Genealogy Chat

*Note to self* Always view the document!

Could "John Tucker, of Bridport" be a mole-catcher or catcher of vermin?

It's obviously an ancient and now obsolete term. None that I can find remaining in Dorset in any census.

John, did you look at the second will I mentioned (Mary Golding)? In that Mary (who is dying) leaves "the bed in which I lie" to John Tucker (the son of the John Tucker, Volmonger). Possibly some vermin in that!

I didn't, but I've heard that leaving 'the bed in which I lie' part before.

The strangest thing's you think about when you can't sleep.
I believe that Tucker was a wool merchant.

The term 'monger' is Old English, as we know, and there's no reason why the word "vol" should not also be that language. Now, allied to OE is German and there's a German word 'Wolle' (pronounced 'voller').

Could it be that the 'volmonger' is a archaic term for the trade of wool-dealer or wool merchant?

It would explain the connection between Tucker and the wig-making Golding family. What are wigs fashioned from? Yep, you've guessed it...

Could be, John. There are 5 Tucker's in the 1791 directory for Bridport but no John and no volmongers!

Often you find that 'V' is used instead of 'W' (there was no letter W in Latin). A Wolmonger was a dealer in wool, which is probably what was used in the cheaper wigs.

See page 28 of:

http://socserv2.socsci.mcmaster.ca/econ/ugcm/3ll3/power/WoolTrade.pdf

Thanks, Paul. Mystery solved.

I would tend to agree with the trade Volmonger involving the selling of voles (water voles) or even rats which were often classified together. I'm sure we are all familiar with the term "ratcatcher" and several old paintings of city life often include a picture of a man with several of these creatures strung along a pole. No different from people eating squirrel which was also quite common. :-S