Buckskin Trades

Posted by JDTrower on Thursday, May 28, 2009.

The following is a list of historical trades of the 18th and early 19th centuries that an individual could choose as their Buckskin trade. This list is not all inclusive, if you find a trade that existed pre-1840, and it is appropriate for a Christian and in a Christian setting, then it is likely that trade would be permitted.

Actor: An actor performs a dramatic character in theatre for means of entertainment. In this time, singers and dancers would also be actors, as these had not completely split off into separate professions. ^{[01, 02]}
Apothecary: Apothecary (pronounced uh-poth-uh-ker-ee) is the historical profession for an individual that would often provide medical treatment, prescribe medicine, and perform surgery, not just serving as a druggist. Today a large portion of this role is now served by pharmacists, other parts have split off into separate specialties. Not only did apothecaries perform these pharmacy responsibilities but would also offer medical advice. Records show that apothecaries served as doctors, making house calls to treat patients, make and prescribe medicines, and perform surgeries (depending on their training). ^{[03, 04]}
Architect: Historically, as in modern times, an architect is trained in designing and planning buildings as well as supervising the construction of a building. An architect typically would apprentice in the building trades where they would not only learn how to build and construct but also to design and plan. ^{[05, 06]}
Arrowsmith: An arrowsmith is an individual that makes arrows. Another term for a person that makes arrows is fletcher. ^[07]
Auctioneer: An auctioneer is responsible for conducting the auctions and recognizing bids. They scan the crowd for bids. ^[08]
Baker: Bakers predominately baked, sold, and distributed bread. Bakers would have to work with the local miller to procure flour. Bakers would typically bake either an almost black loaf of bread made of rye, barley, or buckwheat, or white bread. ^{[09, 10, 11]}
Barber: A barber would be responsible for not only cutting hair, but also giving shaves and trimming beards. In addition they would perform surgeries and dentistry. In addition to haircutting, hairdressing, shaving, barbers would also perform such duties as surgery, the extraction of teetch, fire cupping, and bloodletting. Because of the fact that barbers performed medical procedures in addition to normal haircutting, they were called barber surgeons. ^[12]
Basketmaker: A basketmaker would take material such as white oak or other pliable material that can bend & hold its shape and weave them together shaping it into a basket. Basketweaving requires nimbleness. ^{[13, 14]}
Beekeeper: A beekeeper keeps colonies of bees to produce mainly honey, but also beeswax and honeycombs. Honey is commonly used as a sweetener and in food. It is also used for medicinal purposes. Beeswax is used for candles. ^{[15, 16]}
Blacksmith: Blacksmiths are someone who creates objects by forging metal (typically iron or steel) through the use of hammers, by bending, cutting, or striking the metal into the desired shape. Blacksmiths fashioned items for use by their fellow tradesman in the city or village as well as making items for use in the household. In addition to making new items, they would repair items that were in need of repair. ^{[17, 18]}
Bladesmith: A bladesmith is a maker of swords, daggers, knives, and other blades. They require skills in blacksmithing, woodworking, and leatherworking.^[19]
Bookbinder: A bookbinder is one who would physically assemble a book attaching covers to the text-block. There are multiple methods of binding including long-stitch bookbinding or leather binding. ^[20]
Bookkeeper: A bookkeeper is one who maintains and records all the day-to-day financial transactions that are incurred by a business. ^[21]
Brass founder: A brass founder works with brass or bronze. They begin by making molds of sand or clay that are able to withstand the extreme heat placed in them when the molten brass or bronze is poured into the molds. After the metal has cooled, the mold would be removed, breaking it in the process, and then the piece would be finished through scraping, filing and assembling parts, sanding, and polishing. Founders would make pieces that would be used in the finished products of other tradesmen and in the home. ^[22]
Butcher: A butcher cuts and prepares a variety of meat to be sold. Butchers have to be familiar with all parts of the animal and know how to make cuts strategically to maximize products and minimize waste. They would also make sausage out of the left over cuts and excess fat which the would mince and combine with salt, seasonings, or herbs and stuff into casings. ^[23]
Cabinetmaker: A cabinetmaker is a maker of fine furniture, in addition to cabinets and shelving. To be successful at making fine furniture, a cabinetmaker needs skills not only in fine carpentry and joinery, but also in architecture and artistic drawing. A cabinetmaker must master and use a variety of techniques and tools when making fine furniture. Often times a cabinetmaker is also a chairmaker. ^{[24, 25, 26]}
Carpenter: Probably one of the most important trades, particularly in cities, a carpenter would be busy building homes and other buildings. A carpenter would cut timber and boards and join them together to build sturdy homes and shops. They would also do repairs on these buildings to help keep them in good shape. ^{[27, 28]}
Chairmaker: A chairmaker makes chairs, benches, stools, and other furniture designed to be sat on. A chairmaker requires many of the same skills as required by a cabinetmaker. As a result many chairmakers are also cabinetmakers. ^{[29, 30]}
Chandler: A chandler makes candles using a source of fuel, for example beeswax, and a wick. In a time where there was no electricity, candles were a major source of light. ^[31]
Cheesemaker: A cheesemaker is someone who makes cheese by converting milk into cheese. ^[32]
Chocolatier: A chocolatier is a confectionery specialty that makes confections from chocolate. While a chocolatier doesn’t have to make chocolate from the cacao bean and other ingredients, some will. ^[33]
