Old parish records Norwich 1694

[ribbo39]

I have found a baptism 7-9-1694 in the register for St.Stephen's church, Norwich and am wondering what the word is that follows the father's name. I've attached a screenshot for info.
This word seems to be in several places and also there is a "sqiggle"  to the end of the entry - this also appears many times  any ideas what this represents please?

Thanks for any assistance.
Alan

[Bookbox]

I think it is weav^er.

The letters u and v can be interchangeable at this period. The 'backwards 3' squiggle at the end is an abbreviation for -er.

[goldie61]

Not sure if this is what you meant, but the other 'squiggle' at the end of many of the entries after the wife's name, looks like 'vy', I think is 'ux:' - 'x' with a long tail - short for 'uxor' - 'wife' in Latin.
No doubt Bookbox will put me right if not!

[ribbo39]

Thank you both for your help.

I should have made myself a little clearer - the word i'm stuck with looks like "m/vouu"  which appears many times after the father's name. I can see where 'bookbox' is coming from  and it doesn't make sense to me. I was thinking it stood for "married man" and the sgiggle makes sense also "wife".

I'm just guessing here.

Alan

[horselydown86]

I agree with Bookbox that the word after the father's name on this and the previous (and other) lines is the father's occupation - weaver - albeit in contracted form.

Underneath is a Mason, then a Porter.  A bit further down are a Cordwayn^(er) and then a Carpent^(er) using the same squiggle for -er.

There would be no need to specify that he was married.  ux(oris) does all that need be done in that regard.

The writer uses ux' where he is short of space to complete the record in one line.  Otherwise he uses English.

Underneath the Carpenter you can see a base child, who is attributed to the mother.  She is noted as Singlewom(an).

ADDED:

The man after the Porter is a Twister^(er), continuing the cloth-making theme.

[goldie61]

Do you mean you still can't see it says 'weaver'?

It's just the way the letters were formed back in the 1700s. (and later)
The first letter is a 'w', (not an 'm' or 'v' - compare how it is different to the 'm' in Samuel's name), then comes a 'backwards' 'e' - you can see this same letter in the father's name - 'Samuel Read'; then an 'a', which is not well joined at the top in this word; then what looks like a 'u', but is actually a 'v'; and then the backwards '3' standing for 'er' - altogether 'weaver'.
The best way is to forget about how we form letters now, and look on it is a form of code to decipher! 

[BumbleB]

The entry at the top of the page - 3 July, and the third entry - 23 July.  Both occupations are "weaver"

[ribbo39]

Hi all,

The way you have  transcribed the words makes complete sense now. Its opened my eyes more & I  can see plainly that it describes the occupation; weaver, carpenter, mason  cordwainer etc.

Thank you for all your help.

Alan