Can anyone help with this contraction?

[andygmandrew]

I am transcribing a parish register from 1698 and have come across a word with a contraction mark in it, it's 'p[mark]man. I wonder if anyone can help me with this.

[Bookbox]

At a guess, it could be p[oo]^r man. But I would want to look more widely at the register for anything similar, and compare how this particular clerk abbreviates other words.

Is it online? Which parish is it?

[andygmandrew]

I think that's a good guess. It isn't online, it's the parish of Alnwick in Northumberland. There are very many entries with 'a poor man' but they are all written out in full.

[Crumblie]

Perhaps it is L for ploughman but I am not sure ploughs were around then.

[Rena]

could the occupation be:

Pman = Paling man? = eel seller

Alnwick - have a look at the massive eels they catch in their river!

Alternatively:  "Packman" = travelling salesman.

[Skoosh]

How about a "Pieman!"

Skoosh.

[Gadget]

Is there any chance of seeing a few more entries to compare contractions.

At the moment i'm thinking of Packman (P^kman)  or an outside possible of Pitman (P^tman)

Add - have you found any other children for him?

[Guy Etchells]

Perhaps it is L for ploughman but I am not sure ploughs were around then.

I agree ploughman and yes ploughs were definitely in use at that time
Cheers
Guy

[Billyblue]

What about postman?

Dawn M