Clockmaker: As an artisan, a clockmaker makes and repairs clocks. Due to differences in tools and skills, clockmakers do not make or repair watches. Before clock parts were manufactured in factories, a clockmaker would not only make the clock, he would have to make all the parts before he could assemble the clock. In its time, clockmaking was the most technologically advanced trade. ^[34]
Collier: Colliers are manufacturers of charcoal. Charcoal is produced by heating wood or other substances in the absence of oxygen to remove water and other volatile constituents. ^[35]
Confectioner: A confectioner makes confections. While a chocolatier is a specialist, a confectioner is a generalist. They make and sale sweets including candy and fudge. They may make chocolates, which would also make them chocolatiers. ^{[36, 37]}
Cook: A cook is the individual that prepares food for meals, parties, teas, and other special occasions. A cook requires profound knowledge on not only nutrition but also on different cooking techniques and styles of cooking. ^{[38, 39]}
Cooper: A cooper crafts casks and barrels that are used for numerous things including storing gunpowder or flour, carrying water, churning butter, storing wine or beer, or as shipping containers. There are four types of coopers: dry (or slack) coopers, drytight coopers, white coopers, and wet (or tight) coopers. ^{[40, 41]}
Coppersmith: A coppersmith is a maker of objects from copper. ^[42]
Cutler: A cutler is a maker of cutlery. Cutlery is any hand instrument used to eat, prepare, or serve food. It is commonly known as silverware, although it is more commonly made with iron or steel then with silver. ^[43]
Draper: A draper is a merchant of cloth, textiles, and ready-to-wear clothing. He may also sell small items for sewing – needles, buttons, and zippers. ^[44]
Engraver: An engraver would do engravings in either metals or glass for decorative purposes, or engraving printing plates to print illustrations or prints. ^[45]
Furrier: A furrier is someone who makes items from animal fur. They would also repair, alter, or clean items made from fur. ^[46]
Glassmaker: A glassmaker makes items from glass. These items include glassware, window panes, and beads. Some glassmakers would specialize in making stained glass. ^[47]
Goldsmith: A goldsmith is a metalworker that specializes in working with gold. Goldsmiths would not only make jewelry items, but also items like goblets, patters, flatware, and ceremonial or religious items. ^[48]
Gunsmith: A gunsmith is an individual who designs, builds, modifies, or repairs firearms. Gunsmiths require a wide variety of skills including blacksmithing, whitesmithing, brass foundering, and woodworking, and as such, most gunsmiths specialize in only a few of the skills or learn the skills as applied to a specific weapon type. ^{[49, 50]}
Hatter: A maker and seller of hats is known as a hatter. ^[51]
Jeweler: A jeweler is a maker of jewelry from metal and/or precious stones. ^[52]
Leatherworker: A leatherworker is a person that creates products using leather. Objects such as saddles, covers for books, and clothing are all possible examples for leather. ^[53]
Limner: A limner is an artist, drawer, or illustrator. ^[54]
Locksmith: A locksmith is a maker of locks. Often times, he would also have skills in breaking locks. ^[55]
Merchant: A merchant is one who deals with trade in order to make a profit. He acquires product from tradesman (instead of producing the products himself) and sells it to consumers. ^[56]
Miller: A miller grinds grain into flour using a mill. The flour produced from the grain would be used by not only bakers, cooks, and pastrymen but also by housewifes. ^[57]
Musician: A musician performs or composes music. ^[58]
Painter: A painter is one who creates paintings. A good number of paintings would be landscapes scenes or portraits. Most paintings would be commissioned. ^[59]
Parson: A parson is a clergyman that preaches the gospel. In some areas, this role was filled by circuit preachers chat preached the gospel in several towns and rode from town to town on a circuit. ^{[60, 61, 62]}
Pastryman: A pastryman, is a baker specialty. While bakers commonly bake bread, pastrymen will make a wide variety of pastries and other baked goods. ^[63]
Potter: A potter is one who makes pottery. Pottery includes stoneware, porcelain, and earthenware. ^[64]
Printer: A printer, probably one of the most important trades, fulfilled many purposes. Requiring literacy skills, a printer would not only print books, pamphlets, and newspapers, he would also serve as the town’s post office, office supply store, advertising agency, newsstand, and stationer. He would sell books and magazines as well as newspapers. ^{[65, 66]}
Pewtersmith: A pewtersmith is a metalworker that specializes in making items from pewter. Pewter would be used to make tableware until porcelain came along. ^[67]
Ropemaker: A ropemaker is a maker of rope that is used in many other jobs and trades. ^[68]
Shoemaker: A shoemaker, also known as a cobbler, is one who makes and repairs shoes. ^{[69, 70]}
Silversmith: A silversmith is a metalworker that works with silver. He would make silverware, candlesticks, and vases, and other artistic items. ^{[71, 72]}
Soapmaker: A soapmaker is one who makes soap. ^[73]
Swordsmith: A swordsmith is a bladesmith specialty that specializes in only making swords. ^[74]
Tailor: A tailor is a person who stitches and makes clothing for men. All clothing is custom made and fitted for individuals. ^{[75, 76]}
Tanner: A tanner tans animal hides to create leather and prevent it from decomposing. ^[77]
Tapicer: A tapicer is a specialist in weaving that makes tapestries. ^[78]
Teacher: A teacher is an educator of others. ^[79]
Tinsmith: A tinsmith is a metalworker that makes items out of tin. ^[80]
Watchmaker: As an artisan, a watchmaker makes and repairs watches. Due to differences in tools and skills, watchmakers do not make or repair clocks. Before watch parts were manufactured in factories, a watchmaker would not only make the watch, he would have to make all the parts before he could assemble the watch. ^[81]
Weaver: A weaver weaves cloth or fabric for use in clothing or other items using cloth. ^{[82, 83]}
Whitesmith: A whitesmith is a metalwork that does finishing work. ^[84]

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Buckskin Trades