How did a "COLLECTIONER" earn his keep in 1788?

[Keith Sherwood]

Hi, Everyone,
Today in a Gamlingay, Cambs.,1788 baptism entry for Mary and Elizabeth, twin daughters of proud parents John and Elizabeth, the father's occupation was given as "Collectioner".
What kind of an occupation might this have been...?
Very best wishes,
keith

[suttontrust]

First thought is that it's a mistranscription of "confectioner".

[behindthefrogs]

A collectioner didn't earn his keep.  He was a pauper in receipt of parish relief.

David

[Keith Sherwood]

Thanks Suttontrust - I too was trying to imagine what mis-transcriptions might have taken place in this example, but -
Behind the frogs - thanks for settling the query!  I've never come across this before, and gives my subject heading rather an ironic twist, doesn't it?
keith

[suttontrust]

Perhaps David would cite his source for this definition - not because I doubt him but because it helps all of us to have the references so that we can use and evaluate them ourselves.

[behindthefrogs]

In this particular case the only source was my own knowledge although I am confident that the sources usually quoted in this chat room would confirm my answer.

[Keith Sherwood]

When I was at the CCRO today I asked the archivist there what a "collectioner" was, and she said straight way that it was someone who received parish relief, had come across several examples of this - though gave no direct black and white reference in a textbook...
Keith

[griz]

There is probably a difference between a 'collector' and a 'collectioner' but I have an ancestor  listed, in the middle 1800's, as  'a collector for a burial club' which I suppose means he went door to door collecting a few pennies every week to provide a sort of insurance for poor people to cover the costs of a funeral.