Some Unusual Occupations

Looking through the records there is no doubt that most of our ancestors were agricultural labourers or in the less rural areas just labourers.  Many of the others were employed by the gentry as servants, housemaids, kitchen maids, cooks, butlers, housekeepers or gardeners and quite a few were employed in the army or navy. 

Every so often we come across some more unusual employments.  Below are some of these less common occupations or occupations with unusual names and the individuals who held those positions.

Compositor

Edward Hetreal Titheradge born 1877 in Marylebone London and his brother Alfred Henry Titheradge born Hampstead London in 1885 (sons of Henry John and Louisa Titheradge) were both described as compositors in 1901 and 1911.
A compositor was a person who arranged type for printing:  they worked on the newspapers in Fleet Street,

Cordwainer

James Titheridge born about 1804 in New Alresford (son of James and Ann Titheridge) who was living in Chichester, Sussex in 1851 is described as a cordwainer on the 1851 census.
A cordwainer made a variety of goods from fine soft leather.  It generally refers to a maker of fine luxury shoes and boots.

Hatter

Thomas Titteridge of Andover Hampshire, born in 1777 in Salisbury, Wiltshire (son of Thomas and Mary Titteridge) is described as a hatter. 
A hatter was a person who made and sold hats.

Hawker

George Marsh Titheridge born 1850 in Chichester (son of James and Mary Ann Titheridge) is described as a Hawker in 1881 census and is living in Grimsby.
A hawker is a person who travels about selling goods, typically advertising them by shouting

Lampstress  (PLEASE SEE DAVID'S CORRECTION IN THE COMMENTS)

Martha Titheridge born 1841 in Alverstoke (daughter of William and Jane Ann) is a Lamptress in 1861 and Ann Tidridge (nee Newell) of Bishops Waltham born in 1818 and widow of Henry Tidridge was a lampstress in 1871.
I have been unable to find out what this occupation is, at a guess they made lamps? 

Monthly nurse

Eliza Titheradge (nee Peters) wife of Edward Titheradge born 1827 and living in Paddington in 1871 and
Jane Tidridge born Bishops Waltham in 1844 (daughter of Henry and Ann Tidridge) and living in Portsea in 1891 were both described as Monthly nurse.
A monthly nurse looked after mothers and babies during the first month following childbirth

Perriwiggmaker

Joshua Titheridge of Basingstoke born in Kingsclere in 1701 (son of Joshua and Margery Titheridge) is described as a “perriwiggmaker”.
A periwig maker was someone who made gentleman’s wigs.

Stay maker

Eliza Titheridge (nee Hastings) born in 1835 in Southsea and wife of John Titheridge of Portsea was a Staymaker in 1871 census.
A staymaker made corsets; prior to the 19^th century; corsets were called stays.

Turnkey

In 1847 Charles born in Winchester in 1820 (son of Joseph and Elizabeth Titheridge) was a turnkey at Winchester House of Correction having been appointed in April 1845.
A turnkey is an archaic term for a warder in a gaol or prison.

Stevedore

George Tidridge born in 1871 in Southampton (son of Harry and Ann Tidridge) was a Stevedore on 1901 census.
A stevedore is a person employed at a dock to load and unload ships.
 

Please add a comment if you can tell us more about these individuals.

Please add a comment if you too have come across some of our ancestors with unusual occupations.