GENEALOGY RESOURCES 
City Directories: Occupations

Does an old city directory list your ancestor as  a “gasftr” or a “mess”? Did he sell or make “agri impts”? Maybe he was a “propr” or a “solcer”.

You can decode these odd-looking listings by finding the “Abbreviations” page of the directory!

RESEARCH TIP: Our ancestors plied many trades that no longer exist. Go to “Old Occupations Explained” at http://usgenweb.org/research/occupations.shtml to find a detailed list of these jobs.