Big Book - O
Ob. (abbreviation) obit, deceased
OB (abbreviation) order book, as in court order book
Obiit. (abbreviation) he or she died
Obit. (abbreviation) obituary
Occupier Tradesman
Oil Colour Man Employed in the paint manufacturing trade, mixing pigmented paints
Oilman Lamp oil seller
Oil Miller Miller of seed to extract oils for food manufacture. Rapeseed, cottonseed, linseed etc. Cottonseed oil was also used to lubricate the spinning mule.
Olitor Kitchen gardener
Olitory Kitchen garden
Olographic will A handwritten will and signed by the individual that the will belongs to.
On the Club This is not an occupation but is often seen in census returns. It refers the the person being out of work and drawing benefit from "the Club", which was an appropriate insurance scheme.
OPC online Parish Clerk
Oral history A collection of family stories told by a member of the family or by a close family friend.
Oral will (Nuncupative will) - declared or dictated by the testator in his last sickness before a sufficient number of witnesses and afterwards put in writing
Orderly Military batman or officer's servant
Ordinary Keeper Innkeeper with fixed prices
Orphan Child whose mother, father, or both have died.
Orphan asylum orphanage Home for orphans
Orrery Maker Made an apparatus which showed planetary movements. Named after the inventor, the Earl of Orrery
Orrice Weaver Designer Wove lace patterns in silk
Osier or Withy Peelers Peeled bark from willow stems (osiers) for basket weaving - usually done by women & children
Osler Bird catcher
Ostiary Monastery doorkeeper
Ostler / Hostler Originally, a Hostler was the host of an Inn or (H)ostelry. Later became the man employed to look after the horses of the visitors
Out Crier Auctioneer
Outworker Home-worker, particularly in weaving
Overband Leather that goes round spine of a book
Overlooker Overseer or foreman esp. in textile mills
Overman Colliery supervisor - checked the workers and coal quality
Overseer The officials who performed the assessment and collection of the poor-rates
Owler Smuggler - particularly of sheep or wool
Oyster Hawker Street seller of pickled oysters - 18/19th century
Oyster Dredger Crew member on an oyster boat
