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It's really hard to read but my gg Grandfather's occupation is down as what looks like Slanker as were 3 other men in his road. He was living in Stepney London in 1874. He is a Lighterman in 1901, if that has any bearing! I can't begin to imagine and may well be reading it very wrongly! but any ideas would be most welcome!

Hi! Sorry, don't know the answer but found this site yesterday: http://www.cpcug.org/user/jlacombe/terms.html Maybe you can figure it out from that. Regards Rosaline

This website lists archaic occupations: http://cpcug.org/user/jlacombe/terms.html The only possibles I can see on there are:: PLANKER - one who planks or kneads the body of the hat during felting or maybe even: BANKER - dug trenches and ditches to allow drainage of the land, placing the surplus earth in banks around the edge Richard

Another website: http://www.gendocs.demon(.)co.uk/trades.html Another possible: SKINKER - A tapster in an ale house.

Thanks Roseline and Richard, had a look at that site it's great, seems according to that a friends ancestor was a pimp!! odd thing to put down as a job!! The writing on the document I have is SO hard to make out on 2nd thoughts it may even be Hawker but the 1st letter does look like an S. Thanks loads for opinions though.

Selina - why not give the census ref on here - maybe a fresh pair of eyes etc?

Great idea Richard! but this was sent to me by someone far more on the case with all this! have a printed page copy in my hand what and where is the information I need to convey?! sorry to be so dim!

Selina - the census year, the name, age and birthplace of the person, and if you have it, the piece/folio/page number (if you don't have the last bit, then at least the name of the town/location). Richard

Lets hope it wasnt just the enumerator being rude! It couldnt be Slasher could it. On the old occupations list this was someone in the weaving industry who applied sizing to the weave.

Hi Just browsing and this caught my eye. As many have said it could be a mis-spelt word or a mis - remembered as I often do. Could it possibly be Slacker - One who shirks work or responsibility OR One who tries to evade military service in wartime; a draft dodger. Only a thought - I don't know the history of this person you are referring to or even if there would have been some sort of Military service needed at that time. Wendy

Heather, really laughing as that was my first thought!! Right this is what I think you mean Richard..... 1874 census William Tyler. Stepney Tower Hamlets Hamlet of Ratcliff. Ecc, St Jameses. Road 1 Lambs Court. Page 34 no. of schedule 202. Is that what you mean?

Errr... yes, except there wasn't a census in 1874 LOL! Maybe 1871???

I just can't seem to keep away LOL This is the info from Ancestry 1871 census: William TYLOR ( miss transcribed ) Acctual document says TYLER Est Year of birth 1841 Born Wapping ( which comes under the district of Stepney - which is near Mile emd LOL) Source information:   RG10/546 Registration district:   Stepney Sub-registration district:   Ratcliff ED, institution, or vessel:   3 Folio:   98 Page:   34 (click to see others on page) Household schedule number:   202

That'll be it then!!!! as you can see I'm rubbish! can't believe I've got as much as I have! LOL!!!!

hi,my names dave hough,my gradfather was a lighterman and so were all is parents,the only thing that i could find was "shigger",it was on 1901 census a certain henry huff who was a dock pilot shigger own acc. What was the persons name you were looking formaybe i can help,but ive only just started myself---but you never know. My grandparents were born in south of london,dave.

Hi Dave, No the Hough's are my husband's family, I'm searching my family line I'm afraid. Did you know by the way that a Hough is the shin of a cow I've been told! Glam huh??!!! Good luck with your search.

Hi, well if it is a genuine job and the enumerator wasnt just fed up at that point - all my lot were lightermen, dockers and coal whippers in Stepney, Wapping and Bermondsey from the 1830's onwards. My dad was also a docker in Rotherhithe. He is 90 now and I will give him a ring in a second and find out if he knows what a slanker might be. I shall have to speak very clearly though!

No, sorry Selina.... it's got me stumped too. I agree, it does look like "Slanker"! Maybe Heather was right after all LOL! Maybe it's some obscure nautical term? Richard

Oh Heather don't upset him on my behalf!!! I have to take my kids to a halloween party now, but as soon as we're back I shall come back on and see if there's any advance. Thanks for offering to phone for me, you're very kind. See you all here later maybe and kind regards to you all who are helping me so much.

Ah well left it a while but a Slanker remains a mystery! shame!