Employment

[lafrancaise]

On doing a friend's family tree I've come across two occupations; I don't know what they are and would like to give a descriptive. first is a Corporative Scavenger (looks promising, this man was a hardware tradesman before) and the second a Fustian Butter! Could someone please help me out. Thank you.

[JK2]

Fustian was a woven heavy cotton fabric used in menswear mostly see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fustian
I think the word butter could be incorrect and maybe they meant to write buttoner - or even buffer (perhaps buffing the surface of the fabric).

Corporative Scavenger sounds like a rag & bone man to me!!!

[lafrancaise]

Thanks JK2 I've been back to see the census and on looking closer it's a Fustian Cutter so that's that one found. However, this Corporative scavenger has me beat. In the street there are people who work at the iron mill, I wonder if this has anything to do with his job, or maybe the bloke had a sense of humour!
Thanks again

[JK2]

Found these references on the internet:

Scavenger 1.. The 'scaffie' was a dustman or street sweeper
2. Worker in a jute mill picking up loose bits of material from the floor

Second ref:

In 1901 the cotton industry was the largest employer in Atherton, with 33% of the workforce in the spinning mills, over 60% of whom were women. Census records reveal long-forgotten occupations, which now sound arcane, but were once in common parlance on the streets of Atherton: piecer, scavenger, doffer, slubber, doubler and carder.

It would seem therefore that your scavenger may have been employed in the same cotton mill as the fustian cutter!!!

[lafrancaise]

Thanks that's great. You're probably right. Sounds better than a rag and bone man! Thank you very much for the time you've put in.

[JK2]

Having read further about scavengers I would say the following:
Scavengers in mills were small children used to scuttle under the machinery & clean up - so I don't think this applies to your search.

I think the man may have been a corporation scavenger - a street sweeper working for the local council. (a hardware tradesman may only have meant that he worked in a hardware shop)

[JK2]

I know someone who started as a rag and bone man (also known as scrap metal collector) who is now one of the biggest scrap metal dealers in the country and is a multi millionaire!!!!

[lafrancaise]

Yes, scrap metal dealer does ring with $$$$$$ however, rag and bone men reminds me of Steptoe and Son!!!!!

[JK2]

My very last word on the subject!!!
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?co mpid=36449
Read the section on street cleansing and refuse disposal

[lafrancaise]

Well, thank you. I've never had so much help on a thread. Yes, he seems to have been employed to keep the streets clear and maybe able to sell whatever he could. This was in 1901. Just shows how a word can change in a century...

[JK2]

I really enjoyed finding the info - I like a challenge.