Occupation

Definition

APPRENTICE

Abbreviated as Apr. preceding certain occupations listed in the1870 Census.
(Ap*pren"tice) n. [OE. apprentice, prentice, OF. aprentis, nom. of aprentif, fr. apprendare to learn, L. apprendere, equiv. to apprehendere, to take hold of to comprehend. See Apprehend, Prentice.]

1. One who is bound by indentures or by legal agreement to serve a mechanic, or other person, for a certain time, with a view to learn the art, or trade, in which his master is bound to instruct him.

2. One not well versed in a subject; a tyro.

APR

See Apprentice

BLACKSMITH

(Black"smith`) n. [Black (in allusion to the color of the metal) + smith. Cf. Whitesmith.]

1. A smith who works in iron with a forge, and makes iron utensils, horseshoes, etc.

CHAMBER MAID

(Cham"ber*maid`) n.

1. A maidservant who has the care of chambers, making the beds, sweeping, cleaning the rooms, etc.

CHANDLER

(Chan"dler) n. [F. chandelier a candlestick, a maker or seller of candles, LL. candelarius chandler, fr. L. candela candle. See Candle, and cf. Chandelier.]

1. A maker or seller of candles.

2. A dealer in other commodities, which are indicated by a word prefixed; as, ship chandler, corn chandler

COOPER

(Coop"er) n. [From Coop.] One who makes barrels, hogsheads, casks, etc

COURTISAN/COURTIZEN

(Cour"te*san) n. [F. courtisane, fr. courtisan courtier, It. cortigiano; or directly fr. It. cortigiana, or Sp. cortesana. See Court.] A woman who prostitutes herself for hire; a prostitute; a harlot.

CURRIER

(Cur"ri*er) n. [From 1st Curry.] One who curries and dresses leather, after it is tanned

DRAYMAN

Cart driver.  Dray:  n. [AS. dræge a dragnet, fr. dragan. . See Draw, and cf. 2d Drag, 1st Dredge.]

1. A strong low cart or carriage used for heavy burdens

DRESSMAKER

(Dress"mak`er) n. A maker of gowns, or similar garments; a mantuamaker

DROVER

(Dro"ver) n.

1. One who drives cattle or sheep to market; one who makes it his business to purchase cattle, and drive them to market.

FINISHER

(Fin"ish*er) n.

1. One who finishes, puts an end to, completes, or perfects; esp. used in the trades, as in hatting, weaving, etc., for the workman who gives a finishing touch to the work, or any part of it, and brings it to perfection.

HOD CARRIER

(Hod) n. [Prov. E. for hold, i. e., that which holds. See Hold.]

1. A kind of wooden tray with a handle, borne on the shoulder, for carrying mortar, brick, etc.

2. A utensil for holding coal; a coal scuttle.

HOSTELER

(Hos"tel*er) n. [See Hostel, and cf. Hostler.]

1. The keeper of a hostel or inn.

HOSTLER

(Hos"tler) n. [OE. hosteler, osteler, innkeeper, OF. hostelier, F. hôtelier. See Hostel, and cf. Hospitaler, Hosteler.]

1. An innkeeper. [Obs.] See Hosteler.

2. The person who has the care of horses at an inn or stable; hence, any one who takes care of horses; a groom; - - so called because the innkeeper formerly attended to this duty in person.

3. (Railroad) The person who takes charge of a locomotive when it is left by the engineer after a trip.

HUCKSTER

(Huck"ster) n. [OE. hukstere, hukster, OD. heukster, D. heuker; akin to D. huiken to stoop, bend, OD. huycken, huken, G. hocken, to squat, Icel. hka; — the peddler being named from his stooping under the load on his back. Cf. Hawk to offer for sale.]

JOUR

See Journeyman

JOURNEYMAN

Abbreviated as Jour. preceding certain occupations listed in the 1870 Census.   1913 Definition (Webster’s Dictionary):    (Jour"ney*man) n.; pl. Journeymen Formerly, a man hired to work by the day; now, commonly, one who has mastered a handicraft or trade; — distinguished from apprentice and from master workman.

MACHINIST

Largely misspelled in the 1870 Census as “Machinest”

(Ma*chin"ist), n. [Cf. F. machiniste.]

1. A constrictor of machines and engines; one versed in the principles of machines.

2. One skilled in the use of machine tools.

MANTUAMAKER

(Man"tu*a*mak`er) n. One who makes dresses, cloaks, etc., for women; a dressmaker.

(Man"tu*a) n.

1. A superior kind of rich silk formerly exported from Mantua in Italy. [Obs.] Beck

2. A woman's cloak or mantle; also, a woman's gown. [Obs.]

MOULDER/MOLDER

(Mold"er, Mould"er) n. One who, or that which, molds or forms into shape; specifically (Founding), one skilled in the art of making molds for castings.

PILOT

1. (Naut.) One employed to steer a vessel; a helmsman; a steersman. Dryden.

2. Specifically, a person duly qualified, and licensed by authority, to conduct vessels into and out of a port, or in certain waters, for a fixed rate of fees.

3. Figuratively: A guide; a director of another through a difficult or unknown course.

SAWYER

(Saw"yer) n. [Saw + - yer, as in lawyer. Cf. Sawer.]

1. One whose occupation is to saw timber into planks or boards, or to saw wood for fuel; a sawer.

SEAMSTRESS

n. [Seamstress.] One who sews well, or whose occupation is to sew. [Obs.]

SOAP CHANDLER

A soap maker or seller.  See:  CHANDLER

SPINNER

Spins Yarn or Thread

TAILORESS

A female tailor.  One whose occupation is to cut out and make men's garments; also, one who cuts out and makes ladies' outer garments

TEAMSTER

(Team"ster) n. One who drives a team.

(Team) v. i. To engage in the occupation of driving a team of horses, cattle, or the like, as in conveying or hauling lumber, goods, etc.; to be a teamster.

THRESHER

(Thresh"er) n. Same as Thrasher.(Thrash"er Thresh"er) , n.

1. One who, or that which, thrashes grain; a thrashing machine.

(Thrash Thresh) , v. t. [imp. & p. p. Thrashed ; p. pr. & vb. n. Thrashing.] [To beat out grain from, as straw or husks; to beat the straw or husk of (grain) with a flail; to beat off, as the kernels of grain; as, to thrash wheat, rye, or oats; to thrash over the old straw.

TINKER

(Tink"er) n. [From Tink, because the tinker's way of proclaiming his trade is to beat a kettle, or because in his work he makes a tinkling noise. Johnson.]

1. A mender of brass kettles, pans, and other metal ware. "Tailors and tinkers." Piers Plowman.

2. One skilled in a variety of small mechanical work.

TINNER

(Tin"ner) n.

1. One who works in a tin mine.

2. One who makes, or works in, tinware; a tinman.

TOLL GATE KEEPER

Worked at the toll gate to collect fees for use of the road

WATCHMAN

One who watches, or those who watch; a watchman, or a body of watchmen; a sentry; a guard.