officer of the customs - changekeeper & more besides

niall · Post by **niall** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 10:39 pm

How fantastic that the oprs are online and I can begin to get further back but it obviously brings new dilemmas. My GGGGGGfthr (i think thats right?) Duncan appears to have had many occupations according to the birth records of his children ( this is dependant on McKinlay also being spelt McKindlay) He has been a boatman, a changekeeper?, a shopkeeper and when my GGGGGfthr was born 1787 an Officer of the Customs. Anyone know what a changekeeper is? Can I get access to customs documentation and how without being present? Any thoughts/ knowledge of these occupations?
many thanks
Niall

Post by **paddyscar** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 11:13 pm

Hi Niall:

None of those occupations is listed in the Sources section, but I did find 'change ringing' http://encyclopedia.jrank.org/Cambridge ... nging.html

Just a suggestion, that it may have been another term for bell keeper or bell ringer.

Frances

Billmalc · Post by **Billmalc** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 1:05 am

Hi Niall

If you do a google search on 'Changekeeper' a number of entries come up. It would appear that a Changekeeper was an Inn Keeper or Pub landlord or a Spirits Dealer. This might tie in with his Custom collector. Maybe he decided to change sides, so to speak

k

Cheers

Bill