Have you ever wondered what your ancestors did for any occupation?

Some are very interesting.

Like:

Phrenologist: A person who feels the shape and bumps of the skull, based on the now discredited belief that they reveal character and mental capacity.

Badger: Middle man between the producer of material and the merchant. The term being badgered may come from that job.

Leach Collector: The person who collected the leaches for “medicinal” purposes.

Resurrectionist: These guys would go to cemeteries and dig up bodies to sell to medical institutions.

Powder Monkey: This is the one who loads the powder in the cannon on a ship, during a battle.

Lung: The person who kept the fires going at a workshop.

Drover: Driver of animals to market, dealer in cattle.

Fell Monger: One who removes hair or wool from hides in preparation for leather making.

Jagger: Fish peddler.

Pettifogger: shyster; lawyer

Your ancestor’s job title may be listed on a census record. You might look up what the main occupation was in the area they lived. If it was a mining town, they may have been a miner. You may find it in a journal or a history of an area. If you do find out what their job was, find out what they actually did. Some of these jobs don’t exist anymore. I would hate to be a Leach Collector. It is sure is fun to find out what my ancestors did though!

Happy Family History Friday! Love, Joy