinist, and a blacksmith).

• Edward Hildreth (1831-1899), Massachusetts (a combmaker and a machinist).

• James Richman (1821-1912), Wiltshire (agricultural laborer, coal merchant laborer) and Connecticut (dairy farmer).

• Henry White (1824-1885), Connecticut (a weaver, a carpenter)

• David J. Carringer (1828-1902), Pennsylvania (carpenter), Iowa (farmer), Colorado (carpenter, joiner, fruit grower), California (rancher).

• Devier J. Smith (1839-1894), Wisconsin (farm laborer, livery man), Iowa (rancher, horse trader, land speculator), Kansas (livery man, cattle trader), Nebraska (livery man).

• David Auble (1817-1894), New Jersey (shoe and boot maker), Indiana (shoe and boot maker).

• James Abraham Kemp (1831-1902), Ontario (carpenter, innkeeper).

• I've already used Artificial Intelligence to cover some of these occupations; see:

Ask AI: "Describe Shoe and Boot Making In the mid-19th Century In America."(18 February 2025) (David Auble)

Ask AI: "How Did They Use Animal Horns To Make Combs and Other Hair Ornaments?" (4 November 2024)

I asked the free (not reasoning) ChatGPT4 AI tool to describe the blacksmith occupation in the 1870-1900 time frame in central Massachusetts for my 2nd great-grandfathr Isaac Seaver:

My prompt was:  You are an expert on occupations. My 2nd great-grandfather Isaac Seaver was a blacksmith, hay fork maker and machinist in Leominster MA during the 1870-1900 period. What products did he make and how did he make them? Who were his customers?

The ChatGPT4 response was:

Isaac Seaver’s occupations—blacksmith, hay fork maker, and machinist—suggest that he was engaged in metalworking and manufacturing, likely serving the agricultural and industrial needs of Leominster, Massachusetts, during the late 19th century. Here’s a breakdown of what he likely produced, how he made them, and who his customers were.

Products Isaac Seaver Likely Made

As a blacksmith, hay fork maker, and machinist, Isaac Seaver would have been engaged in various metalworking trades, supplying tools and equipment for farms, transportation, and industry in Leominster, Massachusetts, between 1870 and 1900.

1. Hay Forks and Hay Handling Equipment

Hay forks were essential tools in 19th-century farming, particularly for handling and storing hay in barns and fields. Given that Seaver specifically identified as a “hay fork maker,” he likely specialized in manufacturing different types of hay forks:

• Hand Hay Forks – These were long-handled forks with sharp tines used for manually pitching and moving hay. They were commonly made of wrought iron or steel with a wooden handle.

• Grapple Hay Forks – Larger, mechanical forks used in haylofts, often operated with a pulley system to lift and distribute hay inside barns. These typically had multiple curved tines that would clamp onto hay bales.

• Pulley-Based Hay Fork Systems – Seaver may have produced or assembled complete barn hay-lifting systems, which included pulleys, ropes, and track mechanisms to transport hay efficiently.

By the late 19th century, agricultural tools were becoming more standardized, so Seaver may have either manufactured custom tools for local farmers or worked with larger firms to supply them.

2. Blacksmithing Products

As a blacksmith, Seaver would have crafted a range of essential metal goods for farmers, businesses, and the general public, including:

• Horseshoes – Essential for workhorses and transportation. He would have custom-fitted horseshoes for local farms and stables.

• Wagon Parts – Components like iron-rimmed wheels, axles, hubs, and reinforcing brackets for farm wagons and carriages.

• Farm Tools – Scythes, hoes, rakes, plowshares, and sickles, which were necessary for cutting, harvesting, and soil preparation.

• Building Hardware – Hinges, locks, nails, bolts, door latches, and iron braces for barns, homes, and commercial buildings.

• Household Items – Metal repair work for cooking pots, stoves, and iron grates was common in blacksmith shops.

Many blacksmiths also performed repair work, fixing broken farm equipment, mending iron tools, and sharpening blades.

3. Machinist Work

Being listed as a machinist suggests that Seaver did more than traditional blacksmithing—he likely worked with precision metal parts for machines and industrial tools. His machinist work could have included:

• Gears, Shafts, and Bearings – Manufactured for local mills, factories, or railroad equipment.

