Genealogy Chat

Hi everyone,

Just wondering if anyone has heard of this occupation and could advise what it is?

It is taken from a marriage certifice in 1874 and I cannot find any definition on the intranet.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Kind regards

What occupation have you found them with on any census's ?

jax

Sure it's not hair dresser? The old fashioned way of writing a double S could look like an F.

Rose

Hi,

No not any any census as the Australian Electoral rolls are not shown until after 1900. I've checked English, Scottish, American and Australian occupations but no luck.

I have not been able to locate a death certificate either to confirm it any further.

Rose, nope definately not a Hairdresser as the writing is very clear.

I have only found one reference to it on the internet and it only mentions that someone's relative was a handraper in a household, so I am not sure if it was a personal servant like a valet or something.

Frustrating!

Did a quick 1911 search and found this - might help, who knows?

KEECH, Frederick William Head Married M 58 1853 Handraper Perfume Whittlesea Cambs VIEW
KEECH, Harriett Wife Married
28 years F 49 1862 Peterborough Norths Northampton VIEW
KEECH, Victor Fred Bernard Son Single M 13 1898 Dental Mechanic Wisbech Cambs Cambs VIEW
RG number:
RG14 Piece:
9298 Reference:
RG14PN9298 RG78PN500 RD187 SD2 ED4 SN122

Registration District:
Wisbech Sub District:
Wisbech Enumeration District:
4 Parish:
Wisbech St Peter

Address:
36 Market Place Wisbech County:
Cambridgeshire

Have just been given a booklet listing old occupations. There is nothing listed that looks anything like this - sorry!

Did have a thought though, possibly someone responsible for the "drapery" - household linens and clothing - in a household? My booklet does show HAND as "a doer or workman in any business or work".

Handrasper?

RASPER (boot & shoe) 788.684-094

The image of the 1911 shows that the man is a Hairdresser Perfumer.......with the 'ss' being written as 'fs'........the old-style way

Haidressers were employed in households......................in early years, they didn't have salons........wealthy women had them as personal attendants

Thanks All, Ann I this maybe that is the closest I guess I will get.

Christine thanks for your suggestion especially about the Hand part.

Thanks Flick, it still doesn't look like a hairdresser on my certificate. The suburb tyhey lived in was very very working class, a fair amount of poverty and lots of deaths due to living conditions so Ann may be on the money, I'll keep trawling and see if I ever get lucky and locate a death record for him.

Thanks everyone!