Dictionary of Old Occupations

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Definitions of jobs Town Husband - Truchman

Town Husband: an officer employed by the parish to collect money from fathers in order to pay for the upkeep of illegitimate children.

Town Waiter: possibly a customs official (unconfirmed), possibly a transcription error from Tide Waiter. If you see this in historical records online, see if the handwritten original is available.

Townsman: generic term for a town dweller, may also refer to Domestic Servants such as Butlers.

Towsman: sailor on a fishing boat in charge of the halyard rope used to raise and lower sails and flags.

Tozer: combed or carded wool.

Trackman: US term for a Platelayer, who inspected and maintained railroad tracks.

Trackwalker: walked along railroad tracks, inspecting for damage and wear.

Trammer: worked in a mine, loading broken ore or mineral into carts for transport.

Trampler: refers to a person who treads or tramples on something. Many online lists define Trampler as a lawyer, but I have been unable to confirm this. It may possibly be a slang term for a lawyer, but such usage may derive from the expression 'trampler of the law'.

Tranqueter: made metal hoops for use by Coopers in barrel making.

Translator: translated documents etc. from one language to another, or possibly a junior Cobbler who re-soled shoes.

Tranter: a travelling merchant, the term dates back to the 12th century.

Trapper: a boy who opened and closes vertical trapdoors in mines, or a term for someone who hunted and trapped animals for their fur.

Travers: collected money at a toll bridge, toll gate or ford.

Copyright: Jane Hewitt. This dictionary is authorised for use on www.familyresearcher.co.uk only.

Treen Maker: made household items out of wood; chairs, cabinets etc.

Treenail Maker: made long wooden pegs for use in shipbuilding. Treenails were used to fasten timbers so that when wet the peg would swell, which would strengthen the joining.

Trencher Maker: made wooden plates.

Trencher-Man: if found in census records then probably refers to a cook. If found in other contexts it may be a derogatory term describing someone as a heavy eater.

Trepanger: harvested sea cucumbers.

Trimmer: an outdoor worker who thins out trees in wooded areas, or a person who operated a device also called a trimmer, which was used for piling coal. Additionally, may refer to a man armed with a shovel who moved coal around inside ships in order to balance the load, or a textile industry worker who operated a machine to trim cloth.

Tripe Boiler: from Victiorian times or earlier - boiled tripe (offal from animal stomachs) in salted water in order to make it fit for human consumption.

Tripper Man: worked in a mine, unloaded ore from conveyor belts into bins.

Troacher: possibly a Pedlar, possibly a smuggler. Unconfirmed.

Troner: a chair maker, or according to many online lists worked in a market as a weighing official.

Trouchman: a translator or interpreter.

Trouncer: at least as far back as the 19th century loaded or unloaded beer kegs on a Drayman's cart. May be a London term.

Trover: a smuggler, wrecker or thief - person who gained goods by any means.

Truchmam: alternate spelling of Trouchman, an interpreter.

This dictionary is my own work, and copyright Jane Hewitt. I sometimes find unauthorised (i.e. stolen) copies of my website content appearing on other people's websites. If you should read a group of identical glossary definitions elsewhere on the web, consider whether such sites are reputable or not.

Dictionary of Old Occupations by Jane Hewitt

Interested in history? Researching your family tree and wondering what those old occupations you found on census records actually mean? Maybe you are a creative writer looking for details to give your work authenticity? The Dictionary of Old Occupations explains the meaning of job titles, trades, professions and terms dating back through the centuries.

A handy reference ebook for researchers, creative writers and history buffs. Jane Hewitt is an experienced, professional genealogist. Aided by her husband Paul she compiled the Dictionary of Old Occupations over several years. This A-Z is an informative and fascinating read, giving insight into the day to day experiences of real people from all walks of life over many centuries.

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