Jobs &amp; Occupations

Someone who made dyes for paint or printing trades.

Amen man Ref 298-A30

A parish clerk

Anilepman Ref 298-A25

A tenant of the manor, a smallholder

Annatto-maker Ref 298-2532

See Annatto

Apparitor Ref 298-2251

The official who summoned people to appear at an ecclesiastical court

Appraiser Ref 298-1820

From the early 16th century, a court required to prove a will might require the executor to appoint a small group of local men – the appraisers – to make a true and perfect inventory of the deceased's estate

Archiator Ref 298-A32

A doctor or physician

Archil-maker Ref 298-2565

Someone who made archil, a purple dye produced from lichen

Archill maker Ref 298-90

Someone who makes archill, a violet dye produced from lichen, which is used for dyeing textiles

Armiger Ref 298-A44

Anyone who was entitled to a coat of arms.

The adjective is armigerous

Artificer Ref 298-A33

A skilled worker or craftsman. In a naval context, the term refers to engineer officers on board ships

Aulnager Ref 298-A39

Back-tenter Ref 298-B11

Someone – often a child – who worked behind the loom clearing away waste and rubbish.

Someone who cleaned wool in the manufacture of worsted

Back-washer Ref 298-B12

Badger Ref 298-2712

In the 16th century, paupers were encouraged to supplement their weekly pensions with casual and regular begging to supplement Parish pay.

An Act of 1697 required anyone who received parish relief to wear a badge with the letter P – for pauper – sewn to their clothes. These people were known as badgers, and were licensed by the Quarter Sessions and recorded in Badgers' Recognisances. The badge was a distinguishing mark, and designed to discourage fraudulent beggars as people began to move from the countryside into the towns. Any pauper who refused to wear the badge was liable to be committed to prison for 3 weeks' hard labour. Any parish officer who gave relief to a poor person who was not wearing a badge could be fined 20/-. Badge wearing was compulsory until the law was repealed in 1810.

See Cadger

Badger Ref 298-2809

Aka Higgler, Peddar, Swaler. A local or itinerant dealer in dairy produce, eggs, corn, meal and malt, and later in general produce.

The name was often qualified by adding the name of the product sold: egg badger, potato badger, and so on.

The word is also used as a surname and in place names – often spelled as Bagger – and is recorded around 1300.

See Badger Lane, Brighouse and Cadger

Bagniokeeper Ref 298-B41

Someone who was in charge of baths or a bath house.

The name was also used for someone who was in charge of a brothel

Bairman Ref 298-1136

See Pauper

Bandmaster Ref 298-968

The resident conductor of a brass band

Bang-beggar Ref 298-2615

An officer who determined how long strangers could stay in the parish

Banksman Ref 298-2837

Also Bank Man.

The man responsible for the winding mechanism and lift cage which are used for lowering / raising the workers and the coal at a coal mine.

Later, the word was used for the person who oversees the reversing of vehicles out of building sites

This & associated entries use material contributed by Alan Longbottom

Barber Ref 298-B74

In addition to cutting hair and beards, barbers also performed surgery, until 1745 when surgeons were separately recognised.

The striped red and white barber's pole reminds us of the blood and bandages of the surgical practices.

See Powler

Bareman Ref 298-1129

See Pauper

Basil-worker Ref 298-B14

Someone who worked with the skins of sheep and goats

Baumer Ref 298-B31

A caddy for a player in the game of knur & spell

Beamer Ref 298-1243

A textile worker who handles the materials before the weaving stage in cloth production.

See Warper, Weaver and Winder

Blacksmith Ref 298-944

Aka Smith.

Someone who makes and repairs iron objects.

See Farrier

Bluffer Ref 298-B75

An inn-keeper or landlord of a pub

Bobbin turner Ref 298-87

A wood turner who made the bobbins used in the spinning and weaving industry

Body-snatcher Ref 298-1276

Someone who illegally exhumed newly-buried corpses and sold them for dissection and medical research.

See Grave

Boiler-tapper Ref 298-B21

In mediæval time, this was a man who had little personal freedom and who was tied to the lord of the manor.

Bondman Ref 298-1509

Bondmen were not allowed to live outside the manor without licence from the lord. Where permission was given an annual chevage was payable to the lord by the bondman.

A bondman could not take legal action concerning rents or tenure against the lord.

When a bondman died, his property passed to the lord of the manor; the relatives could buy the property on payment of an entry fee to the lord.

The word is also used to mean an apprentice who was bonded to a master for the purpose of learning a skill or trade.

See Slave

Bondsman Ref 298-B52

Someone who stood bond – or surety – for another in situations where a bond was required by law.

See Bondman

Boothman Ref 298-2663

A corn-merchant or corn chandler

Borough Treasurer Ref 298-2619

The head of finance for the local council.

See Borough Treasurer of Brighouse, Borough Treasurer of Halifax, Borough Treasurer of Rastrick, Borough Treasurer of Todmorden and Town Clerk

Botanist Ref 298-48

Someone who studies plants.

In the 19th century, the terms botanist and medical botanist were used for a herbalist.

See Botanists & Mycologists

Brace maker Ref 298-72

Someone who makes belts or braces.

Braces were made of leather or elastic fabric, and were used as suspenders for holding-up trousers. They were made by hand or by machine

Brasiater Ref 298-B20

Someone who brewed ale

Brasiler Ref 298-2699

A dyer

Brazier Ref 298-B64

Someone who works in brass

Brewster Ref 298-B48

In mediæval times, brewing was often carried out by women, the brewsters.

Brewster sessions were a special Quarter Sessions meeting which licensed inn-keepers and keepers of alehouses

Brightsmith Ref 298-20

A tinsmith, or a worker or dealer in tin or tinned iron.

See Whitesmith

Brogger Ref 298-1384

The word was often used to mean brother-in-law.

Brother Ref 298-B32

See Good brother

Brownsmith Ref 298-2719

Someone who worked with copper or brass.

See Brogger and Smith

Burler Ref 298-3

Cadger Ref 298-1885

An itinerant dealer in small wares, or a beggar.

See Badger, Cadge and Cadger Lane, Brighouse

Cafender Ref 298-C38

A carpenter

Canvasser Ref 298-C1036

A person who worked with canvas (cloth).

Later, the term was used for anyone who carried out research, particularly for use in elections or sales

Carboniser Ref 298-78

A worker who carried out the work of carbonising

Carder Ref 298-96

Carman Ref 298-60

Aka Carter.

Someone who drives a cart & horse(s) to make deliveries of goods

Carter Ref 298-61

Aka Carman.

Someone who drives a cart & horse(s) to make deliveries of goods

Catagman Ref 298-C13

Aka Cottar

Chair bottomer Ref 298-67

Someone who made chairs and/or seats out of woven cane

Chandler Ref 298-2535

Originally, a maker or seller of candles. The term was used for a grocer, and for a man who sold ship's supplies.

Corn chandlers and tallow chandlers are encountered

Chapman Ref 298-1734

A general middleman or merchant, involved in buying and/or selling goods.

See Copeman

Cheese winder Ref 298-27

Someone did the work of winding the cotton/woollen yarn onto a cheese

Clicker Ref 298-45

Someone who works in the shoe & leather trade – a boot clicker or shoe clicker – see cordwainer.

It can also mean someone who works in the printing industry

Clogger Ref 298-4

Someone who made clogs.

See Verney Horsfall

Clothier Ref 298-C78

Another term for a yeoman clothier

Cobbler Ref 298-974

Someone who makes and/or repairs shoes

Collier Ref 298-C51

A coal miner, although the word had a wider meaning and included wood-colliers, and a ship carrying coal

Comber Ref 298-46

Cone Winder Ref 298-29

Someone did the work of winding the cotton/woollen yarn onto a metal or paper/cardboard cone-shaped core

Confectioner Ref 298-965

Someone who produced medicines sweetened with honey or sugar.

Later, someone who made cakes and sweets.

See Confectionery

Conveyancer Ref 298-962

A member of the legal profession who handled documents relating to the transfer of property

Cooper Ref 298-930

Someone who makes barrels.

See Tranqueter

Coparcener Ref 298-C12

Co-heir who jointly inherits an estate

Copeman Ref 298-2543

A general dealer. In the 18th century, the word was used for a receiver of stolen goods.

See Chapman

Cordwainer Ref 298-1300

Pronounced cord'ner. A shoemaker, or leather-worker.

The word comes from Córdoban, after the leather products of the Spanish city of Córdoba.

See Clicker

Corn chandler Ref 298-1981

A retail dealer in grain.

See Boothman and Chandler

Coroner Ref 298-2361

Originally, the guardian of the pleas of the crown. Now, an officer responsible for enquiries – a Coroner's Inquest – into the cause of accidental or suspicious deaths, or deaths believed to have been caused by violence.

Under an Act of 1752, coroners returned abstracts of inquests to the Quarter Sessions in order to claim their expenses. These returns are preserved in the sessions files and include the date of the inquest, the name of the deceased and the verdict of the jury. These are public records and there is a 75 years' closure period on them.

See William Barstow, John Brigg, John Brigg, Coroner's Court, Halifax, J. F. Dearden, Thomas F. Dearden, George Dyson, George, Brighouse, Halifax Town Hall, John Hargreaves, Ernest Hatton Hill, John Richard Ingram, Bernard Williamson Little, Edward Wallace Norris, William Stansfeld, Joseph Wood and Robert Wood

Costermonger Ref 298-1888

A dealer in fruit and vegetables. The name comes from costard, a kind of large apple.

A dealer in horses and cattle

Cottager Ref 298-C89

Aka Cottar

Cottar Ref 298-1761

Aka Customary Tenant, Catagman, Cottager. A tenant of a cottage with 4 acres of land, or less. This was the lowest level of peasant farmers. He lived in a tied cottage and was obliged to work on the farm of the lord of the manor

Couper Ref 298-C53

Couple beggar Ref 298-2661

An itinerant priest who performed marriages prior to the Marriage Act [1753]

Cropper Ref 298-C102

Culler Ref 298-1715

Someone who selected and graded animals for killing

Cunning man Ref 298-1635

Aka Wizard. A name given to mediæval law-enforcers. He might also dispense medicines, cure ailments, find lost object, and tell fortunes. There were also cunning women

Cursitor Ref 298-C113

A clerk who draws up wills

Cutlooker Ref 298-82

Someone who inspects the pieces of woven material produced by a weaver

Dataller Ref 298-75

Also datalman / day tale man.

A casual worker who is paid by the day.

A man who quarried stone in a open quarry.

Delver Ref 298-57

This was distinct from a stone miner who worked underground.

