** COMPLETED ** Help with occupation on 1861 Census please

[Chiad Fhear]

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  !

Regards

Chiad Fhear

[Chiad Fhear]

... 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

[Rena]

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.