Ask a Genealogist

Question: I was examining a probate in Cheshire England in 1628, the occupation is not common.  Can you tell me what a webster was?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Answer: A webster was the occupation of a loom operator.  This was also know as a weaver, and was generally a female occupation when dealing with the looms.

Question:  Can you tell me what the old occupation of a "Flusherman" was?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Answer:   A "Flusherman" was an old term for a plumber, or one who would flush out water pipes.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Question: My great-grandfather was a photographer I understand in Boston during the Civil War.  Can you advise a source to confirm when and where his shop was?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Answer:  First off you will want to examine the Boston City Directories on microfiche at NEHGS.  We have the run of all surviving directories from 1789 to 1981.  Also I would highly suggest examining Chris Steele and Ronald Polito's book A Directory of Massachusetts photographers,1839-1900 (Camden, Me.: Picton Press, 1993).  This volume is located on the sixth floor of our library under call # F63/D57/1993.