See Master-taker and Stone quarrying

Devil minder Ref 298-5

Devil worker Ref 298-6

Deviller Ref 298-68

Someone who operated a cotton devil

Dexter Ref 298-24

An occupational surname meaning a dyer.

Compare Textor.

There are the entries on the Calderdale Companion for people with the surname Dexter.

Dispensatore Ref 298-1049

Aka Dispensator.

A steward or treasurer

Dissenter Ref 298-2569

Anyone who disagrees with the orthodox view of religious belief, a Nonconformist

To some extent, Dissenters were tradesmen and workers of the lower class.

In the 18th century, Dissenters were excluded from membership of certain bodies, for example, they could not be a student at Oxford & Cambridge, a Magistrate, or a Member of Parliament.

See Baptists, Congregationalists, Methodists and Unitarians

Doffer Ref 298-108

Aka Setter-on.

Someone who removes a filled bobbin or cheese from a machine, and replaces it with an empty one.

Doffers were often child workers who were small enough to crawl beneath the machines.

See: Doff

Dog whipper Ref 298-2840

Aka Knocknobbler. A man who chased dogs out of the church. He used whips or a pair of tongs to seize and eject the animal.

The dogs might be attracted by the tails of foxes, and other animals – which were killed in order to collect a bounty – and nailed to the church door.

See Lightcliffe Old Church

Doubler Ref 298-88

Someone who performed the work of doubling, manually or mechanically twisting together strands of yarn (such as cotton or wool)

Drawer Ref 298-99

Also Drawer-in / Reacher.

Someone who gathered the threads from a number of bobbins for handling the combined threads together.

See: Plug-drawer / Wire drawer

Dresser Ref 298-101

Someone who checked a product – such as a piece of woven material – in its final stage.

See: Silk dresser / Stone Dresser

Drover Ref 298-1015

A man who drives cattle or a packhorse team

Drysalter Ref 298-1059

Aka Salter.

Someone who makes or deals in dry chemicals, such as dyes and colours for the textile industry

Dryster Ref 298-34

Question: Is this the same as a drysalter?

Duler Ref 298-7

Dummerer Ref 298-2546

A mediæval term for a beggar who obtains money by pretending to be deaf and dumb

Dyer Ref 298-957

Someone who works in the dyeing industry

Ealdorman Ref 298-77

The chief officer in an Anglo-Saxon district, shire or kingdom. The name means an elder man.

The name continued to be used as alderman

Engine Tenter Ref 298-2524

An engineer in charge of the steam engine which drives factory machinery.

Executor Ref 298-1980

A person appointed by a testator to carry out the directions and requests in his/her will, and to dispose of the property according to his/her provisions after his/her death.

An executrix is a female executor.

See Letters Testamentary

Facer Ref 298-1080

Farrier Ref 298-74

A blacksmith who specialises in making / fitting horseshoes

Fellmonger Ref 298-2482

Or Felmonger.

Someone who deals in hides and skins – particularly sheepskins – and other animal products which were used for making glue, and a tradesman who prepares skins for the tanner.

Feoffee Ref 298-2019

Feoffor Ref 298-2048

Someone who produced or sold goods made of iron. It was also used for anyone who sold hardware

Feroner Ref 298-F7

Fettler Ref 298-1146

A worker who carded wool / someone who cleaned a machine in a mill / someone who cleaned or tidied things generally

Finisher Ref 298-F6

Someone who performs the final stages in the production of a piece of cloth.

See Cropper

Fixer Ref 298-1942

Aka Setter. Someone who puts the finished block of stone into position, as distinct from a mason who cuts and carves the stone, and a hewer who dresses the blocks of stone

Flag Facer Ref 298-1077

A mason who cleans up and finishes off the individual flagstone

See Stone dresser

Freedman Ref 298-1835

A man or woman who has been freed from bondage or slavery. A lower class of peasant above slaves.

Compare this with freeman

Freeholder Ref 298-1613

A wealthy farmer who owned freehold land by fee simple.

See Copyholder, Inholder and Smallholder

Frith man Ref 298-2017

Someone who has claimed the right of sanctuary

Fuller Ref 298-42

Someone whose job was fulling – cleaning, shrinking and thickening woven cloth

Gannister miner Ref 298-111

Recorded in 1921, when Elisha Howell was a gannister miner with Joseph Morton Limited at Siddal

Gaoler Ref 298-69

The keeper who guarded and tended the inmates of a gaol / jail

The name turnkey was also used

Garnet Ref 298-38

To reduce waste material to its basic fibrous state for reuse.

The work is carried out by a garnetter.

See Shoddy

Garthman Ref 298-G12

A herdsman, yardman, or a man who caught fish

Gasser Ref 298-8

Gaux collector Ref 298-9

Gentleman Ref 298-324

Abbr: Gent. This usually indicated someone who was of independent means and who did not need to work for a living.

The sons of a men titled esquire are titled gentlemen.

See Franklin and Gent

Good brother Ref 298-2851

The word good was used in relationships such as

Good brother - a brother-in-law

Good sister - a sister-in-law

Good son - a son-in-law

Goodwife
Goodman

Goodman Ref 298-1353

The form of address for a husbandman in the 16th/17th centuries.

See Goodwife

Goodwife Ref 298-1354

The form of address for the wife of a husbandman in the 16th/17th century.

See Goodman

Goux collector Ref 298-10

Grace wife Ref 298-79

A midwife

Gracer Ref 298-G19

A stone-mason who carried out fine, decorative work on stone

Gunsmith Ref 298-946

Someone who makes guns

Gypsy Ref 298-919

A member of a group of travellers.

Aka Aegyptianus, Zingarius, and Zingari.

True gypsies speak the Romany language and are believed to originate in South Asia.

See Rev George Bramwell Evens

Haberdasher Ref 298-H34

Someone who sells small items for sewing

Hair merchant Ref 298-32

Someone who bought / sold hair – of animals or humans – for the manufacture of brushes and/or wigs.

See Brush Makers and Horn merchant

Half-timer Ref 298-2852

A child – usually under 13 – who worked half a day in the factory or mill, and half a day at school.

It is recorded that there were 1057 half-timers working in Halifax in 1917.

The practice became illegal in 1922.

See: Child Labour / Factory Acts

Hawker Ref 298-995

Aka Huckster. A traveller who offered goods for sale. This term was used for someone who used a horse, donkey or cart to carry his goods, as distinct from a pedlar

Hellier Ref 298-H49

Aka helier, hilier, hillier. A slater or tiler.

This is also a surname in some parts of the country

Henter Ref 298-H23

A thief

Herbalist Ref 298-47

Someone who used and prescribed plants for their medicinal properties.

In the 19th century, the term botanist might also mean a herbalist.

Some local herbalists were John Anderton, Charles William Bentley, John Bull Herbal Remedy Company, S. Challice, William Culpan, Prof Fairbairn, Samuel Fleming, George Galloway, Greenwood Hanson, Henry Hanson, Mrs Ann Helliwell, Charles Henry Hitchin, A. Lambert, Walter Burns Lingard, Jonathan Lord, M. Ringrose and Mrs Mary Ann Vowles

See Wiseman / Wisewoman

Hewer Ref 298-1366

Someone who dresses blocks of stone, as distinct from a mason who cuts and carves the stone, and a fixer or setter who puts the finished stone into position

See Hurrier

Higgler Ref 298-2471

Also Higler. An itinerant dealer who haggles.

See Badger

Highwayman Ref 298-1451

A robber who attacks people on the public way – usually on horseback, as distinct from a footpad

Hooker Ref 298-255

A mediæval term for a thief who steals with the aid of a hook on a pole.

Later, it was a mill worker who operated a machine which laid out a length of cloth into uniform folds of the required length

Horn merchant Ref 298-33

Someone who bought / sold animal horn or hooves for the manufacture of domestic articles, brushes and/or jewellery

See Hair Merchant and Horner

Horner Ref 298-71

Someone who makes objects – such as combs and spoons – out of animal horn

See Horn merchant and Horner surname

Hosier Ref 298-H35

Someone who makes or sells hosiery, that is socks and stockings and gloves

Hostler Ref 298-1598

Aka Ostler. Someone who tends horses at an inn

Huckster Ref 298-2513

A woman who sold ale in the street.

It was also a general term for anyone who sold goods from a small shop or a booth

Hugger Ref 298-1280

A worker in a quarry who carried blocks of stone to the surface.

Huggers wore a leather saddle to protect themselves.

They used a hugging ladder – a ladder with broad rungs set close together – which made the ascent easier for the worker who could not use his hands to steady himself as he climbed. The task was mechanised during the 1800s, although hugging continued until about 1870.

There were numerous accidents involving huggers and stone workers

See Hurrier and Thruster

Hurrier Ref 298-1050

Someone – often a young child – who hauled the wagons or baskets of stone / coal in the mines.

See Hewer, Mines Act [1842] and Thruster

Husbandman Ref 298-1574

A tenant farmer, or any man who worked in cultivating his own land – husbandry – but it also referred to a small-holder who supported himself by working the land of others.

They came below yeomen on the social scale.

See Bordar

Hush-seller Ref 298-2489

Aka Husht seller. Someone who sold and/or brewed illegal beer

Husht Seller Ref 298-1864

A Hush-seller.

See Husht

Impropriator Ref 298-I15: A layman who is in possession of a benefice or its revenues
Ingomon Ref 298-1199: Someone who works on the land and rears cattle &c
Inholder Ref 298-1213: A freeholder who lived in the property held
Interfactor Ref 298-I7: A murderer
Ironmaster Ref 298-I3: The proprietor of an iron-works

Jacksmith Ref 298-943

Someone who makes jacks or other lifting machinery

Jagger Ref 298-2001

An itinerant pedlar, carrier, or the drover of a packhorse team.

It is also an occupational surname mentioned around 1368, and was common in Stainland

The name may be derived from the German Jæger, a type of pony which was used as a packhorse.

See Ailsa O'Fusses

Joiner Ref 298-102

Someone who worked in wood – such as a carpenter or a cabinet maker.

Also another name for a piecer who joins the ends of broken threads

Journeyman Ref 298-2335

A worker who was hired for the day – from the French journée.

Typically, he travelled widely and worked away from home, and would have completed his apprenticeship but was not yet a master of his trade.

Journeymen were members of a guild

See Dataller and Yearman

Jouster Ref 298-J3

An itinerant saleswoman who sold fish

King's archer Ref 298-1330

A King's Archer had to be able to hit – 7 times out of 10 – a shield which was laid on the ground at a distance of 1 furlong. About 25% of the archers at Agincourt were King's Archers.

