Flesher-Ayrshire-1836

Would a Flesher, at that time, be a trade of simply removing the hide?
Today we have a Butcher but in the 1830's was meat cut and wrapped or
was the meat simply quartered? We have an ancestors' account book that
indicates he was dealing in hides but not much mention of
meat......would that make him a Flesher?

David H Wild...

As I understand it, a flesher was a butcher. I remember seeing from the
train as it passed through Carstairs a Cooperative shop with one window
marked "Fleshing Department".

Peter Goodey...

AIUI a flesher separated the hide from the flesh - his interest was in the
hide not the flesh and any subsequent butchery was someone else's job.

Lesley Robertson...

As someone else has already said, in Scotland, a flesher was a butcher. You
see it often on old buildings where butcher's shops have been.
It is easily to be found on the table of old terms for occupations on
Scotlands People.
Lesley Robertson

Hugh Watkins...

sound more like a tanner
or just a dealer or hide merchant
even a fur merchant

Hugh W

Ken Reinsborough
New Brunswick, Canada