Genealogy Chat

I think an ostler is the person who, when you arrived at an inn on a journey, looked after your horses for you while you stayed at the inn, and supplied you with fresh ones for the next stage of your journey if you required them. I seem to recall that shakespeare is full of references to them!!!

OSTLER - originally applied to an innkeeper/taverner or one who received guests especially in an monastery (13th century) but later on it came to mean stableboy or a person who looked after horses, coming from the old French 'hostelier'

A Carter/ carrier could also be known as a Carman, a number of my ancestors we in the haulage business using horse and cart. They were all known as carmen. Bob

That's interesting Maxine - was a Carter the same as a Carrier then? my grt-grandad was a Carrier and I have always assumed he used horses to "cart" away his cargo/parcels/whatever he was transporting. Jacqui

Hi Lisa The definition given is quite correct, but often its use was not as strict as that, often the term was used to described someone who looked after horses, or worked with them. My great great grandfather was an Ostler/ Carter. Regards Maxine

Terry Good thinking. The definition of an Inn (as opposed to an Hotel, Tavern etc) is an establishment for the accommodation, rest and refreshment of those horse borne travellers, stabling for the horses was a requirement. Jeanette

Hi Valerie I wonder if that's where the word Hostlery originates from ? Terry

Dictionary gives it as a groom employed by an inn

Lisa, Typing in Ostler and Occupation in Google shows that an Ostler is a groom/stableman. Crista

I have a choice of 2 for my great great Grandfather, one is an Ostler in 1881 does anyone know what this is?