See Archery and John King

Kneller Ref 298-K3

Aka Knuller. An itinerant chimney-sweep

Knocker-up Ref 298-K10

Someone who was paid to walk around the streets in the early morning, knocking on the bedroom windows of their customers – usually with a long rod or pole – to wake them for work

Knocknobbler Ref 298-1795

Aka Dog whipper

Laiker Ref 298-L23

A player in the game of knur & spell.

See Laik

Lamiger Ref 298-L30

A lame person

Lanternist Ref 298-73

Someone who operated a magic lantern to project photographic images (from a glass slide) as a visual aid during lectures and public presentations

Lardner Ref 298-11

Lavender Ref 298-L17

A washer-woman

Lecturer Ref 298-L33

Someone who reads the sermon in a nonconformist chapel. He may also perform other duties

Limiter Ref 298-L27

A mediæval friar who had a licence to beg within only a specified, limited district. One of Chaucer's Pilgrims was a limiter

Lister Ref 298-315

A dyer.

See Lister

Little Maker Ref 298-2293

A term for a small-scale clothier. He wove his own pieces of cloth at home and sold it at market

Loom tuner Ref 298-83

Someone who maintained the power looms in mills.

In many online Census returns, this is wrongly transcribed as Loom turner

Loom turner Ref 298-85

In a great many online Census returns, this is often shown as a transcription of loom tuner

Loomer Ref 298-103

An alternative name for a weaver

Lorimer Ref 298-1206

Someone who makes metal bits, spurs, and fittings for harness straps

Machine-breaker Ref 298-M40

See Luddite

Mantua maker Ref 298-12

Market gardener Ref 298-M44

Someone who grows fruit and vegetables for sale at market.

In the 1830s, representatives from Toronto came to England to recruit stone masons and market gardeners which were in great demand in Canada. Many local workers emigrated about this time.

There were many local people involved in gardening and market gardening – see Local Gardening & Horticulture

Masher Ref 298-104

Someone who mixes chemicals or other ingredients during a manufacturing process – such as dyeing

Master Ref 298-2800

A skilled craftsman or tradesmen. He and his apprentices were members of a Guild.

A worker who repairs faults, cuts and tears in a piece of cloth

Master-taker Ref 298-493

A man who was paid to organise delvers to carry out the extraction of stone from land which was let to him by a land-owner. He was often regarded as unscrupulous by both the land-owner and the delvers.

In several cases, the master-taker was also the local innkeeper, and would pay the wages to his delvers in his own inn, ensuring that a proportion of their earnings was quickly returned to him!

Melder Ref 298-M20

A miller. Usually a corn miller

Mender Ref 298-276

Mercer Ref 298-13

Mercury woman Ref 298-M30

An 18th century name for a woman who sold newspapers

Messor Ref 298-M19

An official who was responsible for supervising the fields of a manor and for managing the reapers and mowers of the fields

Middle man Ref 298-1270

Wool traders who sold wool to the Yeoman clothiers and other dealers.

See Chapman and Halifax Act [1555]

Middleman Ref 298-765

Aka Chapman. Someone who carried manufactured woollen goods by packhorse from one manufacturer to another, or from the manufacturer to the individual who would finish the goods

Midwife Ref 298-64

A woman (or man) who looks after a mother and her baby before, during and after the birth

See Gossip, Grace wife, Monthly Nurse, Wet nurse and Wiseman / Wisewoman

Milliner Ref 298-M11

A maker of ladies' hats.

The word originally meant someone from Milan, and later it can to mean someone who sold fancy goods from Milan

Milner Ref 298-M16

A local form of miller

Misegatherer Ref 298-M21

A tax-collector

Monger Ref 298-1011

A general term for a trader or dealer, as in fishmonger, costermonger, and fellmonger

Monthly Nurse Ref 298-63

A woman who looks after a mother and her baby during and after the birth.

See Midwife and Wet nurse

Mule piecer Ref 298-93

A piecer who worked in mule spinning

Navvy Ref 298-1449

Abbreviation for a navigator, a worker on the navigations, cuts, canals and – later – railways.

Many navvies were Irish migrants.

See Railway Genealogy

Ordinary keeper Ref 298-O8

An innkeeper who sold food and drinks at fixed prices. An ordinary was a set-priced meal

Ostler Ref 298-O1

Aka Hostler. Someone who tends horses at an inn

Overlooker Ref 298-224

A supervisor, foreman or manager of a group of workers in a textile mill.

The name was also used for someone who maintains and tunes the looms.

The name tackler is used in Lancashire.

See Halifax & District Power Loom Overlookers' Society and Powerloom Overlookers' Club, Todmorden

Overseer of the Poor Ref 298-1539

Palisser Ref 298-2541

Aka Palister. Someone who tended the fences of a Norman enclosure or park – such as that at Erringden Park.

The name comes from the French palisse meaning a pale or a fence.

This and associated words are often corrupted to palace

Palliard Ref 298-1298

A mediæval term for a beggar who obtains money by showing his sores and deformities

Palmer Ref 298-P24

When on a pilgrimage, to the Holy Land, the pilgrim was called a palmer because of the representation of a palm branch which he wore

Pardoner Ref 298-P57

A person who was licensed to sell papal indulgences. One of Chaucer's Pilgrims was a pardoner

Parker Ref 298-43

The keeper of the king's park.

See Parker Surname

Passive Resister Ref 298-1087

After Balfour's Education Act of 1902, many local nonconformists refused to pay their contribution to the education part of the poor rate because they objected to supporting schools whose standards were inferior to their own.

The National Passive Resistance Movement was formed in 1902 by the Baptist Minister John Clifford.

There was considerable opposition in February 1904, when non-payment resulted in seizure of their goods and possesions to the value of the rate and the costs.

On 23rd June 1905, there was a Passive Resisters' Demonstration in Halifax with a speech by the Rev A. T. Guttery.

In 1906, over 170 passive resisters were imprisoned at Wakefield.

See Rev Roger Briggs, Harold Chapman, Rev William Lawrence, James Edward Whiteley and Rev John Wilkinson

Pauper Ref 298-1138

Aka Bareman, Bairman. A person who needed regular Poor Law relief. These included old widows, young mothers without a man, orphans, those who were too old or too infirm to work. A pauper's goods and property belonged to the parish after their death.

See Overseer of the Poor and Roundsman

Pavior Ref 298-P19

A worker who was responsible for the repair of paving stones in a town/village

Paviour Ref 298-1057

Originally, an official with responsibility for the upkeep of footpaths.

Later, it was any workman involved in paving paths and roads.

See Setter

Pawnbroker Ref 298-P14

Someone who lends money against personal property such as jewellery, clothes. He/she gives money against goods, and then repays the money – less a percentage – when the goods are later redeemed. The symbol of the Italian Lombard merchants – 3 golden balls – was usually hung outside the shop. Popularly known as the pop-shop and uncle

Peeler Ref 298-P16

A 19th century name for a policeman. In 1812, Sir Robert Peel established the Irish Police, and in 1828, he reformed the police force in Britain.

See Police

percher Ref 298-14

Pew-opener Ref 298-2713

Someone who opened the doors to box pews and was tipped for the service

Piece Worker Ref 298-92

A worker who is paid by the quantity (number of pieces) produced

Piecener Ref 298-86

Aka Piecer

Piecer Ref 298-211

Aka Piecener / Joiner.

A textile worker who joins any broken threads and feeds them into the machines during the processes of slubbing, scribbling, carding and spinning.

The intricate task was often performed by women or child workers.

See: Mule piecer / Piece worker

Pikeman Ref 298-P55

This has several meanings:

An infantryman who carried a pike for use as a weapon

Officer who collected tolls at a toll-gate
A miner working with pick. In documents relating to the sale or lease of mineral rights, the maximum number of pikemen permitted to work on a site was often limited and specified

Pinder Ref 298-1958

Aka Pounder, Poundkeeper, Punder.

An official who was responsible for rounding up and impounding stray and wandering animals and cattle.

The animals were impounded in a pound or pinfold.

See Culler, Hayward, Neatherd and Pinder

Pistor Ref 298-1047

Anyone who worked with flour, usually a miller or a baker

Plug-drawer Ref 298-P48

Someone who deals in fowl, including ducks, goose, chicken or turkey

Poulterer Ref 298-P29

Powler Ref 298-1012

A barber

Preemer Ref 298-P25

A worker – usually a boy – who cleaned the tools used by the cloth dresser

Pretender Ref 298-P5

Someone who lays claim to the throne without a just title

Prigger Ref 298-P12

A mediæval term for a thief who steals horses

Proctor Ref 298-P30

An officer of the court who was paid to manage the affairs of others

Puddler Ref 298-36

Someone who works with wrought iron, or with puddle clay

Rag & bone man Ref 298-R21

A man who travelled around the district collecting rags, bones, and general scrap items. The rags would be made into paper, and the bones made into fertiliser. Traditionally, a balloon, a goldfish or a donkey stone might be given in return. There were also rag & bone shops

Reacher Ref 298-100

See Drawer

Reaver Ref 298-R2

Aka Riever. A thief, a robber. Specifically, along the Scottish borders in the mediæval period

Recorder Ref 298-R10

A barrister who presides over a court of Quarter Sessions, or who sits as a circuit judge, or as a part-time judge in the crown court. The first recorder of Halifax, Willoughby Jardine, was appointed in December 1923

Rector Ref 298-1611

The person in charge – the director – of the religious life of a community or a parish.

He was responsible for the maintenance of the chancel which was his private part of the church.

In his absence, the vicar deputised for the rector. There is now no difference between a vicar and a rector.

A curate is an assistant to the rector

See Rectors of Halifax

Reducer Ref 298-40

In 1901, I have a record of someone who is

a reducer in a worsted factory

Question: Does anyone know what the job entailed?

Reed Maker Ref 298-105

Someone who manufactures reeds for a loom

Relief innkeeper Ref 298-58

If the licence holder of an inn or a pub was away on holiday, then the person taking over was not required to apply for the licence. If the licence holder was away for more than 1 month, then the relief innkeeper would have to apply for the licence

This & associated entries use material contributed by Glynn Helliwell

Relieving Officer Ref 298-130

After the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834 the post of Overseer of the Poor and the workhouse for each township were abolished and replaced by the Relieving Officer – who was appointed by the Board of Guardians – and the larger Union Workhouse with responsibility for a union (group) of townships.

