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Unusual Occupations

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ProfilePosted byOptionsPost Date

Janet

Janet Report 29 Sep 2003 15:36

Well ...... that explains that then ........ I think! Janet

Janet

Janet Report 30 Sep 2003 11:04

This is too interesting to get lost! Janet

Mike. The Leicester Lad.(GC)

Mike. The Leicester Lad.(GC) Report 20 Oct 2003 13:44

Thought I'll give this a shove before we need a search engine to recover it . . .lol ANKLE BEATER - young person who helped to drive the cattle to market. APRONEER - term used in London for a shopkeeper. BACK WASHER - employed to clean the wool in the worsted manufacturing industry. BADGER - licensed pauper who wore a badge with the letter P on it and could only work in a defined area (the term "Badgering comes from this"). A corn miller or dealer or an itinerant food trader. One for our Mr Blair :- BAIRMAN / BAREMAN - pauper or beggar. BALISTER - archer most commonly a crossbowman. BEDMAN – sexton. BLINDSMAN - employed by the Post Office to deal with incorrectly addressed letters and parcels. BLUESTOCKING - female writer. BOOT CATCHER - servant at inn who pulled off traveller’s boots. BOTTOM MAKER - moulded the bottoms for saggers in the pottery industry. BOTTOM KNOCKER - sagger makers assistant in the pottery industry. BROTHERER / BROWDERER / BRODERER / BROIDERER – embroiderer. CAIRD - another term for a tinker. CAMERIST - lady's maid. CARTOMANCER - Fortuneteller who used cards. CHAPELER - made and sold hats. CLAPMAN - town crier. COLLAR MAKER - made horse collars and one who made shirt collars. DEATHSMAN – executioner. DOCK WALLOPER - dockworker, longshoreman. DOG LEECH – veterinarian. DRAGSMAN - driver of a small stagecoach or carriage used for public transport or private hire. DUFFER - peddler of cheap goods. FAGETTER - made up faggots into bundles, seller of firewood. FLASHER - specialist process worker in the glass industry. FRISEUR - Hairdresser. GLASS COACHMAN - driver of two-horse carriage hired out for the day. GLIMMER MAN - in Dublin, the man who would turn out (or down) the gas street-lights and also warns people turn out lights in their houses to ensure blackouts during bombing raids at Wartime. GUINEA PIG - an unattached, or roving person whose fee was usually a guinea. HANKYMAN - a travelling magician in Victorian/Edwardian England. KNOCKKNOBBLER - Dogcatcher. LAVENDER - Washerwoman. MUDLARK - sewer cleaner, riverbank scavenger. MULE MINDER - minded the spinning mules in the cotton mills. NECESSARY WOMAN - servant responsible for emptying and cleaning chamber pots. PALING MAN - seller of eels. PARDONER - seller of indulgences. PEDASCULE – schoolmaster. PRECEPTRESS - Schoolmistress. PRICKER - witch hunter, pattern maker or a horseman. SHEPSTER – dressmaker. SNOBSCAT - one who repair shoes. TWEENIE / TWEENY - maid who worked "between the stairs" she assisted the cooks and the housemaids. WET NURSE - woman employed to suckle the child of another (common practice with the rich).

Angela

Angela Report 20 Oct 2003 14:56

Hope you can help me. I'm struggling with my Great Grandfather Arthur Allott who evidently wouldn't tell any of the family about himself or where he originally came from. (must have been a black sheep!!!) but I've been searching for him on the 1901 census. I know he worked in the coal trade but the only one that sounds likely is a man by the same name who was a COAL MINER HEWER. However I've no idea what that is. Could you please help me otherwise I'm a bit stuck on this one. Thank you

Mike. The Leicester Lad.(GC)

Mike. The Leicester Lad.(GC) Report 20 Oct 2003 16:46

Angela. . . . . There's your answer....... HEWER - miner who cut coal, stone, etc., a face worker in a mine Hope this helps you Good luck in your search. MIKE.

