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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: Kavill on Wednesday 04 September 19 08:15 BST (UK)

Title: Occupation identification
Post by: Kavill on Wednesday 04 September 19 08:15 BST (UK)

This one has really got me beat so I’m hoping that it might mean something to someone.

It’s the occupation of the apprentice’s father I’m having trouble with. The best I can come up with is Line Scoingler.

The son is being apprenticed to a translator which in this case is someone who repairs or remakes old shoes.

Many thanks,
Keith

Title: Re: Occupation identification
Post by: horselydown86 on Wednesday 04 September 19 08:40 BST (UK)

The second word is Swingler.

See:

https://www.familyresearcher.co.uk/glossary/Dictionary-of-Old-Occupations-jobs-beginning-S10.html#Swingler

What it is that he swingles is hard to say without more text to compare.

It could be Jute but I have serious doubts that it is a t.  I think it ends _ce or _ne.

The first letter looks most like an L but at a stretch could be a J.

Can you find another word with the same capital nearby?

Title: Re: Occupation identification
Post by: PaulineJ on Wednesday 04 September 19 08:41 BST (UK)

I read it as Quire Swingler, but that makes no sense either

Title: Re: Occupation identification
Post by: loobylooayr on Wednesday 04 September 19 08:56 BST (UK)

Hi,

To be honest, the first thing that jumped out at me when I read that line was " City of Yorkshire Swingler"  ???
Which makes even less sense that Quire Swingler  ;D

Looby :)

Title: Re: Occupation identification
Post by: Kavill on Wednesday 04 September 19 09:13 BST (UK)

Thank you for the replies.

Swingler makes sense, I can see it now you’ve said it!

I wasn’t sure how much of the page I could post without it causing copyright problems, but here’s the full page. The first letter of the first word looks most like the L of Lockwood. There are examples of the letter J in capital form but they look distinctly different.

Title: Re: Occupation identification
Post by: horselydown86 on Wednesday 04 September 19 09:44 BST (UK)

Thanks for posting the larger image.  I agree with your thoughts.

So Line or Luce Swingler.

Both terms draw a blank on Google.

Title: Re: Occupation identification
Post by: Jebber on Wednesday 04 September 19 09:49 BST (UK)

Lack of punctuation makes it seem as if York is part of the description. horsleydown has the right answer.

This is a good site for old occupations.

 https://rmhh.co.uk/occup/index.html

Title: Re: Occupation identification
Post by: JenB on Wednesday 04 September 19 09:49 BST (UK)

Might it be Line(n) swingler? No, see next reply.

Title: Re: Occupation identification
Post by: JenB on Wednesday 04 September 19 09:55 BST (UK)

The O.E. D. defines 'line' as 'the fibre of flax' (now obsolete) or slightly more modern usage
'....flax of a fine and long staple, which has been separated by the hackle from the tow.'

So it seems to me he was a 'Line [i.e. flax] swingler' which fits exactly with the occupation link hd posted in reply #1.

Title: Re: Occupation identification
Post by: horselydown86 on Wednesday 04 September 19 10:24 BST (UK)

Brilliant JenB.

Title: Re: Occupation identification
Post by: Kavill on Wednesday 04 September 19 10:35 BST (UK)

Thanks for all the help. Mystery solved!

Keith