Does anyone know what this profession is? .....

Brenda · Post by **Brenda** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 5:43 am

I found one of my ancestors in a census, his profession was given as,
" BILLIARD MARKER"
Anyone know what this is? Sounds illegal to me!

Post by **emanday** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 5:58 am

Well, while not illegal, billiards halls used to be rather frowned upon by more genteel society. (Where young men were likely to "mis-spend" their youth)

Definition...

billiard marker - a device for keeping the score in a game of billiards

...so your rellie was probably the person who kept score by means of this device.

Brenda · Post by **Brenda** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 6:22 am

Thank you Mary.

winslowsmom · Post by **winslowsmom** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 3:23 pm

Hello Brenda

My gggrandfather was a billiard marker in 1866 Ayr at the time of his marriage.
I found this definition somewhere (alas, it was early on in my quest
and I wasn't keeping track of sources):

BILLIARD-MARKER

A person who attends on players at billiards and records the progress of the game.

Now I am trying to find out more about a Numbers Runner !
(also in Ayr, having to do with the horse track)

Best regards
Cathy H

Post by **emanday** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 3:38 pm

Hi Cathy H,

Don't quote me on this, but I think Numbers Runners used to collect bets for bookmakers. As far as I remember, it was highly illegal.

In Glasgow I'm sure they were just referred to as "Bookies Runners".

I think it had something to do with bets only being legal way back when if placed with the official Tote (I don't think the Tote gave as good odds

)