See Parish Relief

Remittance man Ref 298-1228

Someone whose family paid for him to emigrate to Australia or other British colony

Riddler Ref 298-R14

A woolstapler

Ring spinner Ref 298-94

Someone who worked in ring spinning

Roller coverer Ref 298-106

Someone who makes a leather or rubber sleeve for a roller, to give the roller a better grip when handling cloth or other fabric

Rover Ref 298-107

Someone who performs the cloth-making stage of roving

Ruffler Ref 298-2498

A mediæval term for a beggar who obtains money by tales of heroism in the wars

Saltpetre man Ref 298-S37

In the 17th century, a man who collected urine which was left in buckets outside people's houses, and who dug around cess-pits and animal pounds to collect salts which were produced by the urine, for use in making saltpetre for gunpowder

Sawyer Ref 298-1029

Someone whose job involves sawing wood

Scavenger Ref 298-26

A rubbish collector, street sweeper, night soil collector

Scrivener Ref 298-S60

A professional scribe or copyist

Scutcher Ref 298-15

Someone who performs the cloth-making stage of scutching

Scutiger Ref 298-1821

An esquire who was responsible for handling the horses

Serjeant Ref 298-S87

A barrister

Setter Ref 298-50

A paviour, or someone who lays setts to make a road surface

Setter-On Ref 298-109

Shearman Ref 298-2698

Also Sherman. A cloth worker who crops the excess nap from cloth. The local term was usually cropper.

By 1817, 1,170 croppers were out of work in Yorkshire; 1,445 were employed part-time; 763 were employed full-time.

See Shearmen's Company

Sherman Ref 298-2587

Aka Shearman, Cropper.

Also a man who sheared sheep

Silk dresser Ref 298-51

A worker in the silk industry who boiled the silk to remove gum

Silk mercer Ref 298-52

Someone who sold silk fabrics & silk clothing.

See Mercer and Silk industry

Silk thrower Ref 298-54

A worker in the silk industry who twists several threads together to produce a thicker thread.

See Silk warper

Silk warper Ref 298-53

A worker in the silk industry who gathers the silk threads together to produce a yarn which would be used in weaving.

See Silk thrower

Singer Ref 298-1083

Someone who carried out the process of singeing, that is, someone who singes and not someone who sings

Pronunciation: Singer rhymes with ginger

Sister Ref 298-S31

The word was often used to mean sister-in-law

Skiver Ref 298-25

Someone who split sheep skins to produce a thin, soft leather for use in bookbinding

Slop tailor Ref 298-941

Someone who makes new clothes from old clothes

Slopseller Ref 298-S88

Someone who deals in cheap or second-hand clothing

Smallholder Ref 298-2749

A small farmer who rented land of 10-20 acres from the squire or freeholders

See Copyholder

Smith Ref 298-945

Someone who works in metal.

See Blacksmith, Brownsmith, Gunsmith, Jacksmith, Smithy, Sucksmith and Whitesmith

Socman Ref 298-1314

A tenant by socage

Sojourner Ref 298-S13

Someone who spends or has spent only a short time in a certain place. He/she is distinguished from a permanent resident and a fleeting traveller

Spencer Ref 298-S8

Someone who is in charge of a spence, or larder

Spinner Ref 298-16

Squatter Ref 298-S34

A poor farmer who farmed and lived on common land. They had no legal rights to the land

Stationer Ref 298-91

Someone who sells stationery, paper & writing materials

Stay-Maker Ref 298-62

Someone who made ladies' underclothes and stays

Stone Dresser Ref 298-41

A mason, or someone who cleans/tidies-up the outer face(s) of a stone block or flagstone

Stoving was a process in the production of cloth, and involved heating of the material in a stove or hot room.

Stone miner Ref 298-56

Someone who worked in an underground stone mine such as those in Rastrick.

This was distinct from a stone delver who worked in a open quarry

Stover Ref 298-49

This may simply to dry the material, or, in some cases, to expose it to sulphur fumes, or to produce a special surface effect.

The work was done by a stover

This & associated entries use material contributed by Stan Mapstone

Stravaiger Ref 298-S23

A vagrant

Strawman Ref 298-S22

Someone who was paid to give false evidence in a legal court

Stuff Merchant Ref 298-17

Sucksmith Ref 298-948

Someone who makes blades for plough shares.

See Smith and Sucksmith surname

Summoner Ref 298-S76

The man who called people to appear before an ecclesiastical court. One of Chaucer's Pilgrims was a summoner

Surgeon Ref 298-37

Up to the end of the 19th century, the term surgeon referred to a general medical practitioner, rather than someone who performed surgical operations

Sutler Ref 298-S67

A trader who follows an army to sell goods to the soldiers

Swaler Ref 298-2068

See Badger

Tackler Ref 298-110

Someone who prepares a loom for weaving

Tallow chandler Ref 298-2120

A maker or seller of candles. Candles were often made of tallow

See Chandler

Tallyman Ref 298-T14

Someone who sold goods and collected payment in installments

Teamer Ref 298-985

Aka Teamster. Someone who drove a team of horses or cattle. They often worked with the horses of a brewery, or with a horse-driven cab

Temple maker Ref 298-95

Someone who assembles the component parts of the side temples, which are used on looms, for keeping woven cloth stretched to the proper width

This & associated entries use material contributed by Roger Beasley

Tenter Ref 298-1

Someone who looks after a piece of machinery or other equipment.

See Back-tenter, Engine tenter and Tenter frame

Territorial Ref 298-18

Testator Ref 298-2227

A man who writes a will.

A testatrix is a woman who writes a will

Textor Ref 298-1173

Another name for a weaver or a webster.

See Webster and Webb

Thief-taker Ref 298-T65

Someone who profited from arresting thieves. He might also arrange the return of stolen goods

Throstle spinner Ref 298-98

Someone who operated a throstle spinning machine

Thrower Ref 298-19

Thruster Ref 298-1547

Someone – often a young child – who pushed the wagons or baskets of coal in the mines, or a worker in a quarry who pushed stones to the surface.

See Hugger and Hurrier

Thumper Ref 298-T2

An extravagant preacher. They often bumped their head against the headboard of the pulpit as they jumped up and down in their enthusiasm

Tickneyman Ref 298-T68

An itinerant pedlar selling earthenware

Tierer Ref 298-76

Someone who worked in calico printing.

A tierer was employed to spread a fresh surface of colour on the printer's pad each time he used it to print calico

This & associated entries use material contributed by Roger Beasley

Tilloter Ref 298-59

/ Tilliter. Someone who wraps textiles in tillot cloth for export

Tinker Ref 298-T52

An itinerant who mends pots, pans and other household utensils

Tinsmith Ref 298-65

A whitesmith, or a worker or dealer in tinned or white iron

See Smith

Tippler Ref 298-T16

An inn-keeper

Tithingman Ref 298-35

An old term for a constable

Todhunter Ref 298-T67

Someone who was employed by the parish to hunt foxes

Totter Ref 298-97

Someone who travelled around a district, collecting bottles, rags & bones.

the bottles were re-used, the rags were sold to makers of shoddy and the bones were sold on to glue-making businesses

Town husband Ref 298-1632

Someone who collected the dues from fathers of illegitimate children of the parish for their upkeep

Trammer Ref 298-926

A person who looked after the wagons (trams) which ran on rails, transporting the stone / coal in a mine

Trampler Ref 298-T64

A lawyer

Tranqueter Ref 298-T13

Someone who makes hoops for use in constructing barrels.

See Cooper

Translator Ref 298-T66

An early term for anyone who repaired and recycled goods such as clothes and shoes

Tranter Ref 298-T62

Trencherman Ref 298-21

Troacher Ref 298-T61

Aka Alnager. An inspector who – from about 1350 – measured the length of a piece of cloth, and affixed a copper seal to guarantee that it was of the standard width and weight and quality, for which he collected the ullnage.

Tueler Ref 298-31

Tuler Ref 298-30

Turnkey Ref 298-70

An old word for a jailer

Tutor Ref 298-2567

See Governess

Twister-in Ref 298-66

A worker in the weaving trade who twists the end of the new yarn with the end of the old yarn to tie them together

Tyler Ref 298-762

An officer in the Freemasons.

A Tyler is a Doorkeeper or Guard at the Lodge

Ullnager Ref 298-80

At one point, the ullnagers increased the tax, and a number of Halifax clothiers – refusing to pay – sold their cloth unsealed; the ullnager attempted to seize the goods, but the clothiers won the subsequent court case.

The records are held as Ullnagers' Accounts or Ullnagers' Rolls.

See Narrow cloth

Usher Ref 298-383

An Assistant Master or Second Master at a school.

At Heath Grammar School, the Usher had similar duties to the Headmaster, but received only half the salary.

Thomas Preston was Usher – or Ludimagister – at Heath Grammar School [1671]

Vagrant Ref 298-22
Vat man Ref 298-933: Someone who looks after the vats in a brewery, dye works or paper-making factory
Venetor Ref 298-V8: Aka Venur. A huntsman
Verderer Ref 298-2782: An official who was in charge of the Royal forests and imposed Forest law
Verger Ref 298-V12: Someone responsible for taking care of the interior of a church, an attendant, an assistant to the priest or rector
Viewer Ref 298-546: An overseer in a coal mine
Vintner Ref 298-V6: A wine merchant

Walker Ref 298-44

Someone whose job was waulking – cleaning, shrinking and thickening woven cloth

Waller Ref 298-W1

A wall-builder. These were often recruited from specialist gangs of itinerant workers as wall-building increased during the 16th and 17th centuries.

See Enclosures

Warper Ref 298-1242

A textile worker who places the warp upon the beams

Warrener Ref 298-39

Someone who looks after the lord's warren

See Warner

Webster Ref 298-458

A weaver, usually female.

The male form is Webb.

See Webster and Textor

Wharfinger Ref 298-1207

Someone who owns or manages a wharf.

He took custody of, and was responsible for, goods delivered to the wharf. Typically, he had an office on the wharf or dock, and was responsible for day-to-day activities including slipways, keeping tide tables and resolving disputes.

The etymology is probably Elizabethan-era English.

The final 2 syllables are pronounced as in ginger not as in finger.

See Calder House, Sowerby Bridge and Wharf House, Sowerby Bridge

This & associated entries use material contributed by Mark Andrew

Whitesmith Ref 298-W39

A tinsmith, or a worker or dealer in tinned or white iron.

See Brightsmith, Brownsmith and Smith

Whitster Ref 298-936

Someone who works in the bleaching of cloth

Willeyer Ref 298-55

Winder Ref 298-28

Someone who did the work of winding, in which yarn is transferred from one spool – a bobbin, cone or cheese – to another.

See Cheese winder and Cone winder

Wire drawer Ref 298-89

Someone who produced fine wire by extruding metal rods through a sequence of smaller holes.

A thick wire drawer produced wire of a greater thickness

Wiseman / Wisewoman Ref 298-81

An archaic term for someone who performed the duties of a herbalist / doctor / nurse / midwife

Woolchapman Ref 298-W12

A farm worker or someone who works in a railway yard

Woolcomber Ref 298-230

Aka Comber.

