Cor, this is tough - occupation

[Heather Positive Thinker]

Someone on GR trying to decipher this. I had half expected it to say Annuitant but its very odd and what is that fraction and the bit rubbed out? Anyone?


1901
Sarah Frost, head, born 1852 London living Walthamstow
Class: RG13; Piece: 1626; Folio: 44; Page: 14.

[Janet in Yorkshire]

I think we've dicussed fractions before and they were part of the code used by the enumerator?

As for Sarah. I think it could be some kind of commodity & then buyer and seller, buy to sell?

[Joan of Archives]

I wondered if it was a badly written "Agent" I know it says "own account" after. I think the enumerator has classified each occupation ie "Green" above the Fruit salesman so I should think the squiggle above is something to do with that.

[Janet in Yorkshire]

I think it's Hagilar - a mis-spelling of Haggler.

Perhaps the householders wrote it themselves and the enumerator was as stumped as we are?

[Heather Positive Thinker]

But Haggler sounds a bit down market doesnt it? To have on own account after it? I thought it began with an A?

[Anne in Carlisle]

It looks like a capital A to me, Heather but I can't make out the rest of the word, or the squiggle or the 'rubbed out' bit ..... sorry!

Anne

[Janet in Yorkshire]

Own account - well I have a higgler working on his own account. Also loads of laundresses. They were the wives of ag labs and just took in washing (when one couple were elderly, the husband was down as mangler, also working on his own account.) Not always as grand as it sounds.

I though it began with an A, but there seems to be some sort of squiggle/flourish infront of it.

[Joan of Archives]

I think it does begin with a capital "A"; the squiggle in front is a tick, there is one after every age on the page.

Own account I think just means they worked for themselves.

[Heather Positive Thinker]

Thanks people. Cant work it out at all - Agilar ?.........The daughter is embroidering - cant see a connection to dressmaking/clothes though. I looked at the 1891 when hubby was still alive and he is down as a salesman but no further detail.

[Olde Crone Holden]

OK, completely off the wall, this.....

Does it say Agular, with "fur" written over the top? If so, she maybe meant Aiguiller, which was some kind of needlewoman in either the fur trade, or in the making of aiguilles for unforms. given the daughter is a fancy textile embroidress, this might just fit!

There's something very faint written after it and I wonder if it is "great coats".

OC

[Jill on the A272]

Could an Agilar have something to do with the making of aiguilettes for uniforms? (Not an easy word to spell, I had to double check, they might not have been able to spell it either) Braids & cord & sewing skills would come into that.

[Olde Crone Holden]

Ohh, Jill, great minds think alike, I just said that, lol!

OC

[Jill on the A272]

Serves me right for spending ages looking for the spelling!

[Heather Positive Thinker]

Oh good one guys, I shall report over on GR

[Heather Positive Thinker]

Janet said to pass on her thanks for this likely solution to her query

[Tom Tom]

I've been looking at it and can't work it out at all.

Does the bit after say "Day and Night"???

It can't be anything too lowly because they have enough money to be able to employ a domestic servant.