Unusual occupations

[andrewalston]

I've been digging up the family of a friend of mine. One of his ggg aunts went into domestic service. In 1851 she is the housemaid of a surgeon in Stourbridge, but 10 years later she has gone up in the world.

She is at Wrottesley Hall, near Wolverhampton and described as a Visitor's Maid. Well there is one visitor, Baron Wrottesley's sister-in-law, so Ellen is probably visiting too.

But there is a total of 22 servants for a household of 4 people. Posh! The final entry on the page has a job title which got me looking up the head of the household.

ASSISTANT ASTRONOMER !

It turns out that the noble lord was president of the Royal Astronomical Society, and had his own observatory at the hall.

The servant, Joseph Hough, went on to Cambridge after the baron's death, and was elected a Fellow of the RAS in 1873.

Anyone else found people with unusual (maybe unique) occupations?

[JAKnighton]

I have one relative who was a Fossil Digger, and another who was a "Billiard Ball Marker".

[Andrew Tarr]

Some of my Suffolk connections were Lath Rivers in the mid-19th century.  I am always amused by how closely defined some people's mundane jobs appeared to be.  Can't imagine spending months or years riving laths ....

[coombs]

I have a lath splitter in my tree, one of them was transported to Australia.

[Primrose11]

Flatman. On the Mersey. Maybe not as unusual as all that but I enjoy the visual image that it conjures up.

[Treetotal]

I have one ancestor who was a "herbalist and medium" in 1901.....she disappears without trace after that  She didn't see that coming did she.
Carol

[GrahamSimons]

Just been to have a look at my database:
Apiculturist
Boundary Rider
Calico Printer
Dyster
Fancy Goods Dealer
Gold Burnisher
Indigo Planter
Jackaroo
Jillaroo
Opium Agent
Receiver in Bankruptcy
Salt Manufacturer
Soap Boiler
Woolclasser

[Sloe Gin]

Knob Polisher is always a favourite.

[StevieSteve]

 

Bee Appliance Manufacturer is one in mine