Anyone who combs the raw wool during the making of cloth.

St Blaise is the patron St of woolcombers.

In 1853, a letter to the Reynold's Newspaper reported that

the woolcombers of Halifax and its district number about 10,000, with their wives and children, making a population of nearly 30,000 dependent in that particular branch of labour. They are in great distress, but the mill owners are making colossal fortunes

See Bishop Blaise

Wooldriver Ref 298-84

Aka Woolstapler. A wool trader, middle man, who bought wool from the farmer and stored it. They were accused of profiteering – by holding stocks of wool until the price rose – thereby raising the price of wool.

Henry VIII abolished the practice.

See Halifax Act [1555] and Woolshops

Woolsorter Ref 298-466

Another name for a woolstapler

Woolstapler Ref 298-188

Aka Woolsorter, Riddler, and Wool-driver. Someone who sorts wool, or who deals in wool.

A single fleece comprised many different staples and grades of wool. The staples of wool were sorted according to quality, colour, length and fineness.

See Huntriss family of Halifax, Wooldriving and Woolshops

Workhouse Master Ref 298-1961

The person responsible for running the workhouse. He was assisted by the Workhouse Matron, who was usually his wife.

This was a lowly-paid position, but had considerable responsibility and prestige in the community

Yagger Ref 298-934

A pedlar

Yardman Ref 298-937

Yearman Ref 298-2767

A worker who was hired for a year.

Someone who supplied food and provisions. A chandler

Yeoman clothier Ref 298-2295

Also Clothier. An 18th century middle-man – such as Joseph Anderton – who supplied raw wool to the individual handloom weavers within the domestic system, then collected their finished pieces for sale at the cloth hall.

Some clothiers were also weavers and producers of cloth, and some were merchants.

John Royds was one of the wealthiest clothiers in the district.

Under the Weavers' Act [1555], clothiers in country districts were forbidden to keep more than one loom, and woollen weavers were forbidden to keep more than two looms.

Many clothiers became very prosperous, and many were Quakers. As the export trade increased through Hull, many local clothiers moved from Halifax to live at the port. In the 16th century, John Winchcombe – known as Jack of Newbury – was probably the most famous clothier in England.

More recently, the term clothier has been used to refer to a tailor, or a retailer of mechanically produced cloth.

See Clothier's Seal, Little maker and Ullnager

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Father Ref 298-F23

The word was often used to mean father-in-law. The term father-in-law was often used to mean stepfather.

Father or Fr is used for a Catholic priest

Abraham man Ref 298-1977

Aka Abram. A mediæval term for an itinerant beggar who obtained money by pretending to be insane. Their numbers increased after the Dissolution of the Monasteries

Acater Ref 298-A41

Accomptant Ref 298-1063

An old name for an accountant

Accoucheur Ref 298-A45

Someone who assisted women in childbirth. A midwife

Acre-man Ref 298-A47

Aka Ackerman. A ploughman or herdsman

aegyptianus Ref 298-2

Affeerer Ref 298-2133

An officer who assessed the penalties which offenders paid at a manorial court

Ag.Lab Ref 298-23

Agricultural labour.

The term is widely used in censuses and other records.

Many of these were recorded prior to the Industrial Revolution

Ale-conner Ref 298-1815

Aka Ale-founder, Ale-taster. An officer of the Assize of Ale who checked the quantity, taste and quality of ales and beers sold.

In the 12th century, the Warren family were appointed to oversee ale houses.

In 1393, Richard II decreed that ale houses should have a pictorial sign so that the ale-conner could recognise the establishment

Ale-draper Ref 298-A12

An innkeeper or someone who sold ale

Almoner Ref 298-1051

Aka Elemosinarius.

Anyone who is responsible for distributing charity to the needy, or someone in charge of petty cash

Alnager Ref 298-A13

Someone who made dyes for paint or printing trades.

Amen man Ref 298-A30

A parish clerk

Anilepman Ref 298-A25

A tenant of the manor, a smallholder

Annatto-maker Ref 298-2532

See Annatto

Apparitor Ref 298-2251

The official who summoned people to appear at an ecclesiastical court

Appraiser Ref 298-1820

Archiator Ref 298-A32

A doctor or physician

Archil-maker Ref 298-2565

Someone who made archil, a purple dye produced from lichen

Archill maker Ref 298-90

Someone who makes archill, a violet dye produced from lichen, which is used for dyeing textiles

Armiger Ref 298-A44

Anyone who was entitled to a coat of arms.

The adjective is armigerous

Artificer Ref 298-A33

A skilled worker or craftsman. In a naval context, the term refers to engineer officers on board ships

Aulnager Ref 298-A39

Back-tenter Ref 298-B11

Someone – often a child – who worked behind the loom clearing away waste and rubbish.

Someone who cleaned wool in the manufacture of worsted

Back-washer Ref 298-B12

Badger Ref 298-2712

In the 16th century, paupers were encouraged to supplement their weekly pensions with casual and regular begging to supplement Parish pay.

See Cadger

Badger Ref 298-2809

Aka Higgler, Peddar, Swaler. A local or itinerant dealer in dairy produce, eggs, corn, meal and malt, and later in general produce.

The name was often qualified by adding the name of the product sold: egg badger, potato badger, and so on.

The word is also used as a surname and in place names – often spelled as Bagger – and is recorded around 1300.

See Badger Lane, Brighouse and Cadger

Bagniokeeper Ref 298-B41

Someone who was in charge of baths or a bath house.

The name was also used for someone who was in charge of a brothel

Bairman Ref 298-1136

See Pauper

Bandmaster Ref 298-968

The resident conductor of a brass band

Bang-beggar Ref 298-2615

An officer who determined how long strangers could stay in the parish

Banksman Ref 298-2837

Also Bank Man.

The man responsible for the winding mechanism and lift cage which are used for lowering / raising the workers and the coal at a coal mine.

Later, the word was used for the person who oversees the reversing of vehicles out of building sites

This & associated entries use material contributed by Alan Longbottom

Barber Ref 298-B74

In addition to cutting hair and beards, barbers also performed surgery, until 1745 when surgeons were separately recognised.

The striped red and white barber's pole reminds us of the blood and bandages of the surgical practices.

See Powler

Bareman Ref 298-1129

See Pauper

Basil-worker Ref 298-B14

Someone who worked with the skins of sheep and goats

Baumer Ref 298-B31

A caddy for a player in the game of knur & spell

Beamer Ref 298-1243

A textile worker who handles the materials before the weaving stage in cloth production.

See Warper, Weaver and Winder

Blacksmith Ref 298-944

Aka Smith.

Someone who makes and repairs iron objects.

See Farrier

Bluffer Ref 298-B75

An inn-keeper or landlord of a pub

Bobbin turner Ref 298-87

A wood turner who made the bobbins used in the spinning and weaving industry

Body-snatcher Ref 298-1276

Someone who illegally exhumed newly-buried corpses and sold them for dissection and medical research.

See Grave

Boiler-tapper Ref 298-B21

In mediæval time, this was a man who had little personal freedom and who was tied to the lord of the manor.

Bondman Ref 298-1509

Bondmen were not allowed to live outside the manor without licence from the lord. Where permission was given an annual chevage was payable to the lord by the bondman.

A bondman could not take legal action concerning rents or tenure against the lord.

When a bondman died, his property passed to the lord of the manor; the relatives could buy the property on payment of an entry fee to the lord.

The word is also used to mean an apprentice who was bonded to a master for the purpose of learning a skill or trade.

See Slave

Bondsman Ref 298-B52

Someone who stood bond – or surety – for another in situations where a bond was required by law.

See Bondman

Boothman Ref 298-2663

A corn-merchant or corn chandler

Borough Treasurer Ref 298-2619

The head of finance for the local council.

See Borough Treasurer of Brighouse, Borough Treasurer of Halifax, Borough Treasurer of Rastrick, Borough Treasurer of Todmorden and Town Clerk

Botanist Ref 298-48

Someone who studies plants.

In the 19th century, the terms botanist and medical botanist were used for a herbalist.

See Botanists & Mycologists

Brace maker Ref 298-72

Someone who makes belts or braces.

Braces were made of leather or elastic fabric, and were used as suspenders for holding-up trousers. They were made by hand or by machine

Brasiater Ref 298-B20

Someone who brewed ale

Brasiler Ref 298-2699

A dyer

Brazier Ref 298-B64

Someone who works in brass

Brewster Ref 298-B48

In mediæval times, brewing was often carried out by women, the brewsters.

Brewster sessions were a special Quarter Sessions meeting which licensed inn-keepers and keepers of alehouses

Brightsmith Ref 298-20

A tinsmith, or a worker or dealer in tin or tinned iron.

See Whitesmith

Brogger Ref 298-1384

The word was often used to mean brother-in-law.

Brother Ref 298-B32

See Good brother

Brownsmith Ref 298-2719

Someone who worked with copper or brass.

See Brogger and Smith

Burler Ref 298-3

Cadger Ref 298-1885

An itinerant dealer in small wares, or a beggar.

See Badger, Cadge and Cadger Lane, Brighouse

Cafender Ref 298-C38

A carpenter

Canvasser Ref 298-C1036

A person who worked with canvas (cloth).

Later, the term was used for anyone who carried out research, particularly for use in elections or sales

Carboniser Ref 298-78

A worker who carried out the work of carbonising

Carder Ref 298-96

Carman Ref 298-60

Aka Carter.

Someone who drives a cart & horse(s) to make deliveries of goods

Carter Ref 298-61

Aka Carman.

Someone who drives a cart & horse(s) to make deliveries of goods

Catagman Ref 298-C13

Aka Cottar

Chair bottomer Ref 298-67

Someone who made chairs and/or seats out of woven cane

Chandler Ref 298-2535

Originally, a maker or seller of candles. The term was used for a grocer, and for a man who sold ship's supplies.

Corn chandlers and tallow chandlers are encountered

Chapman Ref 298-1734

A general middleman or merchant, involved in buying and/or selling goods.

See Copeman

Cheese winder Ref 298-27

Someone did the work of winding the cotton/woollen yarn onto a cheese

Clicker Ref 298-45

Someone who works in the shoe & leather trade – a boot clicker or shoe clicker – see cordwainer.

It can also mean someone who works in the printing industry

Clogger Ref 298-4

Someone who made clogs.

See Verney Horsfall

Clothier Ref 298-C78

Another term for a yeoman clothier

Cobbler Ref 298-974

Someone who makes and/or repairs shoes

Collier Ref 298-C51

A coal miner, although the word had a wider meaning and included wood-colliers, and a ship carrying coal

Comber Ref 298-46

Cone Winder Ref 298-29

Someone did the work of winding the cotton/woollen yarn onto a metal or paper/cardboard cone-shaped core

Confectioner Ref 298-965

Someone who produced medicines sweetened with honey or sugar.

