What is a 'Carryer' in the early 1700s

[TonyD]

Hello,
I have a number of references to an ancestor, John, as a 'Carryer'.
Several of his children's birth/baptism records, specifically between 1702 and 1705, show this as his occupation.
Was he the equivalent of a man with a van?
Or does the term in the early 1700s have particular meaning?
We do know that John's grandson had quite a large transport business moving goods between Lincoln and London and other places.
Thankyou.

[fifer1947]

Yup sounds like he was the 1700's equivalent of "a man with a van" or more likely "man with a horse and cart". 

[fifer1947]

PS meant to add I love the seal in your avatar! 

[TonyD]

Thanks Fifer.
Am hoping for perhaps some detailed info from someone knowledgeable about trades and occupations at that time.
I have some better images of the seal at http://www.drewry.net/TreeMill/indiI542.html.
I note your interests include Perthshire and Stewart. A very difficult area to investigate!

[Redroger]

I had relatives who were carriers around 1900. After he was orphaned my father was brought up by his aunt and uncle who were the village carriers, performed parcel and general carrying duties usually with a horse and trap. Other duties included pig killing at Christmas. In the late 16th century I found my earliest ancestor was described as a currier. For some time I thought this was the same as a carrier, then I found a currier was involved in the tanning industry. As there was no standard spelling for almost another century after the date mentioned is it possible your ancestors were curriers and not carryers?

[fifer1947]

I note your interests include Perthshire and Stewart. A very difficult area to investigate!

Not too difficult, my lot lived in Norrieston/Thornhill for 130 years and possibly even longer! 

[TonyD]

Thanks Redroger.
Sort of what I am guessing at. Have come across 'carrier' in respect of mail when googling.
Definitely 'Carryer' in 3 baptism records. And his grandson had what appears to be big business between Lincoln and London - with his great grandson eventually rising to Commissary-General. So there is family interest in transport of goods possibly starting with John - perhaps even earlier.  John's son and grandson both became Mayors of Lincoln, so at a guess John had some standing in the local community.
The early 1700s must have been 'exciting' time to be in transport business - one would guess difficult and dangerous.
Other relatives, in another separate branch are agricultural and coincidentally recorded in the censuses as 'carter's.  I can see that as a farming trade.
However the precise description of John as a 'Carryer' suggests a bit more than a man with a cart.
Trying to guess at its significance 300 years on is probably fruitless.
My message here is in hope of discovering someone with in-depth knowledge of that time, or perhaps who has come across a description of 'carryer' as a trade in the early eighteenth century.
In my imagination a 'carryer' could be transporting goods, people, and/or mail - probably all three.  To do so would require  horses and all their requirements, staging posts, associates and partners.

[fifer1947]

Some descriptions have a carrier as someone who carried letters between personages involved in intrigue ie a spy. 

But the more accepted explanation (though perhaps less "romantic") from http://rmhh.co.uk/occup/c.html is:

Carman/Charman/Carrier/Carter/Cartman

Driver of (horse-drawn) vehicles for transporting goods. Carmen were often employed by railway companies for local deliveries and collections of goods and parcels. Modern day van driver. A Carter typically drove a light two wheeled carriage. Also sometimes someone who drove horse-drawn trams was called a Carman.

[Redroger]

You might get some background about rural communication in 18th century Lincolnshire from:Agricultural Revolution in Lincolnshire by T.W.Beastall (History of Lincolnshire Vol8) History of Lincolnshire Committee 1978 ISBN 0 902668 07 2