What sort of work?.....

Chezza · Post by **Chezza** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 5:53 am

Hi all,

Thanks for your help with my name changes.

Now I know I have the correct person - could anyone please explain to me what sort of work a "Flesher" (I think it is!!) would do in the mid 1800's. I could only guess that it may be something to do with the butcher trade? or maybe work in a slaughterhouse?

Thanks

Chezza

Scozzie · Post by **Scozzie** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 8:10 am

Hi Chezza This site is useful:
http://www.scotroots.com/occupations.html

I'd guess a "flesher" is either a butcher or a tanner

DavidWW · Post by **DavidWW** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 9:40 am

Hmmmmm.........................

That's my new fact for today learnt!

I'd always taken flesher in Scotland to mean butcher, and that is supported by the definition in "The Concise Scots Dictionary", but the "The Scots Dialect Dictionary" gives as the definition for flesh, verb, "to shave off the flesh on the underside of hide in the process of tanning", .. so......, given that, a flesher has also to mean a person who carries on that occupation

David

Chezza · Post by **Chezza** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 4:24 am

Thanks Scozzie and David. Much appreciated.

Can't say it is a profession that has been carried on in the family!!

Chezza

JimM · Post by **JimM** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 6:53 pm

Hi Chezza

I have worked with leather for many years although not a flesher..

The fleshing and tanning process was/is an extremely unpleasant business.. I won't go into details but the premises would have been a rancid, foul smelling place.

In many towns the tanners would have to work on the outskirts due to the stench.

Jim

Chezza · Post by **Chezza** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 11:48 am

Hi Jim

Even though Robert was 71 when he died, I wonder if the conditions he worked in may have contributed to the Bronchial condition which was the cause of his death.

My husband carted freshly slaughtered cow hides from the local abatoirs for a short time - even under today's conditions the smell was not the best!!

Chezza

JimM · Post by **JimM** » Sun Sep 11, 2005 11:59 am

Hi Chezza
You say that he worked around the mid 1800s ... it was around the 1850's that chemicals including chromium and aluminium started to be used in leather production.
Before then the skins would be soaked for weeks in a stinking pit containing vegetable matter and dog dung!

It was after this process that the hair is shaved off and the skin is stripped to required thickness.

It is quite possible that his health was affected by the chemicals or the factory conditions.

Jim

Chezza · Post by **Chezza** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 5:06 am

Hi Jim

Robert was listed as retired in the 1871 census. In the 1850's he would have been in his 40's, so it is quite possible he worked using both proceedures you mentioned.

It looks like at least one of his sons followed him into the profession as well. I guess they all became accostomed to the smell.

Many thanks for the info.

Chezza