Can anyone read this?

[akanex2]

Can anybody help with the groom's occupation from a 1854 marriage certificate please?  His father was a tenant farmer and he himself was a shoemaker in later life if that helps but I'm afraid I haven't a clue what this says. 

He lived in a small village in Northern Ireland so I expect industrial occupations are out but any likely suggestions will be much appreciated.

[madpants]

Looks a bit like publican to me, missing part of the top of the b before the l

[Erato]

I think it's 'mechanic' - but just because my own hand writing tends to trail off to nothing.

[akanex2]

Thanks madpants and Erato

I must say I thought "mechanic" too but I wasn't sure what demand there would have been for that occupation in a small rural village which didn't even get the railway for another 6 years. 

Maybe that's why he became a shoemaker

Also elsewhere on the certificate the clergyman has made his capital "M"s much more pointed, though his writing is so atrocious I could believe he was inconsistent on this. 

I had a quick look in a street directory for 1852 (2 years earlier) and the sum total of traders listed were as follows:-

1 inn keeper
3 publicans
2 grocers
1 haberdasher
1 police constable
1 schoolmaster
1 postmaster
2 clergymen
2 doctors

Needless to say my guy is not among them.

[Pels.]

I've tried adjusting it slightly .. I think Erato could be right, it does look like Mechanic .. ?

[akanex2]

My mistake - the village railway station opened on 6th May 1850 (not 1860 as stated above), so some trade connected with this would be possible.  Otherwise I can't see what mechanical devices there would have been around requiring more that the services of a blacksmith.  Any ideas?

[akanex2]

I've set up a new topic on the Co Down board to see if more local knowledge will help.  I also added a few more images from the certificate there to give a better feel for the handwriting style.

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,358544.0.html

Many thanks for all the replies here and feel free to reply to either topic with further advice and suggestions.

[Mumsie2131]

I also read it as Mechanic.