RootsChat.Com

Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: Miked1986 on Wednesday 17 November 21 07:31 GMT (UK)

Title: Help deciphering occupation
Post by: Miked1986 on Wednesday 17 November 21 07:31 GMT (UK)

Good morning all,

Is somebody able to decipher this occupation listed on a marriage certificate?

Your help is greatly appreciated.

Title: Re: Help deciphering occupation
Post by: ShaunJ on Wednesday 17 November 21 08:08 GMT (UK)

Labourer

Title: Re: Help deciphering occupation
Post by: Miked1986 on Wednesday 17 November 21 08:53 GMT (UK)

Many thanks.
 It was the inconsistency in the writing that threw me. Here's a slightly less cropped image with labourer a lot more clearly written on the same entry.

Title: Re: Help deciphering occupation
Post by: ShaunJ on Wednesday 17 November 21 09:34 GMT (UK)

Hmm... yes there are some differences there!

Title: Re: Help deciphering occupation
Post by: horselydown86 on Friday 19 November 21 01:48 GMT (UK)

I've been looking at this for a few days without much success.

The best I can suggest (albeit with reservations about the last letter) is:  ?alturer

Is there anything in the rest of the page which might help with that capital letter?

Title: Re: Help deciphering occupation
Post by: shanreagh on Friday 19 November 21 08:23 GMT (UK)

I see more or less the same as HD86.
? altturer

The capital letter is very distinctive/different. 

Title: Re: Help deciphering occupation
Post by: PurdeyB on Friday 19 November 21 09:11 GMT (UK)

My first thought on a quick glance was maltster although if the first letter is an M it is a rather unusual style. The more I look the less convinced I am but it may help get to the right answer   :)

Title: Re: Help deciphering occupation
Post by: mckha489 on Friday 19 November 21 09:35 GMT (UK)

Is this a marriage certificate we can access online? (So that we can page through the book looking for similar letters).

Title: Re: Help deciphering occupation
Post by: Miked1986 on Friday 19 November 21 11:01 GMT (UK)

It's not available online at the moment. It's one I ordered through GRO some years back.

I saw maltster myself but like previous comment I'm not convinced by the M.

Thanks all for your responses

Title: Re: Help deciphering occupation
Post by: conahy calling on Saturday 20 November 21 22:29 GMT (UK)

Could that first capital possibly be a "V"?

https://www.familyresearcher.co.uk/glossary/Dictionary-of-Old-Occupations-jobs-beginning-V.html#Valuator

Title: Re: Help deciphering occupation
Post by: dublin1850 on Sunday 21 November 21 00:18 GMT (UK)

Vatmaker?
https://cooperstoolmuseum.com/vatmaking/

Is there a census close to the marriage which might indicate his or her trade?

Title: Re: Help deciphering occupation
Post by: Miked1986 on Monday 22 November 21 15:39 GMT (UK)

Thanks again all for the replies. It is listed as the father of the groom's occupation. He actually dies 9 years before the wedding takes place and 1 year before the 1871 census. He is listed as an agricultural labourer in 1841 and 51 and just labourer in 1861. I have checked other certificates I have and found one which clearly says labourer but has this version of a capital of L. It's done by the same hand as this certificate. It seems the more obvious L is the inconsistent one. Thanks all for your help.