sledgeman

[Mhairi28]

The 1841 census for my ancestor, living in Barony, gives his occupation as sledgeman.
Looking through an occupations list the nearest suggestion I can find is sledger or stone miner. Is this correct? Does anyone have any suggestions where he might have worked?

Thank you

[Kay99]

I found a reference to Walter PAGAN, sledgeman or carter, Edinburgh in 1838 on this site https://www.oldscottish.com/sheriff-court-extract-decrees-index-john-niven-archibald-ritchie.html

Kay

Found a number of newspaper reports relating to brewery carters and one relating to man who worked in quarry and used a sledgehammer to drive in an iron wedge   

[Mhairi28]

Thank you for the information.
'Carter' would make more sense given the information I have on him. Unfortunately he died before the 1851 census and the death records of his children give different versions of his occupation e.g. contractor/ grain carter / cattle dealer / spirit merchant, but of course, the informants wouldn't necessarily be accurate.

[Kay99]

Glad  it was of use.  It sounds as though he varied his trade depending on the work that was available

Kay