Genealogy Chat

Top tip - using the Genes Reunited community

Welcome to the Genes Reunited community boards!

  • The Genes Reunited community is made up of millions of people with similar interests. Discover your family history and make life long friends along the way.
  • You will find a close knit but welcoming group of keen genealogists all prepared to offer advice and help to new members.
  • And it's not all serious business. The boards are often a place to relax and be entertained by all kinds of subjects.
  • The Genes community will go out of their way to help you, so don’t be shy about asking for help.

Boards

Quick Search

Single word search

Tools

Findmypast DNA Banner

Icons

  • New posts
  • No new posts
  • Thread closed
  • Stickied, new posts
  • Stickied, no new posts

OSTLER - does anyone wknow what occupation this is

Login to Add Reply Watch This
ProfilePosted byOptionsPost Date

Lisa

Lisa Report 3 Oct 2003 10:47

I have a choice of 2 for my great great Grandfather, one is an Ostler in 1881 does anyone know what this is?

Crista

Crista Report 3 Oct 2003 10:53

Lisa, Typing in Ostler and Occupation in Google shows that an Ostler is a groom/stableman. Crista

Valice in

Valice in Report 3 Oct 2003 10:53

Dictionary gives it as a groom employed by an inn

Terence

Terence Report 3 Oct 2003 11:08

Hi Valerie I wonder if that's where the word Hostlery originates from ? Terry

}((((*> Jeanette The Haddock <*)))){

}((((*> Jeanette The Haddock <*)))){ Report 3 Oct 2003 12:32

Terry Good thinking. The definition of an Inn (as opposed to an Hotel, Tavern etc) is an establishment for the accommodation, rest and refreshment of those horse borne travellers, stabling for the horses was a requirement. Jeanette

Maxine

Maxine Report 3 Oct 2003 12:54

Hi Lisa The definition given is quite correct, but often its use was not as strict as that, often the term was used to described someone who looked after horses, or worked with them. My great great grandfather was an Ostler/ Carter. Regards Maxine

Jacqui

Jacqui Report 3 Oct 2003 13:18

That's interesting Maxine - was a Carter the same as a Carrier then? my grt-grandad was a Carrier and I have always assumed he used horses to "cart" away his cargo/parcels/whatever he was transporting. Jacqui

Bob

Bob Report 3 Oct 2003 21:23

A Carter/ carrier could also be known as a Carman, a number of my ancestors we in the haulage business using horse and cart. They were all known as carmen. Bob

Patricia

Patricia Report 3 Oct 2003 21:26

OSTLER - originally applied to an innkeeper/taverner or one who received guests especially in an monastery (13th century) but later on it came to mean stableboy or a person who looked after horses, coming from the old French 'hostelier'

Helen in Kent

Helen in Kent Report 3 Oct 2003 21:56

I think an ostler is the person who, when you arrived at an inn on a journey, looked after your horses for you while you stayed at the inn, and supplied you with fresh ones for the next stage of your journey if you required them. I seem to recall that shakespeare is full of references to them!!!

Researching:
Locke, Rochester, Portsea, Derby