Unusual Occupation

[andygmandrew]

I am currently transcribing the Marriage register of All Saints Church, Newcastle upon Tyne and have come across an entry where the groom has an occupation I have never before encountered [see image].

It appears to read 'Thomas Milburne Lettonmaker' or possibly 'Lottonmaker'.

Has anyone come across this before and/or can anyone help explain what this occupation was?

Thanks.

[hanes teulu]

The 1670 transcript on FindMyPast (no original) has "lettonmaker"
"Buttonmaker" possibly?

[emeltom]

If it is not buttonmaker then the closest I can find is Lattener/Lattouner or Lattensmith - people who made things out of Latten. Further searches show that Latten is a copper/zinc alloy resembling brass used for church ornaments, monumental brasses etc from the Middle Ages onwards.

 If a Lattener or Lattensmith made the objects could your chap be a Lattenmaker eg someone who blends the metals to make the alloy Latten.

[Gadget]

I see it as  Buttonmaker but  query the B.  Maybe a larger snip might show more letters for comparison.

[arthurk]

If it is not buttonmaker then the closest I can find is Lattener/Lattouner or Lattensmith - people who made things out of Latten. Further searches show that Latten is a copper/zinc alloy resembling brass used for church ornaments, monumental brasses etc from the Middle Ages onwards.

 If a Lattener or Lattensmith made the objects could your chap be a Lattenmaker eg someone who blends the metals to make the alloy Latten.

I'd been wondering along those lines too, though the definition in Joseph Wright's Dialect Dictionary suggests it could be any thin sheet metal:

https://archive.org/details/cu31924088038405/page/534/mode/2up

Another possibility I found there was lettern, a variant of lateran - and no doubt connected to lectern; all three mean more or less the same. However, I doubt anyone would be making these full time, so I think a variant of latten may be more likely.

[JenB]

My feeling is that the first letter is ‘L’, so it’s either Letton or Latton maker, but like Gadget I’d like to see a larger snip, and if possible one containing the same first letter.

[BumbleB]

My Dictionary of Old Trades, Titles and Occuptions has

Latouner - same as latten worker

Latten Worker - Metal worker in latten (similar to brass).

 

[Gadget]

That looks good, BB 

[andygmandrew]

The initial letter is definitely an L, there are numerous examples on the page. I think Letton maker is definitely intended.