Hello Valerie I would guess that it means he lived on a private income, such as interest on investments or a private pension - similar to 'annituant' on census returns. Brenda On 18 Nov 2007, at 04:15, mon terey wrote: > Regarding occupations, what might it mean when it says the father of > the groom's occupation is "private"? > Brenda in Allhallows, Kent http://paternoster.orpheusweb.co.uk/index.html