Dictionary of Old Occupations

Dictionary of Old Occupations

by

Jane Hewitt and Paul Jack Hewitt

SMASHWORDS EDITION

* * * * *

PUBLISHED BY:

Jane Hewitt on Smashwords

Dictionary of Old Occupations:

Copyright 2011 by Jane Hewitt

Smashwords Edition License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author's work.

* * * * *

Dictionary of Old Occupations:

Abactor: 19th century US legal term for a cattle rustler.

Abbess: female leader of a religious community based at a Nunnery or Convent; a Mother Superior.

Abbott: male leader of a religious community based at an Abbey or Monastery.

Abigail: early 19th century slang term for a lady's maid in waiting.

Able Seaman: an experienced seaman with more than two years at sea. More skilled than an ordinary seaman and able to perform duties common to all May denote a military or civilian position.

Abram: slang term for a beggar from medieval times until the 1800s who faked insanity.

Academician: an educator, or a member of an academy, university or college.

Acater: supplier of provisions, a Victualer.

Accipitary: falconer, who trained birds of prey for the ancient sport of hunting. Comes from the word accipiter, which is a genus of birds of prey.

Accomptant: alternative spelling of accountant.

Accoucheur: a male obstetrician, who assisted women in childbirth. Essentially a male midwife.

Accoutrement Maker: maker or supplier of military dress and clothing accessories. Derives from the word accoutre meaning to supply military equipment.

Ackerman: alternate spelling of Acreman, a bonded agricultural worker who performed the duties of a ploughman.

Acolyte: layperson who performs minor duties assisting the clergy during a religious services, for example, by carrying crosses or candles.

Acreman: a bonded man working as a ploughman for a manor.

Actuary: Essentially a clerk who handled financial records such as keeping business accounts.

Adjutant: officer who acts as an administrative assistant to a more senior officer. Comes from the Latin verb meaning 'to help'.

Adjutant general: chief administrative officer to a general. The actual military rank of this position varied over different time periods.

Administrator: person appointed by the court to settle the estate of a deceased person who died intestate or without naming an executor.

Advertisement Conveyancer: carried advertisements attached to a Sandwich Board.

Advocate: a professional representative or pleader in court or at a tribunal, or a Scottish Barrister.

Advowee: a patron holding the right of advowsun, meaning the right to present a candidate for a vacant religious benefice.

Advowson: a person holding the right of advowson, i.e. an Advowee.

Aeronaut: trapeze artist in a circus, or an an early aviator / balloonist.

Ag Lab: abbreviation for Agricultural Labourer commonly used on census records.

Agister: person who takes cattle to pasture for a fee, an Official of Royal Forests who collected grazing fees, or a person responsible for New Forest ponies.

Alabasterer: worked with or carved alabaster (white/pastel coloured gypsum).

Alblastere: alternate term for (or misspelling of) Arbalister, a medieval crossbowman.

Alchemist: commonly believed to be medieval Chemist who claimed to able to make gold from base metal. Alchemy was in fact a philosophical or spiritual discipline which had a practical aspect which might be considered an early form of chemistry. Sir Isaac Newton is a famous example of an alchemist.

Alderman: a senior member of a town council ranked below the Mayor, for example the famous Alderman Hewitt of Coventry!

Ale-Conner: appointed by the court-leet to examine beer for quality and checked measures to prevent fraud.

Ale House Keeper: ran an tippling house (a tavern where ale was sold).

Ale Draper: publican or seller of ale.

Ale Founder: alternate term for an Ale-Conner who tested beer for quality and checked measures to prevent fraud.

Ale Taster: alternate term for an Ale-Conner who tested beer for quality and checked measures to prevent fraud.

Ale Tunner: filled the Ale tuns/casks at Breweries. A tun held 252 gallons of ale.

Alewife: female Inn or Alehouse Keeper.

All Spice: seller of foodstuffs, i.e. a grocer.

Almanac Man: according to numerous online lists, this person was employed by the Court of Sewers as an official who monitored water levels and warned of dangerous high tides in the area of the river Trent.

Almoner: a royal officer who dispensed alms (money) to the poor on behalf of the King, or an official dispensing alms on behalf of a religious organisation.

Almsman: usually refers to a man who receives alms (charity), but may occasionally refer to the person who gives alms to the poor.

Alnager: an official who inspected the quality and measures of woollen goods for retail and stamped them with a seal of approval.

Amah: a wet nurse paid to suckle another woman’s child. May occasionally be seen as a generic term for a female domestic servant.

Amanuensis: a secretary or a stenographer, which is a person employed to write another’s words often because they were unable to write for themselves.