Later, someone who made cakes and sweets.

See Confectionery

Conveyancer Ref 298-962

A member of the legal profession who handled documents relating to the transfer of property

Cooper Ref 298-930

Someone who makes barrels.

See Tranqueter

Coparcener Ref 298-C12

Co-heir who jointly inherits an estate

Copeman Ref 298-2543

A general dealer. In the 18th century, the word was used for a receiver of stolen goods.

See Chapman

Cordwainer Ref 298-1300

Pronounced cord'ner. A shoemaker, or leather-worker.

The word comes from Córdoban, after the leather products of the Spanish city of Córdoba.

See Clicker

Corn chandler Ref 298-1981

A retail dealer in grain.

See Boothman and Chandler

Coroner Ref 298-2361

Costermonger Ref 298-1888

A dealer in fruit and vegetables. The name comes from costard, a kind of large apple.

A dealer in horses and cattle

Cottager Ref 298-C89

Aka Cottar

Cottar Ref 298-1761

Couper Ref 298-C53

Couple beggar Ref 298-2661

An itinerant priest who performed marriages prior to the Marriage Act [1753]

Cropper Ref 298-C102

Culler Ref 298-1715

Someone who selected and graded animals for killing

Cunning man Ref 298-1635

Aka Wizard. A name given to mediæval law-enforcers. He might also dispense medicines, cure ailments, find lost object, and tell fortunes. There were also cunning women

Cursitor Ref 298-C113

A clerk who draws up wills

Cutlooker Ref 298-82

Someone who inspects the pieces of woven material produced by a weaver

Dataller Ref 298-75

Also datalman / day tale man.

A casual worker who is paid by the day.

A man who quarried stone in a open quarry.

Delver Ref 298-57

This was distinct from a stone miner who worked underground.

See Master-taker and Stone quarrying

Devil minder Ref 298-5

Devil worker Ref 298-6

Deviller Ref 298-68

Someone who operated a cotton devil

Dexter Ref 298-24

An occupational surname meaning a dyer.

Compare Textor.

There are the entries on the Calderdale Companion for people with the surname Dexter.

Dispensatore Ref 298-1049

Aka Dispensator.

A steward or treasurer

Dissenter Ref 298-2569

Anyone who disagrees with the orthodox view of religious belief, a Nonconformist

To some extent, Dissenters were tradesmen and workers of the lower class.

In the 18th century, Dissenters were excluded from membership of certain bodies, for example, they could not be a student at Oxford & Cambridge, a Magistrate, or a Member of Parliament.

See Baptists, Congregationalists, Methodists and Unitarians

Doffer Ref 298-108

Aka Setter-on.

Someone who removes a filled bobbin or cheese from a machine, and replaces it with an empty one.

Doffers were often child workers who were small enough to crawl beneath the machines.

See: Doff

Dog whipper Ref 298-2840

Aka Knocknobbler. A man who chased dogs out of the church. He used whips or a pair of tongs to seize and eject the animal.

The dogs might be attracted by the tails of foxes, and other animals – which were killed in order to collect a bounty – and nailed to the church door.

See Lightcliffe Old Church

Doubler Ref 298-88

Someone who performed the work of doubling, manually or mechanically twisting together strands of yarn (such as cotton or wool)

Drawer Ref 298-99

Also Drawer-in / Reacher.

Someone who gathered the threads from a number of bobbins for handling the combined threads together.

See: Plug-drawer / Wire drawer

Dresser Ref 298-101

Someone who checked a product – such as a piece of woven material – in its final stage.

See: Silk dresser / Stone Dresser

Drover Ref 298-1015

A man who drives cattle or a packhorse team

Drysalter Ref 298-1059

Aka Salter.

Someone who makes or deals in dry chemicals, such as dyes and colours for the textile industry

Dryster Ref 298-34

Question: Is this the same as a drysalter?

Duler Ref 298-7

Dummerer Ref 298-2546

A mediæval term for a beggar who obtains money by pretending to be deaf and dumb

Dyer Ref 298-957

Someone who works in the dyeing industry

Ealdorman Ref 298-77

The chief officer in an Anglo-Saxon district, shire or kingdom. The name means an elder man.

The name continued to be used as alderman

Engine Tenter Ref 298-2524

An engineer in charge of the steam engine which drives factory machinery.

Executor Ref 298-1980

A person appointed by a testator to carry out the directions and requests in his/her will, and to dispose of the property according to his/her provisions after his/her death.

An executrix is a female executor.

See Letters Testamentary

Facer Ref 298-1080

Farrier Ref 298-74

A blacksmith who specialises in making / fitting horseshoes

Fellmonger Ref 298-2482

Or Felmonger.

Someone who deals in hides and skins – particularly sheepskins – and other animal products which were used for making glue, and a tradesman who prepares skins for the tanner.

Feoffee Ref 298-2019

Feoffor Ref 298-2048

Someone who produced or sold goods made of iron. It was also used for anyone who sold hardware

Feroner Ref 298-F7

Fettler Ref 298-1146

A worker who carded wool / someone who cleaned a machine in a mill / someone who cleaned or tidied things generally

Finisher Ref 298-F6

Someone who performs the final stages in the production of a piece of cloth.

See Cropper

Fixer Ref 298-1942

Aka Setter. Someone who puts the finished block of stone into position, as distinct from a mason who cuts and carves the stone, and a hewer who dresses the blocks of stone

Flag Facer Ref 298-1077

A mason who cleans up and finishes off the individual flagstone

See Stone dresser

Freedman Ref 298-1835

A man or woman who has been freed from bondage or slavery. A lower class of peasant above slaves.

Compare this with freeman

Freeholder Ref 298-1613

A wealthy farmer who owned freehold land by fee simple.

See Copyholder, Inholder and Smallholder

Frith man Ref 298-2017

Someone who has claimed the right of sanctuary

Fuller Ref 298-42

Someone whose job was fulling – cleaning, shrinking and thickening woven cloth

Gannister miner Ref 298-111

Recorded in 1921, when Elisha Howell was a gannister miner with Joseph Morton Limited at Siddal

Gaoler Ref 298-69

The keeper who guarded and tended the inmates of a gaol / jail

The name turnkey was also used

Garnet Ref 298-38

To reduce waste material to its basic fibrous state for reuse.

The work is carried out by a garnetter.

See Shoddy

Garthman Ref 298-G12

A herdsman, yardman, or a man who caught fish

Gasser Ref 298-8

Gaux collector Ref 298-9

Gentleman Ref 298-324

Abbr: Gent. This usually indicated someone who was of independent means and who did not need to work for a living.

The sons of a men titled esquire are titled gentlemen.

See Franklin and Gent

Good brother Ref 298-2851

The word good was used in relationships such as

Good brother - a brother-in-law

Good sister - a sister-in-law

Good son - a son-in-law

Goodwife
Goodman

Goodman Ref 298-1353

The form of address for a husbandman in the 16th/17th centuries.

See Goodwife

Goodwife Ref 298-1354

The form of address for the wife of a husbandman in the 16th/17th century.

See Goodman

Goux collector Ref 298-10

Grace wife Ref 298-79

A midwife

Gracer Ref 298-G19

A stone-mason who carried out fine, decorative work on stone

Gunsmith Ref 298-946

Someone who makes guns

Gypsy Ref 298-919

A member of a group of travellers.

Aka Aegyptianus, Zingarius, and Zingari.

True gypsies speak the Romany language and are believed to originate in South Asia.

See Rev George Bramwell Evens

Haberdasher Ref 298-H34

Someone who sells small items for sewing

Hair merchant Ref 298-32

Someone who bought / sold hair – of animals or humans – for the manufacture of brushes and/or wigs.

See Brush Makers and Horn merchant

Half-timer Ref 298-2852

A child – usually under 13 – who worked half a day in the factory or mill, and half a day at school.

It is recorded that there were 1057 half-timers working in Halifax in 1917.

The practice became illegal in 1922.

See: Child Labour / Factory Acts

Hawker Ref 298-995

Aka Huckster. A traveller who offered goods for sale. This term was used for someone who used a horse, donkey or cart to carry his goods, as distinct from a pedlar

Hellier Ref 298-H49

Aka helier, hilier, hillier. A slater or tiler.

This is also a surname in some parts of the country

Henter Ref 298-H23

A thief

Herbalist Ref 298-47

Someone who used and prescribed plants for their medicinal properties.

In the 19th century, the term botanist might also mean a herbalist.

See Wiseman / Wisewoman

Hewer Ref 298-1366

Someone who dresses blocks of stone, as distinct from a mason who cuts and carves the stone, and a fixer or setter who puts the finished stone into position

See Hurrier

Higgler Ref 298-2471

Also Higler. An itinerant dealer who haggles.

See Badger

Highwayman Ref 298-1451

A robber who attacks people on the public way – usually on horseback, as distinct from a footpad

Hooker Ref 298-255

A mediæval term for a thief who steals with the aid of a hook on a pole.

Later, it was a mill worker who operated a machine which laid out a length of cloth into uniform folds of the required length

Horn merchant Ref 298-33

Someone who bought / sold animal horn or hooves for the manufacture of domestic articles, brushes and/or jewellery

See Hair Merchant and Horner

Horner Ref 298-71

Someone who makes objects – such as combs and spoons – out of animal horn

See Horn merchant and Horner surname

Hosier Ref 298-H35

Someone who makes or sells hosiery, that is socks and stockings and gloves

Hostler Ref 298-1598

Aka Ostler. Someone who tends horses at an inn

Huckster Ref 298-2513

A woman who sold ale in the street.

It was also a general term for anyone who sold goods from a small shop or a booth

Hugger Ref 298-1280

A worker in a quarry who carried blocks of stone to the surface.

Huggers wore a leather saddle to protect themselves.

There were numerous accidents involving huggers and stone workers

See Hurrier and Thruster

Hurrier Ref 298-1050

Someone – often a young child – who hauled the wagons or baskets of stone / coal in the mines.

See Hewer, Mines Act [1842] and Thruster

Husbandman Ref 298-1574

A tenant farmer, or any man who worked in cultivating his own land – husbandry – but it also referred to a small-holder who supported himself by working the land of others.

They came below yeomen on the social scale.

See Bordar

Hush-seller Ref 298-2489

Aka Husht seller. Someone who sold and/or brewed illegal beer

Husht Seller Ref 298-1864

A Hush-seller.

