What did a 'sand man' do?

[wulliam]

After a few months break I'm returning to some family history research.

I have an ancestor who, according to his burial record, was a 'sand man'
Has anyone any thoughts to what this involved? - it was Norfolk in the late 1850s.

Many thanks for reading.

[margaretmarch]

Perhaps he supplied sand to people for building purposes. Did he live on the coast of Norfolk?
Margaret

PS have a look here for the meaning of 'old' occupations http://www.worldthroughthelens.com/f...ccupations.php

[TwigletNumber5]

After a few months break I'm returning to some family history research.

I have an ancestor who, according to his burial record, was a 'sand man'
Has anyone any thoughts to what this involved? - it was Norfolk in the late 1850s.

Many thanks for reading.

Somewhere at the back of my mind I have a feeling a Sand Man was a person who emptied middins, (outside toilets). He came during the night or very early morning putting sand over and emptying the contents of the toilet through a trap door in the wall of the privy.


Just seen the link below and a SANDESMAN is an ambassador or a messenger? Is that the same as a sandman?

[Janet in Yorkshire]

The middens were emptied by the soil/night soil man - in the NE anyway.

Jay

[Uncle John]

Have you found him in the 1851 census? What was his occupation then? Where in Norfolk did he live/die?

[TwigletNumber5]

You could be right, they had different names in different areas, over here in Lancashire they were called the sand man.
The only other sand man was in songs to help children go to sleep, unless he was one of them?LOL

[wulliam]

Thanks for the thoughts so far.

Have you found him in the 1851 census? What was his occupation then? Where in Norfolk did he live/die?

His name was James Wells and the only helpful reference I have to his occupation is from the burial register:
11 Sep 1836. James Wells (aged 61, Dereham, sand man) was buried. Parish of St. Nicholas, East Dereham. [FreeREG]

Also, apologies for getting the date wrong in my original post. James died in East Dereham in the mid-1830s. In all other documents found so far he is just described as a labourer.