Jack, thank you so much for this information. I don't know if there was an iron works nearby or not. I certainly intend to find out though! Never feel you are butting in. This information may be of assistance to others. Catherine [email protected] wrote: > Hello, > > Let me butt in regarding the possible meaning of the occupation of puddler. > > In an Iron Works a puddler was an esteemed job. The puddler formed channel > is the sand at the at the furnace discharge. The shape had a main direction > with branches running off to both sides. > > The puddler would tap the furnace and allow molten iron to pour out. He > would direct it by prodding it moving sand with a long iron bar. It would > flow into the various branches. When it cooled and hardened it would be a > "pig". As you can imagine, a good puddler could produce consistant well > shaped pigs. The reputation of the company was highly dependent on the > quality of the pig iron which it produced. Good puddlers were considered > highly skilled workers. > > I hope there was an iron works near your ancestor. Elsewise all of my > description is for nothing! > > --Jack Trauth