Well sinkers in 18th century

[poisondwarf]

My ancestor, Tobias Prigg 1770-1837, Bristol, was a well-sinker.  He left a will leaving a house to his widow and nine surviving children, which seems a lot of property.  Has anyone any ideas why this should be such a profitable trade at this time?  Many thanks for reading this.

[ChasH]

Well sinkers?

Probably not very well paid because they start at the top and work their way downwards

Chas

P.S.  Didn't notice it's your first post here.  Welcome to the best place there is.

Chas

[Berlin-Bob]

Well-sinkers were quite important in some ways - before the days when you could call the plumber, then if you wanted water, you often had to hire a well-sinker (who might also be a well-finder, in the sense that he often decided where the best place would be, to sink  a well.

So it's is possible that some well-sinkers (own business !) could be quite well off; for others it may have just been "a job".


Bob