Big Book - G

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Gabeler Tax collector

Gaffer 1) Foreman 2) Elderly man

Gaffman Bailiff

Gager / Gauger Collector of alcohol taxes. Measured capacity of barrels to calculate the duty

Gamester 1) Gambler 2) Prostitute

Ganger / Gangsman Overseer / foreman - from mid 18c.

Ganneker Innkeeper

Garthman 1) Fisherman using fish traps 2) Yardman or herdsman 3) Maintained a "garth" or dam on the river for catching fish

Gas Maker Made gas by heating coal to produce gas, which was purified to remove the tar. The coal would be turned into coke. The gas could be used for lighting, heating or powering a gas engine. The tar was used in road surfacing.

Gas Manager In charge of detecting dangerous gases in mines

Gasser See Cotton Yarn Gasser

Gater Watchman

Gatherer Glassworker. Inserted the blow iron into molten glass ready for the blower

Gatherer's Boy Assistant who shielded the gatherer's face from the furnace with a shovel

Gatward Goatkeeper

Gaunter Glove maker

Gavelkind Equal shares among qualifying heirs.

Gaveller 1) In the Forest of Dean - Crown officer granting "gales" - the right to work a mine 2) In Suffolk - Female (usually) harvest worker 3) Usurer

Gazetteer a gazetteer is a book which alphabetically names and describes the places in a specific area. For example, a gazetteer of a county would name and describe all of the towns, lakes, rivers, and mountains in the county.

GEDCOM Database GEnealogy Data COMmunications, a standardized format for genealogy databases that allows the exchange of data among different software programs and operating systems.

Genealogy study of one's ancestry; summary history or table of a person's ancestry.

Gelder Animal castrator

GP / General Practitioner Local medical doctor, a term used today. More Info.

Gentleman Gentry; Aristocrat, whose income came from his land

Gentry Families of hereditary rank - the baronets and knights in England

Geometer Person skilled in geometry

Gerund Grinder Latin Tutor

Gigger Operated a gigging machine - a machine for dressing woollen cloth by subjecting it to the action of teasels.

Gilder Applied gold leaf for decoration

Gimler Made gimp - a kind of card

Ginour Engineer

Ginny / Jenny/ Jenney Tenter Minded a Ginny - a stationary engine used in coal mining to haul coal to the surface

Girdler Made leather belts & girdles, mainly for the army

Glass Coachman Drove a two horse carriage for hire

Glazier / Glassman 1) Window glass man / glass cutter 2) Seller of glassware

Glover Glove maker / seller

Gaoler A keeper of the gaol, a jailer

Goat Carriageman Driver of a small carriage

Goldsmith 1) Banker 2) Worker in gold

Gong Farmer /Gong Scourer Emptied cesspits, ashpits and outside toilets - "middins" - usually required to work from 9pm to 5am. See also Night Soilman

Gooseherd Tended geese

Gorseman Sold gorse and broom, largely for making brooms

Grace Wife Midwife

Graffer Notary or scrivener

Grainer Painted wood grain effect

Granger Farmer

Grantee person purchasing, buying or receiving property.

Grantor person selling, granting, transfering or conveying property.

Graver 1) Engraver 2) Carver or Sculptor 3) Worker in a ship graving dock, cleaning and repairing ships hulls

Grazier A person who pastures and raises cattle

Greenwich Hospital Pensioner A long-serving ex Royal Navy man, awarded an out-pension for age, wounds or incapacity

Grieve / Greave Bailiff, Sheriff, Foreman

Greengrocer Sells fresh fruit and vegetables

Greensmith Worker in copper - coppersmith

Greenwich Barber Sold sand from the Greenwich pits

Grey Cloth Dealer Dealer in Grey Cloth - the unfinished product of the looms before bleaching, dyeing or printing. The term is still used in the trade.

Grimbribber Lawyer

Grinder 1) Used a grinding machine, mainly for knife and scissor sharpening, which was commonly done door-to-door 2) Maintained a carding machine in textile mills 3) Tutor

Groover Miner

Groundsel & Chickweed Seller Street seller of weeds to feed songbirds

Guardian person lawfully appointed to care for the person of a minor, invalid, incompetent and their interests, such as education, property management and investments

Guinea Pig Roving (freelance) person, whose usual fee was a guinea (One pound, one shilling)

Gummer Re-cut old saws, sharpening and improving depth of cut

Gun Stocker Carves gun stocks from wood and fits them to the metal parts of the gun

Gyp College servant to undergraduates

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