Cleo

Cleo Report 20 Oct 2003 19:13

Does anyone have any idea what an ind.. Superintendant is. This was my gt Grandfathers occupation on the 1891 Census. By 1901 he was a Billiard Marker which appears to be something like a card sharp but with Billiards. I wondered if the ind.. was short for industrial but why Superintendant - would that be like a supervisor? Any suggestions greatfully received. Cleo

Mike. The Leicester Lad.(GC)

Mike. The Leicester Lad.(GC) Report 20 Oct 2003 20:08

Cleopatra. . . . . Billard Marker. . . .A person who moved the score marker ( Score Board ) he's other duties involved replacing the ball after it had been potted & calling out the score.... This was a fore runer to the modern Referee. Ind.. Suppervisor.. . . Not too sure but think you might have got it....... a posh name for a Foreman. MIKE.

Cleo

Cleo Report 20 Oct 2003 21:54

Mike - thanks for this do you think a decent living could be made in 1901 by being a billiard marker? It seems a funny way for someone who was previously a foreman to make his living but heh what do I know? Cleo

Mike. The Leicester Lad.(GC)

Mike. The Leicester Lad.(GC) Report 21 Oct 2003 12:01

Cleopatia. . . . . The reason I knew so much about a " Billard Marker" was that back in the 50's when I started work in the Kitchen at the local 5 Star Hotel. The private " Billard Room " had just been converted to a very posh " Grill Room" In fact after my 6 years Apprenticeship I became the Head Grill Chef... (£25. per week big money in those days.) One of the waiters had the occupation of a "Billard Marker"... But had to transfer to become a waiter. I would think he made a good living from the Tips he got from the players . . . Plus he liked to play the Horses.... Maybe your relitive found it more lucrative to work as a Billard Marker?

susie manterfield(high wycombe)

susie manterfield(high wycombe) Report 21 Oct 2003 13:47

anne please could you tell me wat a "bratman" is,im really confused.but then again it is on hubbys side!!! lol

Mike. The Leicester Lad.(GC)

Mike. The Leicester Lad.(GC) Report 21 Oct 2003 16:06

Susie. . . . There you go then....... BRATMAN A rough garment maker. MIKE.

susie manterfield(high wycombe)

susie manterfield(high wycombe) Report 21 Oct 2003 20:44

mike thanx for that. i really thought it was gonna be summat more exciting than that!! good job it wasnt a family trade,couldnt really see hubby pushing a sewing machine!!...lol susie

Irene

Irene Report 14 Jun 2004 11:25

Hi Anne Would you please look for an OTTAK maker? Many thanks for the offer Best wishes L

Kim

Kim Report 14 Jun 2004 14:31

An`neal´ Verb 1. anneal - toughen (steel or glass) by a process of gradually heating and cooling; "temper glass" temper, normalize Kim

William

William Report 14 Jun 2004 15:02

I recently purchased a Parish Register,and I came across a very unique occupation;a "Wanderer".Can anyone help me out with its meaning please. Regards William Russell Jones Cefn Mawr Wrexham.

Debi Coone

Debi Coone Report 16 Jun 2004 17:05

Hi Ann On the 1871 census for an ancestor his occupation is: Venggirt Deuggirt Vellffirt Vellggirt The variants to this spelling is anyones guess In the 1881/91 & 1901 he is written up as a Chemist . Are you able to shed some light on the above please with your wee book? Thanks ann Much happiness debi

Gary

Gary Report 16 Jun 2004 19:13

How about a Cheviner, my great grandmother was one, can you guess what it was.

Mike. The Leicester Lad.(GC)

Mike. The Leicester Lad.(GC) Report 16 Jun 2004 21:02

Greeting's Gary. . . . Chevener. . . . . Embroidered fine silk stockings, popular with the Victorians.

Leigh

Leigh Report 16 Jun 2004 21:10

Anyone know what a 'Embosser & Chacer (Artizan)' (1881 Census) might have done? I also have 'Professional Bicyclists' in my family! After much puzzlement, I am led to believe that they were on the stage! Cheers Leigh

Nichola

Nichola Report 16 Jun 2004 21:54

I have just found on the 1901 census that my great great grandfather was a Quay Carter! What is this - any help please!! Kind regards..... Nichola x