What is a 'Forman Tailor'

[Stuman]

I think Joette may have a good suggestion.

You were back in the days of sail when the ship's company was divided into watches Port and Starboard and also masts Fore, Main and Mizzen. The cream of the men who worked the masts were the topmen who climbed the mast to furl the sails and tend the rigging. I would have suggested Topman as the word but there is no sign of a tail on the third letter. It may just be that the ennumerator was not familiar with the terms used by the sailing fraternity.

Stuman

[Anthony Dale]

At least that's what it looks like on the census. Originally I thought it was 'Forman Sailor', but I'm open to suggestions.
In later census entries his occupation was shown as 'butler'.
Chris

could it possibly be former tailer as some scribes on the cencus were bad and also whilst unemployment had been bad in some areas my grandad allways said that if men were taken unemployed, they would give their previous role as a mark to say that they were skilled men and not wasters.

[canuck1]

my greatgrandfather ran a tailoring shop that had separate divisions for, jackets, evening wear, woman's apparel. undergarments, waistcoats/vest, workware and he held the title of master or forman tailor. both he and 2 others. like a clothing manufacturing plant title.