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Oyster Meter

  • Thread starter Thread starter MaryB
  • Start date Start date
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MaryB

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I have had a document from LMA transcribed although i can now read what it says there are certain things in it that i dont know.one of them being Occupation in 1771 Oyster Meeter. I have tryed doing a Google and it keeps asking me if i mean Meter,which i dont.
Can anybody help me?

Thankyou
Mary
 
Mary,

I suspect that this is either a wrong transcription or a wrong spelling in the original. Do you have the original entry and could you scan and post it?

Chris
 
Chris.

Yes i do have the original but i would'nt know where abouts it is for a start,plus its on A3 paper to big for my scanner.

Thankyou anyway.

Mary
 
Re: Oyster Meter

Hi MaryB
I think you will find the term Oyster Meter means an official who measures and weighs Oysters, proberably in London ports or who I suppose measured the amount of material (Oyster shells) needed or used in the button making in Birmingham perhaps.

I have heard of the old occupation of a Corn Meter, who is listed as an official who measures and weighs corn at market, so the term 'meter' must mean the occupation of a measurer. I would think it would be a very responsible occupation for some of the more educated workers.

In the National Archives search index if you put in the words "Oyster Meter" you will find a number of references to the occupation of Oyster Meter mentioned in Wills so this proves that it is a valid occupation. There are also references to Onion and Fruit meters in the London Corporation.

Maybe if you put "directory of old occupations" in Google or Amazon you may be able to find some of the publications about this.

Hope this is of some help
Louisa
 
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Thankyou you both very much for your help. THey were living in Southwark it seems they were'nt short of money so perhaps it was a good job.

Mary
 
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