Help with handwriting?

Question

http://www.wikitree.com/photo.php/2/29/Packer-458.png

The first full line is the occupation of my ggg grandfather. I can make out "Basket maker", but what does the rest say?

Comments

Thank you Martin Allen and Linda Bell. I had never heard of a double "s"...something nice to know for the future.

Answer 1

Basketmaker employing two men ----1 boy

dropmaker (not sure of this) (drafsmakers?)

Tailorep/fs

Comments

Awesome! That's great handwriting interpretation. Thank you so much.

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Dressmaker. It's the old double 's'. Hence Tailoress too. 'ss' in old manuscripts usually looks like 'fs'. It's similar to the origin of the German 'sz', which is now 'ß'.

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This is what I LOVE about this site. Everybody brings a little piece of the giant jigsaw puzzle we are trying to solve. Thanks Martin!

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Yes I agree, it is Dressmaker and Tailoress as to old manuscript writing using double ss