What are these trades, please?

[alysone]

Hi everyone,
I would like to know what a "farm grieve" or "grieve" did?
Was a fillet worker someone who made lace, or maybe nets? Thanks, alysone

[ninatoo]

Hi Alysone,

A "google" throws up that a farm grieve was a farm foreman or manager. I even saw a present day advertisement for a job helping a farm grieve in Aberdeen.

Nina

[marilyn morning]

Hi Alysone,

Also be sure to take a look at these links

http://talkingscot.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4133

Regards
Marilyn

[alysone]

Thanks Marilyn & Nina,
I bookmarked the link to the old occupation sites. Fascinating. I would definitely rather be a grieve (he collects the rent ) than this other occupation which caught my eye as I scanned down the "G's":
Gong Farmer /
Gong Scourer Emptied cesspits, ashpits and outside toilets
Couldn't see a fillet worker yet, though. alysone

[paddyscar]

Hi Alysone:

Additional occupations lists and several trades & occupations dictionaries yeild various fillet-connected occupations - heraldry, architecture, cooking, not to mention the standard fishing trade.

But those wouldn't seem to link to

1891 census 689 Ed Inveresk Combination Poorhouse p 1
# Joan PURVES, inmate, 37, formerly fillet worker, b Prestonpans, Haddington

There is a form of crochet called fillet that would more likely be an occupation for a woman of her time. A basic example of fillet crochet is shown in the last picture on this page
http://www.knitting-crochet.com/crochet/crosti.html

In recent years it has become more commonly known as crocheted lace and a more elaborate example appears here http://www.amazon.com/dp/0307339750 (URL shortened)

Joan could have made a living doing this in her own home, in a cottage industry or in a mill. She may have continued to use this skill in the laundry mending household and personal linens.

Frances

[alysone]

Hi Frances,
Yes, a type of crochet makes most sense, doesn't it? I suspected the origin would be derived from the French. I did wonder about fish filleting but that wouldn't fit.
Perhaps, it was one of the things taught to Joan in the School for the Deaf in Edinburgh?
I couldn't open your second link, by the way. All the best, Rosalie

[paddyscar]

Hi Rosalie:

I've fixed the link on the above post. I've just remembered there is a similar occupation previously discussed on our page, which may be of interest as well.
http://talkingscot.com/forum/viewtopic. ... werer+webs
Frances

Added later: My grandmother was a 'Fishmonger Assistant' in the 1891 census and a 'Fish Shopwoman' on her marriage reg. in 1902 - no 'fillet' there

[AndrewP]

Hi Rosalie,

As Prestonpans is coastal, it probably had a fishing harbour of its own at one time. Even if not, its neighbours of Cockenzie and Port Seton certainly did. I would favour the fillet worker as someone filleting fish.

All the best,

AndrewP