• Lathe and Milling Work – If he had a machine shop, he might have used lathes, milling machines, and drilling tools to create precision parts.

• Repairs for Industrial Equipment – Local manufacturing businesses, especially in Leominster’s growing industries (such as comb manufacturing), needed metal parts and tools repaired or replaced.

• Steam Engine Parts – If he worked on machinery, he may have been involved in producing or repairing steam-powered equipment.

By blending blacksmithing and machining, Seaver positioned himself at the intersection of traditional handcrafting and the industrial revolution.

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How He Made These Products

Isaac Seaver’s work would have required different metalworking techniques, depending on whether he was forging tools, assembling machinery, or repairing industrial components.

1. Forging Process (Blacksmithing)

For traditional blacksmithing tasks, he would have used:

• Forge (Coal or Coke-Fueled) – Heated iron or steel until it was red-hot and malleable.

• Anvil and Hammers – Used to shape the metal into desired forms.

• Tongs and Chisels – Helped manipulate and cut metal.

• Quenching (Water or Oil Bath) – Cooled hot metal to harden it.

• Tempering and Finishing – Additional heating and hammering to refine durability and shape.

This process was used for making horseshoes, wagon parts, hand tools, and farm implements.

2. Casting and Welding (For More Complex Parts)

• Mold Making – If he produced a high volume of hay forks or parts, he may have used sand or iron molds for casting.

• Casting Process – Melted iron or steel would be poured into molds, cooled, and then finished.

• Forge Welding – Used to join two pieces of metal together by heating them and hammering them into one solid piece.

3. Machining and Industrial Work

If Seaver operated as a machinist, he likely used:

• Lathes – Shaped metal into cylindrical parts like axles, gears, and rods.

• Milling Machines – Cut and shaped metal parts with high precision.

• Drill Presses and Punches – Created holes and grooves in machinery components.

• Grinding and Finishing Tools – Smoothed out rough edges on metal parts.

Since the late 19th century was a time of industrial innovation, Seaver may have had access to newer machine tools powered by water, steam, or belt-driven systems.

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Who Were His Customers?

Isaac Seaver’s customers would have included farmers, local businesses, and industrial manufacturers in Leominster and surrounding areas.

1. Local Farmers

Leominster and surrounding Massachusetts towns still had significant agricultural activity in the late 19th century. Farmers needed:

• Hay forks for harvesting and storing hay.

• Plow parts, wagon repairs, and farm tools.

• Horseshoes for their working animals.

Many farmers relied on blacksmiths like Seaver for custom work and repairs.

2. Carriage Makers and Livery Stables

• Blacksmiths worked closely with carriage manufacturers, providing iron components like wheel rims, axles, and reinforcements.

• Local stables and transport businesses needed regular horseshoeing and wagon maintenance.

3. Factories and Industrial Businesses

Leominster was developing into an industrial town known for manufacturing combs, plastics, and other products. Seaver may have:

• Supplied machine parts for mills and factories.

• Performed repairs for local manufacturers using mechanical tools.

• Produced or maintained steam engine components.

4. Railroad and Transportation Industry

Railroads were expanding across Massachusetts in the late 19th century. As a machinist and blacksmith, Seaver may have worked with:

• Railroad companies for metal parts and repairs.

• Local businesses involved in train car manufacturing or maintenance.

5. General Public

In addition to businesses, Seaver may have had customers from the general public who needed:

• Household hardware and repairs.

• Custom ironwork for gates, fences, or home fixtures.

• Cooking tools, iron grates, and stove repairs.

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Conclusion

Isaac Seaver’s work as a blacksmith, hay fork maker, and machinist placed him at the center of Leominster’s growing industrial and agricultural economy. He likely crafted essential farm tools, repaired industrial machinery, and supplied metal components for businesses and transportation. His customers ranged from local farmers and carriage makers to industrial manufacturers and railroads. The combination of traditional forging techniques with emerging machining technology suggests that Seaver was adapting to the rapid industrial changes of the late 19th century.

Would you like help finding historical records, advertisements, or business directories that might mention Isaac Seaver’s work in Leominster?

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The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2025/03/saturday-night-genealogy-fun.html

Copyright (c) 2025, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com. Note that all comments are moderated, and may not appear immediately.

Subscribe to receive a free daily email from Genea-Musings using www.Blogtrottr.com.