What is a carter please? COMPLETED THANK YOU

[Evie]

Hi

Would somebody be able to explain what exactly a carter did please? Please excuse this question, but could there be any connection with being a wood turner

Evie

[meles]

A carter was

Driver of (horse-drawn) vehicles for transporting goods. A Carter typically drove a light two wheeled carriage.

http://rmhh.co.uk/occup/c.html

So nothing to do with a wood burner. But nothing to suggest he might have completely changed his job. It happens. 

meles

[Evie]

Thank you for your reply Meles.

Good link to occupations, very informative. Will put that in my favourites 

Evie

[daval57]

Judy, that is a sweeping statement....
It was not always a 2 wheeled carriage - depends on the era.

Basically, you are correct though.

Certainly, a carter carried goods in his cart, whether he owned the cart or just drove it, he was still a carter.

Sometimes a carter might be lucky enough to get a job in the trade he worked for.  If he was carting flower, he might end up working as a miller or even as a master baker.

Carting oats / wheat etc - he ends up as a brewer.

Evie, wood turner?  Can't see the connection.  As meles says - sounds like a complete change of occupation.

Dave

 

[Evie]

Thanks Dave

I understand what you are saying. It's a case of the clutching at straws syndrome, trying to find an elusive family on the next census. Pity I don't know what he is carting.

Evie

[steve100]

I have two carters within my folks,one used to work in the brickmaking industry in Uttoxeter,the other spent his  time carting people around streets and moving furniture[or so I`m told]



                                                      Steve

[stanmapstone]

A cart was a strong vehicle with two wheels, and without springs, used in farming operations, and for carrying heavy goods of various kinds.
(Distinguished from a wagon, which has four wheels.)

It all depends on what you mean by 'carter 

From the Dictionary of Occupational Terms:
Duff carter, Farm Carter, Haulage contracting Carter, Master Carter,
Metalliferous mine Carter, Rubbish Carter, Slate Quarry Carter, Stone Quarry Carter,
Under Carter, Water Carter.


Stan

[Evie]

Unfortunately it just says carter but he was living in Bradford and his neighbours all seemed to work in the woollen mills as they were wool combers, so maybe he carted for the mills.

Thanks all for your comments.

Evie

[daval57]

Stan,
you've basically elaborated on what Judy said.

I'm talking from personal family history, not dictionary definitions.

Yes, a carter may have traditionally worked a cart as you describe it.  However, as you probably well know, job titles change with the times.

I did say in my earlier post, it depends on the era.

So far, we don't know what time period Evie is talking about.... Evie?  Over to you.

Dave