Occupations Found in Old Records
Below is a list of occupations gleaned from old records which were provided to us by Barbara Stevenson. Some are quite amusing.Accomptant Accountant Almoner Giver of charity to the needy Amanuensis Secretary or stenographer Artificer A soldier mechanic who does repairs Bailie Bailiff Baxter Baker Bluestocking Female writer Boniface Keeper of an inn Brazier One who works with brass Brewster Beer manufacturer Brightsmith Metal Worker Burgonmaster Mayor Caulker One who filled up cracks in ships, windows, etc. Chaisemaker Carriage maker Chandler Dealer or trader; one who makes or sells candles; retailer of groceries Chiffonnier Wig maker Clark Clerk Clerk Clergyman, cleric Clicker The servant of a salesman who stood at the door to invite customers; one who received the matter in the galley from the compositors and arranged it in due form ready for printing; one who makes eyelet holes in boots using a machine which clicked. Cohen Priest Collier Coal miner Colporteur Peddler of books Cooper One who makes or repairs vessels made of staves and hoops, such as casks, barrels, tubs, etc. Cordwainer Shoemaker, originally any leather worker using leather from Cordova/Cordoba in Spain Costermonger Peddler of fruits and vegetables Crocker Potter Crowner Coroner Currier One who dresses the coat of a horse with a currycomb; one who tanned leather by incorporating oil or grease Docker Stevedore, dock worker who loads and unloads cargo Dowser One who finds water using a rod or witching stick Draper A dealer in dry goods Drayman One who drives a long strong cart without fixed sides for carrying heavy loads Dresser A surgeon's assistant in a hospital Drover One who drives cattle, sheep, etc. to market; a dealer in cattle Duffer Peddler Factor Agent, commission merchant; one who acts or transacts business for another; Scottish steward or bailiff of an estate Farrier A blacksmith, one who shoes horses Faulkner Falconer Fell monger One who removes hair or wool from hides in preparation for leather making Fletcher One who made bows and arrows Fuller One who fulls cloth; one who shrinks and thickens woolen cloth by moistening, heating, and pressing; one who cleans and finishes cloth Gaoler A keeper of the goal, a jailer Glazier Window glassman Hacker Maker of hoes Hatcheler One who combed out or carded flax Haymonger Dealer in hay Hayward Keeper of fences Higgler Itinerant peddler Hillier Roof tiler Hind A farm laborer Holster A groom who took care of horses, often at an inn Hooker Reaper Hooper One who made hoops for casks and barrels Huckster Sells small wares Husbandman A farmer who cultivated the land Jagger Fish peddler Journeyman One who had served his apprenticeship and mastered his craft, not bound to serve a master, but hired by the day Joyner/Joiner A skilled carpenter Keeler Bargeman Kempster Wool comber Lardner Keeper of the cupboard Lavender Washer woman Lederer Leather maker Leech Physician Longshorema Stevedore Lormer Maker of horse gear Malender Farmer Maltster Brewer Manciple A steward Mason Bricklayer Mintmaster One who issued local currency Monger Seller of goods (ale, fish) Muleskinner Teamster Neatherder Herds cows Ordinary Keeper Innkeeper with fixed prices Pattern Maker A maker of a clog shod with an iron ring. A clog was a wooden pole with a pattern cut into the end Peregrinator Itinerant wanderer Peruker A wig maker Pettifogger A shyster lawyer Pigman Crockery dealer Plumber One who applied sheet lead for roofing and set lead frames for plain or stained glass windows. Porter Door keeper Puddler Wrought iron worker Quarrier Quarry worker Rigger Hoist tackle worker Ripper Seller of fish Roper Maker of rope or nets Saddler One who makes, repairs or sells saddles or other furnishings for horses Sawbones Physician Sawyer One who saws; carpenter Schumacker Shoemaker Scribler A minor or worthless author Scrivener Professional or public copyist or writer; notary public Scrutiner Election judge Shrieve Sheriff Slater Roofer Slopseller Seller of ready-made clothes in a slop shop Snobscat / Snob One who repaired shoes Sorter Tailor Spinster A woman who spins or an unmarried woman Spurrer Maker of spurs Squire Country gentleman; farm owner; justice of peace Stuff gown Junior barrister Stuff gownsman Junior barrister Supercargo Officer on merchant ship who is in charge of cargo and the commercial concerns of the ship. Tanner One who tans (cures) animal hides into leather Tapley One who puts the tap in an ale cask Tasker Reaper Teamster One who drives a team for hauling Thatcher Roofer Tide waiter Customs inspector Tinker An itinerant tin pot and pan seller and repairman Tipstaff Policeman Travers Toll bridge collection Tree shaker A person who looks for skeletons in the family tree. (Fn. 1) Tucker Cleaner of cloth goods Turner A person who turns wood on a lathe into spindles Victualer A tavern keeper, or one who provides an army, navy or ship with food Vulcan Blacksmith Wagoner Teamster not for hire Wainwright Wagon maker Waiter Customs officer or tide waiter; one who waited on the tide to collect duty on goods brought in Waterman Boatman who plies for hire Webster Operator of looms Wharfinger Owner of a wharf Wheelwright One who made or repaired wheels; wheeled carriages, etc. Whitesmith Tinsmith; worker of iron who finishes or polishes the work Whitewing Street sweeper Whitster Bleach of cloth Wright Workman, especially a construction worker Yeoman Farmer who owns his own land ________________ Fn. 1 I made that one up. :)If you can provide us with definitions of other old occupations, please contact us at dewald@prenticenet.com..
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Great gift ideas!
Prentiss-Tucker Duell
of 1842
• Kibbe Genealogical Notes, by Doreen Potter Hanna
• Ebenezer Gay Jr's Record of Deaths in his Parish, 1795-1814
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