See Husht

Impropriator Ref 298-I15: A layman who is in possession of a benefice or its revenues
Ingomon Ref 298-1199: Someone who works on the land and rears cattle &c
Inholder Ref 298-1213: A freeholder who lived in the property held
Interfactor Ref 298-I7: A murderer
Ironmaster Ref 298-I3: The proprietor of an iron-works

Jacksmith Ref 298-943

Someone who makes jacks or other lifting machinery

Jagger Ref 298-2001

An itinerant pedlar, carrier, or the drover of a packhorse team.

It is also an occupational surname mentioned around 1368, and was common in Stainland

The name may be derived from the German Jæger, a type of pony which was used as a packhorse.

See Ailsa O'Fusses

Joiner Ref 298-102

Someone who worked in wood – such as a carpenter or a cabinet maker.

Also another name for a piecer who joins the ends of broken threads

Journeyman Ref 298-2335

A worker who was hired for the day – from the French journée.

Typically, he travelled widely and worked away from home, and would have completed his apprenticeship but was not yet a master of his trade.

Journeymen were members of a guild

See Dataller and Yearman

Jouster Ref 298-J3

An itinerant saleswoman who sold fish

King's archer Ref 298-1330

See Archery and John King

Kneller Ref 298-K3

Aka Knuller. An itinerant chimney-sweep

Knocker-up Ref 298-K10

Someone who was paid to walk around the streets in the early morning, knocking on the bedroom windows of their customers – usually with a long rod or pole – to wake them for work

Knocknobbler Ref 298-1795

Aka Dog whipper

Laiker Ref 298-L23

A player in the game of knur & spell.

See Laik

Lamiger Ref 298-L30

A lame person

Lanternist Ref 298-73

Someone who operated a magic lantern to project photographic images (from a glass slide) as a visual aid during lectures and public presentations

Lardner Ref 298-11

Lavender Ref 298-L17

A washer-woman

Lecturer Ref 298-L33

Someone who reads the sermon in a nonconformist chapel. He may also perform other duties

Limiter Ref 298-L27

A mediæval friar who had a licence to beg within only a specified, limited district. One of Chaucer's Pilgrims was a limiter

Lister Ref 298-315

A dyer.

See Lister

Little Maker Ref 298-2293

A term for a small-scale clothier. He wove his own pieces of cloth at home and sold it at market

Loom tuner Ref 298-83

Someone who maintained the power looms in mills.

In many online Census returns, this is wrongly transcribed as Loom turner

Loom turner Ref 298-85

In a great many online Census returns, this is often shown as a transcription of loom tuner

Loomer Ref 298-103

An alternative name for a weaver

Lorimer Ref 298-1206

Someone who makes metal bits, spurs, and fittings for harness straps

Machine-breaker Ref 298-M40

See Luddite

Mantua maker Ref 298-12

Market gardener Ref 298-M44

Someone who grows fruit and vegetables for sale at market.

In the 1830s, representatives from Toronto came to England to recruit stone masons and market gardeners which were in great demand in Canada. Many local workers emigrated about this time.

There were many local people involved in gardening and market gardening – see Local Gardening & Horticulture

Masher Ref 298-104

Someone who mixes chemicals or other ingredients during a manufacturing process – such as dyeing

Master Ref 298-2800

A skilled craftsman or tradesmen. He and his apprentices were members of a Guild.

A worker who repairs faults, cuts and tears in a piece of cloth

Master-taker Ref 298-493

In several cases, the master-taker was also the local innkeeper, and would pay the wages to his delvers in his own inn, ensuring that a proportion of their earnings was quickly returned to him!

Melder Ref 298-M20

A miller. Usually a corn miller

Mender Ref 298-276

Mercer Ref 298-13

Mercury woman Ref 298-M30

An 18th century name for a woman who sold newspapers

Messor Ref 298-M19

An official who was responsible for supervising the fields of a manor and for managing the reapers and mowers of the fields

Middle man Ref 298-1270

Wool traders who sold wool to the Yeoman clothiers and other dealers.

See Chapman and Halifax Act [1555]

Middleman Ref 298-765

Aka Chapman. Someone who carried manufactured woollen goods by packhorse from one manufacturer to another, or from the manufacturer to the individual who would finish the goods

Midwife Ref 298-64

A woman (or man) who looks after a mother and her baby before, during and after the birth

See Gossip, Grace wife, Monthly Nurse, Wet nurse and Wiseman / Wisewoman

Milliner Ref 298-M11

A maker of ladies' hats.

The word originally meant someone from Milan, and later it can to mean someone who sold fancy goods from Milan

Milner Ref 298-M16

A local form of miller

Misegatherer Ref 298-M21

A tax-collector

Monger Ref 298-1011

A general term for a trader or dealer, as in fishmonger, costermonger, and fellmonger

Monthly Nurse Ref 298-63

A woman who looks after a mother and her baby during and after the birth.

See Midwife and Wet nurse

Mule piecer Ref 298-93

A piecer who worked in mule spinning

Navvy Ref 298-1449

Abbreviation for a navigator, a worker on the navigations, cuts, canals and – later – railways.

Many navvies were Irish migrants.

See Railway Genealogy

Ordinary keeper Ref 298-O8

An innkeeper who sold food and drinks at fixed prices. An ordinary was a set-priced meal

Ostler Ref 298-O1

Aka Hostler. Someone who tends horses at an inn

Overlooker Ref 298-224

A supervisor, foreman or manager of a group of workers in a textile mill.

The name was also used for someone who maintains and tunes the looms.

The name tackler is used in Lancashire.

See Halifax & District Power Loom Overlookers' Society and Powerloom Overlookers' Club, Todmorden

Overseer of the Poor Ref 298-1539

Palisser Ref 298-2541

Aka Palister. Someone who tended the fences of a Norman enclosure or park – such as that at Erringden Park.

The name comes from the French palisse meaning a pale or a fence.

This and associated words are often corrupted to palace

Palliard Ref 298-1298

A mediæval term for a beggar who obtains money by showing his sores and deformities

Palmer Ref 298-P24

When on a pilgrimage, to the Holy Land, the pilgrim was called a palmer because of the representation of a palm branch which he wore

Pardoner Ref 298-P57

A person who was licensed to sell papal indulgences. One of Chaucer's Pilgrims was a pardoner

Parker Ref 298-43

The keeper of the king's park.

See Parker Surname

Passive Resister Ref 298-1087

The National Passive Resistance Movement was formed in 1902 by the Baptist Minister John Clifford.

There was considerable opposition in February 1904, when non-payment resulted in seizure of their goods and possesions to the value of the rate and the costs.

On 23rd June 1905, there was a Passive Resisters' Demonstration in Halifax with a speech by the Rev A. T. Guttery.

In 1906, over 170 passive resisters were imprisoned at Wakefield.

See Rev Roger Briggs, Harold Chapman, Rev William Lawrence, James Edward Whiteley and Rev John Wilkinson

Pauper Ref 298-1138

See Overseer of the Poor and Roundsman

Pavior Ref 298-P19

A worker who was responsible for the repair of paving stones in a town/village

Paviour Ref 298-1057

Originally, an official with responsibility for the upkeep of footpaths.

Later, it was any workman involved in paving paths and roads.

See Setter

Pawnbroker Ref 298-P14

Peeler Ref 298-P16

A 19th century name for a policeman. In 1812, Sir Robert Peel established the Irish Police, and in 1828, he reformed the police force in Britain.

See Police

percher Ref 298-14

Pew-opener Ref 298-2713

Someone who opened the doors to box pews and was tipped for the service

Piece Worker Ref 298-92

A worker who is paid by the quantity (number of pieces) produced

Piecener Ref 298-86

Aka Piecer

Piecer Ref 298-211

Aka Piecener / Joiner.

A textile worker who joins any broken threads and feeds them into the machines during the processes of slubbing, scribbling, carding and spinning.

The intricate task was often performed by women or child workers.

See: Mule piecer / Piece worker

Pikeman Ref 298-P55

This has several meanings:

An infantryman who carried a pike for use as a weapon

Officer who collected tolls at a toll-gate
A miner working with pick. In documents relating to the sale or lease of mineral rights, the maximum number of pikemen permitted to work on a site was often limited and specified

Pinder Ref 298-1958

Aka Pounder, Poundkeeper, Punder.

An official who was responsible for rounding up and impounding stray and wandering animals and cattle.

The animals were impounded in a pound or pinfold.

See Culler, Hayward, Neatherd and Pinder

Pistor Ref 298-1047

Anyone who worked with flour, usually a miller or a baker

Plug-drawer Ref 298-P48

Someone who deals in fowl, including ducks, goose, chicken or turkey

Poulterer Ref 298-P29

Powler Ref 298-1012

A barber

Preemer Ref 298-P25

A worker – usually a boy – who cleaned the tools used by the cloth dresser

Pretender Ref 298-P5

Someone who lays claim to the throne without a just title

Prigger Ref 298-P12

A mediæval term for a thief who steals horses

Proctor Ref 298-P30

An officer of the court who was paid to manage the affairs of others

Puddler Ref 298-36

Someone who works with wrought iron, or with puddle clay

Rag & bone man Ref 298-R21

Reacher Ref 298-100

See Drawer

Reaver Ref 298-R2

Aka Riever. A thief, a robber. Specifically, along the Scottish borders in the mediæval period

Recorder Ref 298-R10

Rector Ref 298-1611

The person in charge – the director – of the religious life of a community or a parish.

He was responsible for the maintenance of the chancel which was his private part of the church.

In his absence, the vicar deputised for the rector. There is now no difference between a vicar and a rector.

A curate is an assistant to the rector

See Rectors of Halifax

Reducer Ref 298-40

In 1901, I have a record of someone who is

a reducer in a worsted factory

Question: Does anyone know what the job entailed?

Reed Maker Ref 298-105

Someone who manufactures reeds for a loom

Relief innkeeper Ref 298-58

This & associated entries use material contributed by Glynn Helliwell

Relieving Officer Ref 298-130

See Parish Relief

Remittance man Ref 298-1228

Someone whose family paid for him to emigrate to Australia or other British colony

Riddler Ref 298-R14

A woolstapler

Ring spinner Ref 298-94

Someone who worked in ring spinning

Roller coverer Ref 298-106

Someone who makes a leather or rubber sleeve for a roller, to give the roller a better grip when handling cloth or other fabric

Rover Ref 298-107

Someone who performs the cloth-making stage of roving

Ruffler Ref 298-2498

A mediæval term for a beggar who obtains money by tales of heroism in the wars

Saltpetre man Ref 298-S37

Sawyer Ref 298-1029

Someone whose job involves sawing wood

Scavenger Ref 298-26

A rubbish collector, street sweeper, night soil collector

Scrivener Ref 298-S60

A professional scribe or copyist

Scutcher Ref 298-15

Someone who performs the cloth-making stage of scutching

Scutiger Ref 298-1821

An esquire who was responsible for handling the horses

Serjeant Ref 298-S87

A barrister

Setter Ref 298-50

A paviour, or someone who lays setts to make a road surface

Setter-On Ref 298-109

Shearman Ref 298-2698

Also Sherman. A cloth worker who crops the excess nap from cloth. The local term was usually cropper.

