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What's a 'Skin Collector'???

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Lesley

Lesley Report 3 May 2013 17:36

I've found a relative on the 1861 census, from Sligo Ireland and his occupation is down as a 'Skin Collector' Haven't a clue what type of skin, human or animal, sounds gruesome to me. Is there anyone on here who might know more than me??? :-S

Chris in Sussex

Chris in Sussex Report 3 May 2013 18:29

Guessing...

Trapping, killing and skinning animals to sell on to the fur/clothing trade? Rabbits maybe?

Chris

Researching:
Avatar...My darling Dad. 1931-2019 'Take nothing on its looks, take everything on evidence. There is no better rule' Charles Dickens, Great Expectations. 'A brickwall is a problem that you haven't solved yet' Dave Annal http://media.nationalarchives.gov.uk/index.php/brick-walls-and-lost-ancestors/

Kense

Kense Report 3 May 2013 18:33

By googling "skin collector occupation" I found a couple of references. It seems that they collected animal skins from rabbits and hares, sometimes cats, in a similar manner to rag and bone men.

DazedConfused

DazedConfused Report 3 May 2013 20:23

And also Rat Catchers were paid by the amount of rats they caught so they would keep the skins to prove how many they had caught. They are often depicted wearing the rats/skins from their belts.

Researching:
We are all of us in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars, Oscar Wilde New avatar, my dad age about 3/4 months, could have been worse, it could have been the awful nude on a rug!!

Sally

Sally Report 3 May 2013 21:49

piglets pal
that's interesting

my gt gt granddad was a rat catcher

sally w <3

Researching:
stephen taafe*muriel denley1917 he died 3 weeks later

GlitterBaby

GlitterBaby Report 3 May 2013 21:56

Could also be mole skins as they were used to make coats

Researching:
PLEASE DO NOT: send me information concerning your thread on the board as it should be posted on your request where all members can see it. PLEASE DO NOT: ask me for help with lookups as they should be placed on the boards to get the best possible result. PLEASE DO NOT: open your tree just because I have posted information on your thread as I will not be related. THANK YOU. Researching Carter, Cass and Walker in England. Researching Caven, McKill, Sutherland and Will in Scotland.

Lesley

Lesley Report 4 May 2013 07:56

thanks for that, sounds disgusting though