More strange occupations

[busyglen]

This ULR came up on the Rootsweb Newsletter and it has really come up with some strange occupations.
These were compiled from Parish Records and Censuses, so no wonder they seem odd! ANKLE BEATER, ouch!! BACK WASHER yes, I wouldn't mind that, and BOTTOM KNOCKER er.... the mind boggles! There was also a BIRD NEST SELLER.....presumably for other birds?

Glenys

[Fulhamster]

This ULR came up on the Rootsweb Newsletter and it has really come up with some strange occupations.
These were compiled from Parish Records and Censuses, so no wonder they seem odd! ANKLE BEATER, ouch!! BACK WASHER yes, I wouldn't mind that, and BOTTOM KNOCKER er.... the mind boggles! There was also a BIRD NEST SELLER.....presumably for other birds?

Glenys

Hi Glenys!
The 'Bottom Knocker' that you refer to is probably a 'Sagger Makers' Bottom Knocker'! A Sagger was a pottery 'case' in which pots that were to be fired were placed. This stopped them from being scorched and ruined. As the Saggers were used many times they had to be checked for damage. This was done by 'knocking' the bottom of the Sagger with a stick ... if it 'rang' it was still good, if not it was broken up. The Sagger maker would employ somebody to do this job (there would have been thousands of all different sizes) and he was called the Sagger Makers' Bottom Knocker!
I hope that you are feeling less boggled,

[busyglen]

Now I know where the term `sagging bottom' comes from! I know the feeling.

Thanks for the explanation, it could be helpful to someone in the future.

Glenys

[busyglen]

"There was also a BIRD NEST SELLER.....presumably for other birds? "

Do you have a phone number for this fellow? I have a pair of Blue Tits who have decided to use the nest-box on the side of my porch, but they are wearing themselves out flying backwards and forwards collecting nesting material - I'm sure that they would't mind paying a few bob for a ready-made one.

SNAP!! We've been watching a pair of Blue Tits and have felt exhausted just watching them. They have now flown the nest, so it's not quite so frantic now. Even the baby Starlings and Sparrows have gone, they were all fighting for scraps.

Glenys

[AnnB]

I don't think your little feathered friends would like to meet a Bird's Nest Seller I've just found a definition for the occupation at http://shadowsoftime.kiwiwebhost.biz/definitions1.html and it says 'Person who collected nests from the wild, with eggs, for sale. The eggs were then hatched by domestic birds and sold as pets' Enough said!
Best wishes
Ann

[busyglen]

Oh dear!! I don't like that at all. Thanks for that info though as it is interesting for all that. Surprising what people will do for money....or is it?

Glenys

[Geoffers]

Oh dear!! I don't like that at all. Thanks for that info though as it is interesting for all that. Surprising what people will do for money....or is it?

In the 1861 census for Back Brow, Upholland, Lancashire, Sarah TALBOT, aged 51 (one of my gt-gt-gt-grandmas) gave her occupation as

"Bleeder with Leeches".

Whilst I am aware that the medicinal use of leeches is back in fashion; I still wonder how many of her grandchildren wanted to visit her? "Granny, I've sat on another one"!

Geoffers

[valevers]

FULL TITLE FOR THIS JOB IS A SAGGER MAKERS BOTTOM NOCKER !!!!
REFERS TO THE POTTERY INDUSTRY
AND THE PERSON IN QUESTION REMOVED THE UNWANTED CLAY FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE POT
NOT AS INTERESTING AS THE JOB TITLE

[Chris Doran]

A slightly odd one I found recently in the 1871 census was "Velocipede Assistant". I assume he made or sold bikes, but it's a strange was of putting it. Or does someone have another explanation?