cordwainer

The Cobbler on the step

from National Library of Ireland on The Commons

• 19 older comments, and then…
• Suck Diesel said:

  Here he is
  
  www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Fermanagh/Rossl...

• National Library of Ireland on The Commons said:

  Suck Diesel Isn’t our online Census a marvellous thing! Well done National Archives of Ireland.

• John Spooner said:

  But is he a cobbler or a cordwainer? A cordwainer makes shoes from new leather (originally using leather from Cordoba), whereas a cobbler makes shoes from old bits of leather ('cobbled' together). One of my great-great-great grandfathers was a cordwainer, and they were very particular about the distinction. New leather was more expensive, so his customers were all 'well-healed'. Or more likely the peasants in his village couldn't afford his products, and he went bankrupt before moving to the big town nearby.
  
  The census sits on the fence with 'shoe maker'.

• National Library of Ireland on The Commons said:

  John Spooner "Well healed" I like it. I see he describes himself as "Shoe Maker" in both the 1901 and 1911 Census. I am afraid that does not answer the question you raised.

• National Library of Ireland on The Commons said:

  John Spooner
  There are 8 men in Ireland with the occupation of Cordwainer in the 1901 Census
  There are 2 men in Ireland with the occupation of Cordwainer in the 1911 Census
  
  There are the odd few Cord Wainers in both 1901 and 1911, along with Board wainer, Rent wainer, Horse wainer and a Cord winner!