Amber Cutter: cut and polished amber (fossilised tree resin) for making into jewellery.

Ambler: worked at as stables as a groom specifically responsible for training horses to walk at an amble. The term 'amble' describes the particular gait of the horse.

Amen Man: nickname for a person working for a parish.

Anchor Smith: a Smith who made anchors, the term also refers to chain makers.

Anchores: female who lives the scholarly life a hermit or religious recluse.

Anchorite: male who lives the scholarly life a hermit or religious recluse. The term may also refer to a member of The Anchorites, a naval fellowship.

Angle Iron Smith: angle iron maker producing a section of steel bent to form a right angle.

Anilepman: tenant of a smallholding belonging to a manor.

Ankle Beater: child who assisted in driving cattle to and from market.

Annatto Maker: produced red dye which was sold to painters or to print houses.

Annuitant: person receiving payment from an annuity, similar to today’s pensioner.

Antigropelos Maker: maker of waterproof gaiters, leggings or boots.

Anvil Smith: maker of anvils and tools for use in a smithy or forge.

Apiarian: beekeeper. Modern beekeepers are called apiarists.

Apothecary: sold patented medicines as well as preparing their own remedies.

Apparitor: an officer who attended an ecclesiastical court, or a Beadle.

Apprentice: apprentices were usually bound to a journeyman / master who was already skilled in their chosen trade, this could happened from as young as 13 years of age. They then trained with their master until the age of 21 when they became Journeyman themselves and could take on their own apprentices.

Appraiser: appraised (valued) goods, or who assessed the authenticity of items such as works of art.

Aproneer: a slang word used in old London, meaning a shopkeeper. May have been related to the shopkeeper wearing an apron.

Apronman: a mechanic, the term may have been related to the mechanic wearing a protective apron whilst working.

Aquarius: carried clean water in ewers (vase shaped pitchers).

Aquavita Seller: sold alcoholic drinks.

Arbalester: alternate spelling of Arbalister, a medieval crossbowman.

Arbalister: a medieval crossbowman.

Arbiter: person with the authority to make judgements and settle disputes.

Archer: a soldier who used bow and arrow; a Bowman.

Archiater: a chief physician retained by the monarch. The term dates back to Roman times.

Archiator: alternate spelling of Archaiter, a chief physician.

Archil Maker: made a violet / purple dye called archil for use in the textile industry. Archil was created by bruising lichens to which were added spirits and quick lime.

Ark Man: worked in the pottery industry producing slip in a tank called an ark.

Arkwright: a craftsman who made of wooden chests called arks.

Armiger: a young nobleman who carried a knight’s armour. The term evolved to include a person entitled to bear a heraldic coat of arms.

Armiger Squire: another term for an Armiger. The term evolved into 'esquire'.

Armourer: made suits of armour and weapons. The term includes the making of firearms, e.g. a Gunsmith.

Arrowsmith: artisan who made arrows, including forging metal arrowheads and fitting them to the shaft. May also include fitting the fletchings, see Fletcher.

Art Ware Maker: cast ornamental articles in the pottery trade.

Artificer: a member of the military skilled in a trade (e.g. carpentry, blacksmithing), a craftsman or an inventor. The term can also be used generically to refer to any skilled worker.

Artisan: a skilled craftsman or artificer, or a person who distresses wooden items to make them appear old.

Artist Painter: artist and expert hand painter who decorated pottery.

Ashery worker: a worker at a factory or ash pit where hardwood was converted in to pear or potash.

Ashman: a refuse collector or street sweeper. May sometimes be a misspelling of Washman.

Assayer: tested metal to check its purity.

Assay Master: was in charge of an Assay Office where metal was checked for purity, and where gold and silver were hallmarked.

Assisor: Scottish legal term for a juror in a court called an assize.

Auger Maker: produced augers which were a type of hand operated drill. The carpenter would operate the auger via a crosswise fitted handle, which required both hands to turn in order to drill holes in wood.

Aulnager: alternate spelling of Alnagewr, an official who inspected the quality and measures of woollen goods for retail.

Aurifaber: a Goldsmith, specialised in working gold and precious metals.

Avenator: according to many, many online lists this is a merchant who sold hay and other forage, presumably for animal feed. Have yet to confirm this.

Avener: an Army Officer under the Master of Horse, in charge of obtaining oats for the stables and managing the accounts.

Avowry: an Advocate who represents another in legal matters, or a Lord of the Manor.

Axel Tree Maker: manufactured axles for use on carts and wagons.

Axel Turner: another term for an axel tree maker.

Back Houseboy: a young male domestic servant working in the kithcen or scullery.

Bag Stitcher: a 19th century occupation, person