OLD TIME JOBS
Source: (RABBIT TRACKS, Vol. 11, No. 4, Winter 1993)

JobDesc.JobDesc.

ALMONER

giver of charity to the needy

ANANUENSIS

Secretary or Stenographer

BLUESTOCKING

Female Writer

BONIFACE

Innkeeper

BURGOMASTER

Mayor

CHANDLER

Candlemaker

CHIFFONIER

Ragpicker

COLPORTEUR

Peddler of books

COOPER

maker of barrels

COSTERMONGER

Peddler of fruits/vegetables

CROWNER

Coroner

DUFFER

Peddler

FELL MONGER

remover of hair or wool from hides in leather making

FLETCHER

Made bows and arrows

GAOLER

Jailer

GLAZIER

Window glassman

HACKER

maker of hoes

HAYMONGER

dealer in hay

HAYWARD

fence viewer

HATCHELER

Combed or carded flax

HOOPER

Made hoops for casks

HOSTLER or OSTLER

Horse groomer

HIGGLER

itinerant peddler

HILLIER

roof tiler

HIND

farm laborer

HOOKER

reaper

HOLSTER

cares for horses

HUCKSTER

sells small wares

HUSBANDMAN

farmer

JAGGER

fish peddler

JOINER

skilled carpenter

KEMPSTER

wool comber profession, a gentleman

LAVENDER

washer woman

LEECH or SAWBONES

Physician - physician

LONGSHOREMAN

stevedore

LORMER

maker of horse gear

MALENDER

farmer

MALSTER

brewer

MANCIPLE

Steward

MINTMAKER (Mintmaster]

issuer of local currency

MONGER - (i.e., fish)

dealer

MULESKINNER

teamster

NEATHHERD

cowherd

ORDINARY KEEPER

innkeeper

PERIGRINATOR

Itinerant worker

PERUKER

Wigmaker

PETTIFOGGER

Shyster lawyer

PIGMAN

crockery dealer

PORTER

door or gatekeeper

PUMBUM WORKER

Plumber

PUDDLER

wrought iron worker

QUARRIER

quarry worker

RATTLEWATCH

Town watchman

RIGGER

hoist tackle worker

RIPPER

seller of fish

ROPER

maker of rope or nets

SALTER

roofer

SAWYER

saws timber into boards

SCRUTINEER

Election judge

SHRIEVE

Sheriff

SLATER

Roofer

SNOBSCAT

Repaired shoes

SORTOR

Tailor

SPURRER

Maker of spurs

SQUIRE

(esquire) Practitioner of

Stuffgrownsman (STUFF GOWSMAN)

Junior barrister

TASKER

reaper

TEAMSTER

driver of horses

TIDE WAITER

Custom inspector

TIPSTAFF

policeman

TUCKER

cleaner of cloth goods

VICTUALER

seller of food/drink

VULCAN

blacksmith

WEBSTER

weaver-Operated looms

WHITEWING

Streetsweeper

WHITSTER

bleacher of cloth

YEOMAN

farmer who owns his own land

These are not mine, I just used them as I found them....so any misspellings are the other's fault. *smile*


If you have other job descriptions and would like to share them, please Email me, Lori and tell me the source also.

JobDesc.Misc.

Jute Preparer

One who beat and prepared jute plants prior to them being turned into ropeCourtesy of John J. Evans

Dray

Drayman

Wagon used to haul heavy loads

Person who operated the wagon
Courtesy of Anonymous
The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language

Cordwainer

ShoemakerCourtesy of Bruce Chilton

Currier

Worker of leatherCourtesy of Dick

Topper

Spinning Mill workerCourtesy of Dan Gargel

Carder

Spinning Mill workerCourtesy of Margie Meyer

Ship Chandler

Made and sold 'fixings' for ships (ropes, shackles, sailcloth)Courtesy of Penney Bell

Morroco

Worker of leather from MorrocoCourtesy of Patricia Oliver

Drudge

Menial laborerCourtesy of Kim Hagy
Webster's New World Dictionary, Second Collegiate Edition

Drummer

Traveling salesmanCourtesy of Kim Hagy
Webster's New World Dictionary, Second Collegiate Edition

Milliner

Maker of ladies' hatsCourtesy of Kim Hagy
Webster's New World Dictionary, Second Collegiate Edition

Scrivener

Notary publicCourtesy of Kim Hagy
Webster's New World Dictionary, Second Collegiate Edition

Solicitor

City or county attorneyCourtesy of Kim Hagy
Webster's New World Dictionary, Second Collegiate Edition

Stavemaker

One who cut and bent the "staves," narrow, shaped strips of wood that made a barrel Courtesy of Diane Altona
Webster's New Universal Unabridged Dictionary

Tinsmith

One who makes or repairs things made of light metal, like tin.Courtesy of: Peggy Cummings
The American Heritage Dictionary, 2nd college ed.

Tagelöhner

Day LaborerCourtesy of: Leo Vetter Jr.
The Oxford-Duden german-english dictionary

Puddler

Operative who used a long puddling stick to stir slag fibers in a mass of molten iron in the process of making Wrought Iron 

Collier

Coal diggerCourtesy of: Dixie Lee Wright

Tinner

Maker of pots and pans Courtesy of: Dixie Lee Wright

Tinker

Repairer of pots and pans
(He would make a dam around a hole in a pan with clay, pour a melted metal in it; after the metal hardened he would break the dam , and throw it away, hence the expression, not worth a tinkers dam. Can't name a source, just heard it recounted 55 or 60 years ago, never forgot.)
Courtesy of: Russell Barnard

Wheelwright

Maker and repairer of wheels and wheeled vehicles (Wagonwright)Courtesy of: Merriam-Webster Dictionary

Whitesmith

Maker of brass or metal (not precious metals) cap badges, regimental buttons and shoulder flashes etc.Explained on alt.genealogy NG.

Whitesmith

Worker of cool metals, as opposed to a blacksmith.Explained on alt.genealogy NG.

Artificer

A skilled or artistic worker; a mechanic; craftsman; (military context - One who prepares the shells, fuses, etc.)Courtesy of: Merriam-Webster Dictionary

Knocker-upper

A man employed to go round in the middle of the night to waken the men who were due to start work at something like 04:00 -- North-east of England miner's name .Courtesy of: Bob Dunn

Lamp lighter

A man employed to go round to light the gas lightsCourtesy of: Bob Dunn

Coachman

Man who drove a coach and four (or 2) horses for private individualsExplained on alt.genealogy NG.

Carman

Driver of a trolly pulled by horsesExplained on alt.genealogy NG.

Cartman

Pushed a delivery cart Explained on alt.genealogy NG.

Driver

Drove a delivery cart with horses for larger loads going longer distances.Explained on alt.genealogy NG.


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