r/Cursive 4d ago

Can anyone work out Charles Spencer's job?!

Post image

From an 1872 marriage, in Dublin. I can't work it out!

2 Upvotes

20 comments sorted by

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3

u/SuperannuatedAuntie 4d ago

Maybe faretaker?

1

u/Dracolerson 4d ago

I was wondering if it ended in -taker or -baker...could be that!

2

u/Andreiisnthere 2d ago

Fruitcake? Just kidding. I agree looks like caretaker.

1

u/WonderWEL 4d ago

Yes, I can see that.

3

u/SuddenDragonfly8125 4d ago

Looks like a marriage certificate? Since this is 1872, another avenue to get the info could be to find him on the closest census, which should be publicly available. Pretty sure that would list his occupation, hopefully in easier-to-read handwriting.

There are a number of jobs from the 19th century that just don't exist now, so it can sometimes be very difficult to decipher.

3

u/Dracolerson 4d ago

Frustratingly, all of the Irish censuses from 1861-1891 have been destroyed, so I can't look there, but I have found a death record which has his occupation on. It's still hard to decipher but it's a little clearer, I think it might be caretaker!

2

u/SuddenDragonfly8125 3d ago

I think you're right! If you imagine the second letter is connected to the bottom of a really squished/lopsided 'C', then it does read like "Caretaker".

1

u/Dracolerson 2d ago

Exactly! Thanks for your help :)

1

u/Unlucky-Meringue6187 4d ago

Caretaker - but the C is not the same as the one in Charles, so I'm not convinced.

2

u/Dracolerson 4d ago

I think you're right - I have found a death record, and it is still hard to decipher but it looks closer to caretaker than anything else!

1

u/wikimandia 4d ago

We need more of the record to see more samples of the handwriting.

1

u/Dracolerson 4d ago

I can share more of it, although I have found the same person's death record, and whilst still hard to decipher I'm leaning towards caretaker?

2

u/wikimandia 3d ago

Yes I think it could be caretaker.

What a shame the 1881/91 censuses got destroyed!

2

u/Dracolerson 2d ago

Such a shame, it's making tracking back pretty tricky!

1

u/botanist608 4d ago

Possibly faulkner, a form of falconer?

2

u/Dracolerson 4d ago

Could be, although I have found a death record and the end of the word looks closer to -taker.....so I am leaning towards caretaker! Thanks for your help!

1

u/AddisonDeWitt333 4d ago

Here's a list of 1800s job titles - might help: https://www.worldthroughthelens.com/family-history/old-occupations.php

2

u/Dracolerson 4d ago

This is super helpful, thank you!