Profession Please?

[joemc]

Hi all,
Can someone clarify what John Gallagher's profession is please.

Thank you

Joe

[sugarbakers]

Scripture reader ?

[CaroleW]

That was my first thought as well but think second word may be vendor

[stanmapstone]

"Scripture Readers were fluent Irish speakers who were trained to preach the Gospel and refute what they considered false doctrine." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_Church_Missions

Stan

[joemc]

Thanks all,

Fascinating insight into the profession stanmapstone! I had never heard of it in that context, still find it strange that his son was illiterate  though given his fathers profession? The year of the marriage 1847 would have been at the height of the Great Irish famine, so he would have been busy, also makes sense that the marriage took place in the Parish Church, given the context.

Thank again.   

[a-l]

I can't decide if it says reader or teacher 

[roopat]

Thanks all,

Fascinating insight into the profession stanmapstone! I had never heard of it in that context, still find it strange that his son was illiterate  though given his fathers profession? The year of the marriage 1847 would have been at the height of the Great Irish famine, so he would have been busy, also makes sense that the marriage took place in the Parish Church, given the context.

Thank again.   

There have been a lot of discussions on here about people putting 'their mark', I think one of them was even a teacher. Knowledgeable Rootschatters have pointed out that some ministers just told people to put their mark & they did as they were told. They've even quoted examples of people putting their mark on one document & signing another. So it wasn't necessarily a sign of illiteracy.


Pat

[joemc]

Thank you Pat,

I hadn't heard that but it would explain inconsistencies I have seen in my own family tree, I have a signature on a document from my 5X grandfather, but his grandson has an X on parish marriage record, although family had marriage announcement announced in local press.

Joe