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Some Special Interests => Occupation Interests => Topic started by: petalxxx on Sunday 23 July 06 22:55 BST (UK)

Title: portal canvasser
Post by: petalxxx on Sunday 23 July 06 22:55 BST (UK)

has any one any idea what this job entails ? ;D

Title: Re: portal canvasser
Post by: stockman fred on Sunday 23 July 06 23:34 BST (UK)

Is it a posh way of saying "door-to-door salesman?" A portal is a doorway and grandad's 1880 dictionary says a canvasser is "One who solicits orders or votes."
Just a guess, though,
Fred.

Title: Re: portal canvasser
Post by: petalxxx on Monday 24 July 06 13:18 BST (UK)

on the census someone has written "phota" above it   and that my gggrandfather had his own account could be wrong but i think it means he was self employed so im still guessing

Title: Re: portal canvasser
Post by: oldcrone on Monday 24 July 06 13:35 BST (UK)

hi Petalxxx

A canvaser (one 's') is someone who makes canvas.  Have you looked for your relative's occupation on other censuses?

Clara

Title: Re: portal canvasser
Post by: stockman fred on Monday 24 July 06 14:06 BST (UK)

Hi all,Two more ideas from "The Everyman Encyclopaedia "(c1900) " Canvass- to sift through canvas,hence to examine carefully",
or "Canvassing- applied to the soliciting of trade or business by commercial travellers."
But was does the "portal" mean? ???

Fred