Unusual Occupation?.....

[janebromfield]

I thought that my ancestor was a Manure Carter (visions of big piles of steaming doings on the back of a cart). However, a later document revealed that he was a ship's carpenter - methinks that it actually said MARINE Carter!!!!!!!!!!!!

[fatjock]

How about this hotelier?

Events > Explosions
Gas explosion causes damage to Kemps Hotel, Kirkwall. Mr. Kemp who had gone looking for escaping gas with a lighted candle, injured in blast.

John O'Groat Journal 10 December 1852

[Kathykins]

I have the usual weavers, farmers, Ag Labs and hundreds of blacksmiths, but my absolute favourite so far has to be my 4x great grandfather, who is recorded on one of the early censuses as a "mole catcher." The weird thing is, his father and brothers have exactly the same occupation.

Do you have a problem with moles in Scotland then? Five mole catchers in one town?

[Russell]

Hi Kathy
Moles would be a real problem in areas where there were herds of cattle.
A milk or calf heavy cow stepping into a mole burrow could easily break a leg. They also damage the roots of plants as they dig. Sooo......hire a man to trap them and save your favourite cow. Remember, it might have been their only cow.
There was a type of material called 'moleskin' so presumably the real thing was used at some point.

Back in the days of the 'run-rig' a village might employ one of their number as a herder for everybody's cattle so they co-operated in things like that.

Russell

[Kathykins]

I hadn't thought of it like that actually Russell, but of course moles are a nuisance. Interestingly, they've all given up the profession by the time I find them on later censuses, and are working as weavers or linen manufacturers. I wonder if perhaps mole traps were invented and put them out of business?

Meanwhile, it's fun to imagine my ancestors sitting round the fire together, clubbing moles for practice of an evening...

[David Lang]

Got a hosy of Labourer , ships Carpenters, Shoemakers, Blacksmiths etc

Do have a cow feeder as well !!!

A soldier from the Egytian Campaign in the early 1800s, a Policeman who seems to like getting drunk!!!!

A Possible Sherrifs Officer from the late 1700s and a Professor of Medicine in Manchester Uni late 1800s.

Oh and stack of Lanrkshire/Stirlingshire Miners

[daisymaisy]

I came across one of our ancestors was a handkerchief folder....

I certainly dont take after them with the state of my linen cupboard lol

[nelmit]

Came across this one while searching 1841 census on FREECEN -

Piece: SCT1841/428 Place: Falkland -Fife Enumeration District: 2
Civil Parish: Falkland Ecclesiastical Parish, Village or Island: -
Folio: 2 Page: 2
Address: Mill Wynd

Surname First name(s) Sex Age Occupation Where Born Remarks
GOURLEY James M 50 Flasher Fife
GOURLEY Jean F 35 - Fife
HONEYMAN Mary F 25 - Fife

I can only assume he was a flesher.

Regards,
Annette M

[LesleyB]

Hi Annettte

I can only assume he was a flesher.

Aye, but as you know it is never wise to make assumptions in this game! Who knows....???

Best wishes
Lesley

[Malcolm]

My only contribution is the way in which occupations were written down. One which caught my eye was the “masterbleachersdaughter”. Microsoft didn’t like that. She was a Patterson and I would have thought that at the age of twenty four she should have had a job that she could have called her own.
My best example is “Masterplastereremployerofmen”. Microsoft has just thrown a wobbler. Bill Gates himself has been alerted. Who cares.
If you come accross a profession with a longer name than that, you could win a prize.