Genealogy Chat

Janet, I have stick mounter in my family as an occupation as well - I also have barometer makers in the same family - there is such a thing as a stick barometer perhaps it refers to that. Emma.

hi,anne. please could you tell me what a chair woman was as an occupation. several of the inmates of kent county asylum barming heath maidstone had this as an occupation. thanks yvonne

Emma From stories handed down in the family, we are convinced that our stick mounters were making walking sticks and possibly even umbrella handles. They were very fashionable at the time, and from what we have been told, they designed and made the fancy metal tops which were mounted with silver and gold. Other members of the family were silver mounters, gold mounters, brass finishers and Engineers. It seems as if it was a family business, also doing other engineering and metalwork. Unfortunately, whatever name they went under, we don't know, but it doesn't seem to have gone under the family surname, as we can find no mention of the business in the various trades directories. I keep looking though! Thanks for the suggestion. Janet

Thanks Anne and Christine for Bodger. Just caught up with the reply.

Hi Anne, Could you possibly look up the occupations Marine Fireman and Steward in that helpful little book of yours - they're probably really obvious but any info would be great! Thank you! Louisa

Hi Louisa Steward......High manorial officer responsible for transactions and record keeping, In modern usage, a person who attends to passengers on a train, plane, boat etc Marine fireman - I would think is what it states, possibly could be shore based and travelling out as do the river police Sorry that I am unable to help any of the other enquiries, it just goes to show how many occupation there were, my book has nearly 2000 and yet there are so many not included. I will still look up any enquiries Anne

On a frivolous note - this reminds me of the time my elderly aunt obtained a certificate from the 1850s. It was a photocopy of the original and she read the beautiful copperplate capital T as an S. She was most bemused that her great-grandfather should have given his occupation as "Sinner"! No, really, it's true!

Just to Nudge this one up And a giggle or two….. BACK WASHER A person employed to clean the wool in the worsted manufacturing industry. BALLAD MONGER A person who sold printed ballads on the street. BANG BEGGAR An officer of the parish who controlled the length of stay of any stranger to the parish. BAREMAN A pauper, beggar. BEDESMAN A person employed to pray for his employer. BRAZIER A person who made or repaired household items made from brass. LUNGS An alchemist's servant whose duty was to fan the fire. MILESTONE INSPECTOR A vagrant, a gentleman of the road. ONE FOR “ FAULTY TOWERS FANS ” . . . . . . . BASIL WORKER A person who worked with sheep and goat skins

[http :// www . gendocs . demon . co . uk / trades.html ]

Thought you'd given up Mike Here are a few more strange ones Wuzzer...a person who dried out wet wool in the weaving industry by whirling it round and round Viro....boatman Villanus...Common worker Vaginarius...same as a shether...a Medieval maker of sheaths and scabbards Tumbrel man....man who operates a dung cart Anne

Hi Anne….. Nope. See we’re back on the " Honey Carts" again….lol Some more in the same theme….. JAKES-FARMER Person who emptied cesspools. SEWER HUNTER A scavenger who concentrated on the sewers trying to find valuable objects. SEWER RAT A bricklayer who specialised in making and repairing sewers and tunnels

Hi Anne, Thanks for the offer. Could you please tell me what is a CURATE WITHOUT CURE OF SOULS, (found on LDS 1881 census so suppose could have been mistranscribed). We all know what a curate is, but it's the "without cure of souls" bit that intrigues me. Thanks again - Vanda

After finding a 'pot dealer' earlier, I have now seen a 'joint maker'! Perhaps people were a bit more honest about their activities in those days! Maz. XX

Hi Anne (again) You sorted out my Engineer (Artz) for me, and now I've found another one (my family seem to be full of Engineers). This one is 'Engineer (S M)' - found on the 1881 census. Any ideas? Janet

VANDA & Anne. . . . I've sent an S O S to my Church Minister hope for a reply back soon . MIKE.

Hi Anne I've just received a marriage certificate dated 1853 and the bride's fathers occupation is listed as 'hair dresser'! The other father was a flax dresser. Was a hair dresser in 1853 the same as now or was it somwething different? Perhaps your book could help. Penny

Penelope. . . . FLAXDRESSER Prepared flax prior to spinning. Hair dresser could be the same as we know now, but it could also relate to a Horse hair dresser in the Upholstery Trade. MIKE.

Hi Mike Thanks for that - I never thought of horse hair - my imagination is running riot now!! Penny

One of my relations was a mangler. No she did not come from Boston. Another was a collar ironer. When I told my husband he remarked.When someone asked for their shirt to be ironed did she reply "I'll iron your collar but you can do the rest yourself." I had to tell him that collars came separate in those days. Shirl.

VANDA & ANNE. Found the following......... CHAPTER V CURE OF SOULS IN PARISHES HAVING NO PARISH CHURCH, BUT IN WHICH THERE ARE PROPRIETARY OR OTHER NON-PAROCHIAL CHURCHES. Licence to minister of trustee or other church in a parish to serve the cure of souls therein 1. Wheresoever any parish has been or is intended to be duly constituted a separate parish by and under the authority of the Church of Ireland, and in which there is not a parish church, but where a proprietary or other church or chapel (not being a parochial church) has been or shall be erected or appropriated for the celebration of Divine Service according to the liturgy and rites of the Church of Ireland, and has been or shall be duly consecrated or licensed by the bishop of the diocese wherein such church or chapel is situate, it shall be lawful for the bishop, upon the application of the synod or council of the diocese, to license the duly appointed minister of such church or chapel, with his consent, and with the consent of the patrons, proprietors, trustees, or other governors of such church or chapel, to serve the cure of souls in such parish, for such time as he shall continue minister of such church or chapel. 2. Every clergyman licensed as aforesaid shall, during the continuance of his licence, be entitled to the style of curate in charge of the parish, and shall possess all the rights and privileges, and be bound to discharge all the duties, of such curate in charge, so far as may be consistent with the due discharge of his duties as minister of the church or chapel aforesaid, and upon such terms and subject to such conditions as may be prescribed in accordance with the Constitution. Further information can be obtained by typing in the following in your search engine..... www . ireland . anglican . org / contitution / chapter_V . htm remove the spaces but leave the under sore dots & slashes in Where the full details can be found. MIKE.