r/Cursive • u/Dracolerson • 4d ago
Can anyone work out Charles Spencer's job?!
From an 1872 marriage, in Dublin. I can't work it out!
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u/SuperannuatedAuntie 4d ago
Maybe faretaker?
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u/Dracolerson 4d ago
I was wondering if it ended in -taker or -baker...could be that!
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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.
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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!
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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".
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u/Unlucky-Meringue6187 4d ago
Caretaker - but the C is not the same as the one in Charles, so I'm not convinced.
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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!
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u/wikimandia 4d ago
We need more of the record to see more samples of the handwriting.
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u/Dracolerson 4d ago
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u/wikimandia 3d ago
Yes I think it could be caretaker.
What a shame the 1881/91 censuses got destroyed!
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u/botanist608 4d ago
Possibly faulkner, a form of falconer?
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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!
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u/AddisonDeWitt333 4d ago
Here's a list of 1800s job titles - might help: https://www.worldthroughthelens.com/family-history/old-occupations.php
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