Meaning
A person who owned or managed a wharf and charged for its use.
Description
Wharfingers owned or operated wharves where goods were loaded and unloaded from river vessels and coastal ships. They charged dock dues for the use of the wharf and warehouses and were responsible for the safe custody of goods passing through. Many wharfingers also operated as merchants, buying and selling goods as well as providing storage and handling facilities. The role required knowledge of shipping, cargo handling and commercial practice. Wharfingers were important figures in the commercial life of river towns and ports.
Also Known As
Wharf Owner, Dock Master
Commonly Found In
- Census Returns
- Trade Directories
- Parish Registers
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