Meaning
A person who transported goods using a horse-drawn cart.
Description
Carters were the hauliers of the pre-railway age, moving goods of all kinds between farms, markets, mills and towns. They drove heavy wagons loaded with grain, coal, timber, stone and general merchandise. The work required skill in handling horses and knowledge of road conditions. Many carters were employed by farmers, merchants or carriers while others were self-employed. The arrival of the railways reduced long-distance carting but local delivery work remained important well into the 20th century.
Also Known As
Waggoner, Carrier, Drayman
Commonly Found In
- Census Returns
- Trade Directories
- Parish Registers
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