By 1817, 1,170 croppers were out of work in Yorkshire; 1,445 were employed part-time; 763 were employed full-time.

See Shearmen's Company

Sherman Ref 298-2587

Aka Shearman, Cropper.

Also a man who sheared sheep

Silk dresser Ref 298-51

A worker in the silk industry who boiled the silk to remove gum

Silk mercer Ref 298-52

Someone who sold silk fabrics & silk clothing.

See Mercer and Silk industry

Silk thrower Ref 298-54

A worker in the silk industry who twists several threads together to produce a thicker thread.

See Silk warper

Silk warper Ref 298-53

A worker in the silk industry who gathers the silk threads together to produce a yarn which would be used in weaving.

See Silk thrower

Singer Ref 298-1083

Someone who carried out the process of singeing, that is, someone who singes and not someone who sings

Pronunciation: Singer rhymes with ginger

Sister Ref 298-S31

The word was often used to mean sister-in-law

Skiver Ref 298-25

Someone who split sheep skins to produce a thin, soft leather for use in bookbinding

Slop tailor Ref 298-941

Someone who makes new clothes from old clothes

Slopseller Ref 298-S88

Someone who deals in cheap or second-hand clothing

Smallholder Ref 298-2749

A small farmer who rented land of 10-20 acres from the squire or freeholders

See Copyholder

Smith Ref 298-945

Someone who works in metal.

See Blacksmith, Brownsmith, Gunsmith, Jacksmith, Smithy, Sucksmith and Whitesmith

Socman Ref 298-1314

A tenant by socage

Sojourner Ref 298-S13

Someone who spends or has spent only a short time in a certain place. He/she is distinguished from a permanent resident and a fleeting traveller

Spencer Ref 298-S8

Someone who is in charge of a spence, or larder

Spinner Ref 298-16

Squatter Ref 298-S34

A poor farmer who farmed and lived on common land. They had no legal rights to the land

Stationer Ref 298-91

Someone who sells stationery, paper & writing materials

Stay-Maker Ref 298-62

Someone who made ladies' underclothes and stays

Stone Dresser Ref 298-41

A mason, or someone who cleans/tidies-up the outer face(s) of a stone block or flagstone

Stoving was a process in the production of cloth, and involved heating of the material in a stove or hot room.

Stone miner Ref 298-56

Someone who worked in an underground stone mine such as those in Rastrick.

This was distinct from a stone delver who worked in a open quarry

Stover Ref 298-49

This may simply to dry the material, or, in some cases, to expose it to sulphur fumes, or to produce a special surface effect.

The work was done by a stover

This & associated entries use material contributed by Stan Mapstone

Stravaiger Ref 298-S23

A vagrant

Strawman Ref 298-S22

Someone who was paid to give false evidence in a legal court

Stuff Merchant Ref 298-17

Sucksmith Ref 298-948

Someone who makes blades for plough shares.

See Smith and Sucksmith surname

Summoner Ref 298-S76

The man who called people to appear before an ecclesiastical court. One of Chaucer's Pilgrims was a summoner

Surgeon Ref 298-37

Up to the end of the 19th century, the term surgeon referred to a general medical practitioner, rather than someone who performed surgical operations

Sutler Ref 298-S67

A trader who follows an army to sell goods to the soldiers

Swaler Ref 298-2068

See Badger

Tackler Ref 298-110

Someone who prepares a loom for weaving

Tallow chandler Ref 298-2120

A maker or seller of candles. Candles were often made of tallow

See Chandler

Tallyman Ref 298-T14

Someone who sold goods and collected payment in installments

Teamer Ref 298-985

Aka Teamster. Someone who drove a team of horses or cattle. They often worked with the horses of a brewery, or with a horse-driven cab

Temple maker Ref 298-95

Someone who assembles the component parts of the side temples, which are used on looms, for keeping woven cloth stretched to the proper width

This & associated entries use material contributed by Roger Beasley

Tenter Ref 298-1

Someone who looks after a piece of machinery or other equipment.

See Back-tenter, Engine tenter and Tenter frame

Territorial Ref 298-18

Testator Ref 298-2227

A man who writes a will.

A testatrix is a woman who writes a will

Textor Ref 298-1173

Another name for a weaver or a webster.

See Webster and Webb

Thief-taker Ref 298-T65

Someone who profited from arresting thieves. He might also arrange the return of stolen goods

Throstle spinner Ref 298-98

Someone who operated a throstle spinning machine

Thrower Ref 298-19

Thruster Ref 298-1547

Someone – often a young child – who pushed the wagons or baskets of coal in the mines, or a worker in a quarry who pushed stones to the surface.

See Hugger and Hurrier

Thumper Ref 298-T2

An extravagant preacher. They often bumped their head against the headboard of the pulpit as they jumped up and down in their enthusiasm

Tickneyman Ref 298-T68

An itinerant pedlar selling earthenware

Tierer Ref 298-76

Someone who worked in calico printing.

A tierer was employed to spread a fresh surface of colour on the printer's pad each time he used it to print calico

This & associated entries use material contributed by Roger Beasley

Tilloter Ref 298-59

/ Tilliter. Someone who wraps textiles in tillot cloth for export

Tinker Ref 298-T52

An itinerant who mends pots, pans and other household utensils

Tinsmith Ref 298-65

A whitesmith, or a worker or dealer in tinned or white iron

See Smith

Tippler Ref 298-T16

An inn-keeper

Tithingman Ref 298-35

An old term for a constable

Todhunter Ref 298-T67

Someone who was employed by the parish to hunt foxes

Totter Ref 298-97

Someone who travelled around a district, collecting bottles, rags & bones.

the bottles were re-used, the rags were sold to makers of shoddy and the bones were sold on to glue-making businesses

Town husband Ref 298-1632

Someone who collected the dues from fathers of illegitimate children of the parish for their upkeep

Trammer Ref 298-926

A person who looked after the wagons (trams) which ran on rails, transporting the stone / coal in a mine

Trampler Ref 298-T64

A lawyer

Tranqueter Ref 298-T13

Someone who makes hoops for use in constructing barrels.

See Cooper

Translator Ref 298-T66

An early term for anyone who repaired and recycled goods such as clothes and shoes

Tranter Ref 298-T62

Trencherman Ref 298-21

Troacher Ref 298-T61

A wall-builder. These were often recruited from specialist gangs of itinerant workers as wall-building increased during the 16th and 17th centuries.

Tueler Ref 298-31

Tuler Ref 298-30

Turnkey Ref 298-70

An old word for a jailer

Tutor Ref 298-2567

See Governess

Twister-in Ref 298-66

A worker in the weaving trade who twists the end of the new yarn with the end of the old yarn to tie them together

Tyler Ref 298-762

An officer in the Freemasons.

A Tyler is a Doorkeeper or Guard at the Lodge

Ullnager Ref 298-80

The records are held as Ullnagers' Accounts or Ullnagers' Rolls.

See Narrow cloth

Usher Ref 298-383

An Assistant Master or Second Master at a school.

At Heath Grammar School, the Usher had similar duties to the Headmaster, but received only half the salary.

Thomas Preston was Usher – or Ludimagister – at Heath Grammar School [1671]

Vagrant Ref 298-22
Vat man Ref 298-933: Someone who looks after the vats in a brewery, dye works or paper-making factory
Venetor Ref 298-V8: Aka Venur. A huntsman
Verderer Ref 298-2782: An official who was in charge of the Royal forests and imposed Forest law
Verger Ref 298-V12: Someone responsible for taking care of the interior of a church, an attendant, an assistant to the priest or rector
Viewer Ref 298-546: An overseer in a coal mine
Vintner Ref 298-V6: A wine merchant

Walker Ref 298-44

Someone whose job was waulking – cleaning, shrinking and thickening woven cloth

Waller Ref 298-W1

See Enclosures

Warper Ref 298-1242

A textile worker who places the warp upon the beams

Warrener Ref 298-39

Someone who looks after the lord's warren

See Warner

Webster Ref 298-458

A weaver, usually female.

The male form is Webb.

See Webster and Textor

Wharfinger Ref 298-1207

Someone who owns or manages a wharf.

The etymology is probably Elizabethan-era English.

The final 2 syllables are pronounced as in ginger not as in finger.

See Calder House, Sowerby Bridge and Wharf House, Sowerby Bridge

This & associated entries use material contributed by Mark Andrew

Whitesmith Ref 298-W39

A tinsmith, or a worker or dealer in tinned or white iron.

See Brightsmith, Brownsmith and Smith

Whitster Ref 298-936

Someone who works in the bleaching of cloth

Willeyer Ref 298-55

Winder Ref 298-28

Someone who did the work of winding, in which yarn is transferred from one spool – a bobbin, cone or cheese – to another.

See Cheese winder and Cone winder

Wire drawer Ref 298-89

Someone who produced fine wire by extruding metal rods through a sequence of smaller holes.

A thick wire drawer produced wire of a greater thickness

Wiseman / Wisewoman Ref 298-81

An archaic term for someone who performed the duties of a herbalist / doctor / nurse / midwife

Woolchapman Ref 298-W12

A farm worker or someone who works in a railway yard

Woolcomber Ref 298-230

Aka Comber.

Anyone who combs the raw wool during the making of cloth.

St Blaise is the patron St of woolcombers.

In 1853, a letter to the Reynold's Newspaper reported that

the woolcombers of Halifax and its district number about 10,000, with their wives and children, making a population of nearly 30,000 dependent in that particular branch of labour. They are in great distress, but the mill owners are making colossal fortunes

See Bishop Blaise

Wooldriver Ref 298-84

Henry VIII abolished the practice.

See Halifax Act [1555] and Woolshops

Woolsorter Ref 298-466

Another name for a woolstapler

Woolstapler Ref 298-188

Aka Woolsorter, Riddler, and Wool-driver. Someone who sorts wool, or who deals in wool.

A single fleece comprised many different staples and grades of wool. The staples of wool were sorted according to quality, colour, length and fineness.

See Huntriss family of Halifax, Wooldriving and Woolshops

Workhouse Master Ref 298-1961

The person responsible for running the workhouse. He was assisted by the Workhouse Matron, who was usually his wife.

This was a lowly-paid position, but had considerable responsibility and prestige in the community

Yagger Ref 298-934

A pedlar

Yardman Ref 298-937

Yearman Ref 298-2767

A worker who was hired for a year.