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Willeyer: worked in the textile industry, operating a willeying machine.
Willow Feeder: worked in cotton or woollen mills.
Wincey Weaver: a Weaver who used string cotton thread.
Winder: worked in the textile industry, winding yarn from bobbins so it could be used for weaving, or someone who worked in the mining industry operating the winding gear.
Windster: wove silk.
Winner: worked in the mining industry, the term refers to the man who opened a new pit or coal face.
Wire Card Setter: positioned cut wires into the card to be used for carding wool prior to spinning.
Wire Drawer: produced wire.
Wire Setter: an abbreviation of Wire Card Setter. Responsible for positioning cut wires into the card used for carding wool. Worked in the weaving industry.
Wireworker: crafted wire cages, grills and other items.
Withy Peeler: peeled bark from willow, which could then used for making goods such as woven baskets. Osier means willow, withy is a willow stem. English thatched cottages are made from withy. Withy is also used in gardening. The term withy can refer to any flexible rod used in rural crafts.
Woad Dyer: dyed blue cloth using woad.
Wobster: an alternate name for a Weaver.
Wonkey Scooper: operated a horse-drawn scoop.
Wood Collier: burned wood to create charcoal to be used as fuel for iron and steel production.
Wood Colyer: alternative term for a Wood Collier who created charcoal by burning wood.
Wood Ranger: a woodsman.
Wood Ward: another name for a Wood Ranger.
Woodbreaker: produced casks and barrels from wood.
Wool Billy Piecer: Collected and joined broken yarns in a textile mill.
Wool Burler: responsible for quality control in the production of woollen cloth, by removing foreign bodies, knots and burrs.
Wool Comber: a textile worker who operated machinery to separate fibres ready for spinning.
Wool Driver: a delivery man who took wool to market.
Wool Factor: an agent who wholesaled wool for a wool merchant.
Wool Grower: a farmer who produces wool from sheep.
Wool Sorter: responsible for quality control in the production of wool fibres.
Copyright: Jane Hewitt. This dictionary is authorised for use on www.familyresearcher.co.uk only.
Wool Stapler: dealer and grader of wool.
Wool Winder: wound yarn into balls of wool.
Woolsted Man: sold worsted (woollen) cloth).
Worsted Man: another name for a Woolsted man.
Wrecker: a criminal who lured ships onto the rocks in order to loot them.
Wright: a skilled craftsman.
Writer: a scribe or Clerk.
Wyrth: a common Labourer.
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.
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.