TIP #363 - HE DID WHAT? Did you ever wonder exactly WHAT your ancestor did for a living? Maybe you've been fortunate enough to find an occupation listed on the census other than "farmer" (which was the most common, but a very necessary occupation!) but you have no idea of what it meant! Some of the classifications can be brutally honest - some of which include (and I've seen) Idler -sits on the square all day long Nothing - just looks busy. Can't put down what she really does! Invalid - or at least she says he is Whittler - just sits and whittles all day long But, there were legitimate occupations which have faded into oblivion over the years. Each generation is faced with learning new technology in order to compete - much as many of the jobs WE did have now been replaced by the computer! Here are some: Accomptant: accountant Amanuensis: secretary or stenographer Artificer: soldier mechanic who does repairs Bailie: bailiff Baxter: baker Bluestocking: female writer Boniface: inn keeper Brazier: he who works with brass Brewster: manufacturer of beer Brightsmith: metal worker Burgonmaster: mayor Caulker: fills up cracks in ships or caulked windows Chaisemaker: carriage maker Chandler: a dealer or trader (groceries, candles, etc) Chiffonnier: wig maker Clark: clerk Clerk: can also refer to a minister Clicker: the salesman's servant who stood at the door to welcome Customers in; could also refer to individual who made eyelet holes In boots. Cohen: a priest Collier: coal miner Colporteur: book peddler Cooper: makes or repairs staves or hoops in barrels, casks, etc. Cordwainer: a shoemaker Costermonger: fruit and vegetable peddler Crocker: a potter Crowner: the coroner Currier: grooms horses or one who tanned leather. Docker: stevedore or dock worker. Dowser: finds water by using a rod or witching stick Draper: dealer in dry goods Drayman: drives a cart without fixed sides to carry heavy loads. Dresser: surgeon's assistant in a hospital Drover: drives cattle, sheep, etc. to market or a cattle dealer. Duffer: a peddler Farrier: blacksmith or horse shoer. Fell monger: removes hair and/or wool from hides in leather making. Fletcher: bow and arrow maker. Fuller: shrinks and thickens woolen cloth Gaoler: jailer which was also called a gaol. Glazier: worked on window glass. Hacker: made hoes Hatcheler: combed or carded flax Haymonger: sold or dealt in hay. Hayward: fence keeper. Higgler: peddler who was itinerant Hillier: tiled roofs Hind: worked on farm Holster: horse groomer, often at an inn or tavern where horses were boarded. Hooker: one who reaped crops Hooper: sold hoops and slats for casks and barrels. Huckster: one who sold small goods. Husbandman: farmer Jagger: one who peddled fish. Journeyman: hired by the day; finished his apprenticeship. Joyner/Joiner: skilled carpenter Keeler: one who worked on barges. Kempster: one who combed wool Lavender: a washer woman Lederer: leather maker Leech: a doctor Local: Sometimes referred to an idler in town or a prostitute Longshoreman: stevedore Lormer: made gear for horses Malender: farmer Maltster: brewed ale/beer Manciple: steward Mason: bricklayer Mintmaster: provided and issued local currency Monger: one who sold ale, good, fish, etc. Neatherder: herder of cattle Ordinary Keeper: ordinary was a tavern or inn where specific rates wre set by the county. Peregrinator: one who was a wanderer, an itinerant Peruker: made wigs Pettifogger: a crooked awyer Pigman: sold crockery Plumber: set frames for plain or stained glass windows or put sheet lead on roofs. Porter: door keeper Puddler: wrought iron worker Quarrier: worked in a quarry Ripper: sold fish Roper: one who made ropes and/or nets Saddler: made, sold, or repaired saddles and other equine equipment Sawbones: doctor, especially a surgeon Sawyer: carpenter Schumacker: shoemaker Scribler: one who thought he was an author but wrote nothing important Scrivener: professional/public copyist/writer; notary public Scrutiner: judge of an election. Shrieve: sheriff Slater: roofer Slopseller: sold ready-made clothes in a slop shop Snobscat/Snob: repaired shoes Sorter: tailor Spinster: woman who spun or was single. Spurrer: made spurs Squire: gentleman, farm owner or justice of peace Stuff gown / stuff gownsman: junior barrister Tanner: tanned hides into leather Tasker: one who was a reaper Teamster: drove a team for hauling Thatcher: roofer Tide waiter: customs inspector Tinker: one who traveled the countryside selling tin pots and pans. Could also repair. Tipstaff: policeman Travers: collected tolls at the toll bridtes Tucker: cleaned cloth Turner: turned wood on a lathe to form spindles Victualer: tavern keeper or one who provided the military with food and supplies. Vulcan: blacksmith Wagoner: teamster not for hire Wainwright: made wagons Waterman: a man who hired out himself and his boat Webster: loom operator Wharfinger: wharf owner Wheelwright: made and/or repaired wheels for carriages Whitesmith: a tinsmith who specialized in finishing or polishing the goods. Whitewing: swept the streets Whitster: bleached cloth Wright: a workman Yeoman: a farmer who owns his own land Which job would you like to apply for? (c) Copyright 25 Oct 2001, Sandra K. Gorin, All rights reserved. sgorin@glasgow-ky.com Col. Sandi Gorin, 205 Clements, Glasgow, KY 42141 (270) 651-9114 Publishing: http://ggpublishing.tripod.com/ SCKY resource links: http://www.public.asu.edu/~moore/Gorin.html < >< God Bless America ><>