Occupational Verbage of the 19th Century The following are terms used to describe different occupations in the 19th century. These terms are seen as the occupations on census records and service enlistment records. Occupation Description of the Occupation --------------------------------------------------------------------- Accomptant Accountant Artificer A soldier mechanic who makes repairs to metal objects Barrister Attorney Baxter Baker Blow Hard Glass Maker Bluestocking Female Writer Boniface Inn Keeper Brazier One who works with brass Brewster Beer / ale maker Caulker One who filled cracks on ships with tar & oakem-hemp Chaisemaker Carriage maker Chandler Dealer or trader of dry goods Chiffonnier Wig maker/ also called a Peruker Clark A common clerk in a store or bank/a bookkeeper Clerk Clergyman or cleric Collier Coal miner Colporteur Book peddler Cooper One who makes and repairs barrels, caskets, etc. Cordwainer Shoemaker/leather worker Costermonger Fruit peddler / orchard owner Crocker Pottery maker Crowner Coroner Currier Horse groomer Dandy Gambler Docker Stevedore, dock worker Dowser One who finds water with rods or sticks Dowager Widowed, female land lord Draper Dealer of dry goods, material Draughtsman Architect Drayman Wagon driver for long hauls Drover Herder of sheep or cattle or horses Drummer Traveling Salesman Duffer Peddler, usually door to door, selling small goods Dustman Garbage or trash collector Drynurse Nanny to children Esquire Attorney Fanchonair Female Milliner Farrier Blacksmith, iron worker Fuller One who cleans and drys woolens Glazier One who makes glass Hacker Maker of hoes and farm hand tools Hawker Street peddler who calls out his trade to passersby Haymonger Dealer in hay Hayward Keeper of fences Hind / Hindman Farm laborer Holster One who cares for other's horses, usually at an inn or resort Huckster Seller of small wares in marketplaces Jagger Fisherman/Fish seller - also called a Fishmonger Joyner A skilled carpenter Keeler Barge operator Lavender Woman who washes clothing or operates a Bath House Lecher Banker Lederer Leather worker Leech Physician Lormer Maker of harnesses/equine tack Madam Woman who operates a hotel or gaming house Malender Farmer Mason Brick layer Miller Gin operator, grinder of grain Monger Procurer of goods; i.e.: Fish Monger catches & sells fish Muleskinner Teamster Pereginator Itinerate Wanderer Pettifogger Shyster lawyer Pieman Baker who sells his goods in the streets Pigger Brick Maker Pigman Pottery dealer Plumber One who applied metal to roofing, one who set lead windows Porter Door man Puddler Wrought Iron worker, first steel workers Quarrier Rock quarry worker Querist Detective (pronounced Que-rist) Resorter Owner of drinking/gambling establishment Roper Maker of ropes or nets Saloonist Saloon Owner / proprietor Sawbones Surgeon Sawyer A mill operator /owner, lumber jack Schumacker Shoe maker Scribler Dime store novelist, writer of trashy books Scrimshander Engraver, ivory craftsman Scrivener Notary, writer of clerical records Scrutiner Elected Judge Spinster A Women who spins Sportsman a flashy gasmbler, usually wealthy with no real profession Spurrier Maker of spurs Squire Land owner, Justice of the Peace Sutler Civilian provisioner to the military Tanner Leather tanner Tasker One who reaps or harvests another's crops Teamster Wagon Driver Timbrelist Traveling Musician Tinker Itinerant seller of metal wares, itinerant who does odd jobs for board Tinner One who makes tinware / copperware Tipstaff Local policeman,constable Travers Toll bridge collector,ferryman Tucker One who cleans cloth Turner Wood worker, maker of furniture Vicar Deputy or Agent of the courts Victualer A Quartermaster, a Supplier of goods to large groups of persons Vulcan Blacksmith Wainwright Wagon maker Webster Loom Operator Wharfinger Owner of a wharf or ferry Wheelwright Maker of wheels for wagons and carriages Whitewing Cleaner of streets, one who cleaned up after animals in cities Whitester One who bleaches cloth Wright A worker Yeoman Farmer who owns his own land Yokle One who carves oxen yokes and wooden items for saddles and harness wares