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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: Chiad Fhear on Sunday 18 July 10 10:48 BST (UK)
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I'm having trouble deciphering the Occupation on the attached Census from Fordoun, Kincardineshire in 1861.
It looks like 'Ora Horshman' and I know that farm workers here in Fife (at Least) were once known as 'Ora-men'. Perhaps John had something to do with horses?
Any help would be appreciated.
Regards
Chiad Fhear
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That certainly is what it looks like - which isn't being very helpful is it! ;D Hope some 'oldtimer' from Kinkardineshire will come to the party!
Wiggy
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Could it be App Fleshman
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I've seen 'flesher' meaning 'butcher' over a shop near Aberdeen. Is 'fleshman' a variant?
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Sorry to resurrect this one folks :-\
I appreciate the input so far, but I'm no further forward with this one. Surely there's someone out there has the answer.
Regards
Chiad Fhear
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Resolving whether the first capital letter is an H or an F would reduce the options. Are there any other words on the document, in the same hand, which begin with an F or an H to compare with?
Elwyn
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Found this website of old occupations in Scotland
http://scotsfamily.com/occupations.htm
Noticed HOUGHMAN - a farm worker??
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Resolving whether the first capital letter is an H or an F ...
Typical Elwyn ... just when I wanted to look at the original, the filing system let me down :P ... however, a wee bit of raking about and I've found it.
The 'F' on other entries are a little bit more 'flamboyant' (dare I say) in the lower curve. There is one other 'H' and it looks almost identical to the one on my query. There isn't another 'Fl' to compare it with.
Regards
Chiad Fhear
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lol, there's shades of the way Sean Connery speaks - e.g. horse = horsh
I can't help but wonder whether the clerk has copied the original house occupancy form incorrectly.
A dictionary gives this definition of hough = shank of meat (a shank meaning "leg" = leg of meat)
I've enlarged the image and do not think the "r" in Horshman is similar to the "r" in Ora
I read it as: Acro Hoishman
"Acro" Height
"hoish" = To throw something with vigour.
I wondered whether the worker was expected to work at a height loading something below. Or maybe he assembled the acros (Acro prop basically, an expanding scaffolding pole, much used in support work eg propping up a fractured lintel)
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Found this website of old occupations in Scotland ... Noticed HOUGHMAN - a farm worker??
Hi Dazey
I think you may have hit the nail on the head here :). In my original post I mentioned "Ora-men" and from recall they would do anything required of them on the farm.
Broad Scots may say 'ora wark' (pronounce it awe ra wark which, 'translated', would read ALL THE WORK :-\ That's my theory and I'm happy to stick with it ;D!
Regards
Chiad Fhear
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... I read it as: Acro Hoishman
"Acro" Height ... "hoish" = To throw something with vigour.
I wondered whether the worker was expected to work at a height loading something below. Or maybe he assembled the acros (Acro prop basically, an expanding scaffolding pole, much used in support work eg propping up a fractured lintel)
Thanks Rena ... I doubt if that would be a 'full-time' occupation for a 15 year old on a farm in 1861 though ::) ... did they have 'Acro Props' in these days?
Chiad Fhear
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I think you're right - it was only at harvest time when the top floor of a mizzen barn and its hoist was used I suppose.