Handwriting mystery, from 1900 Census

[AllenKoe]

Hi,

Anyone here particularly good at deciphering old hand-writing? This was the Census-Taker's version of a Dealer's activities in downtown Manhattan (NYC) - we know from other sources that he was selling "Novelties" - Toys - Umbrellas - Canes - and even small phonographs. Various imports/exports, maybe like "fancy goods" or the first '99-cent store.' Late 1890s...

"Dealer" I can immediately see - but what is the adjacent word, that might fit the context?

DealerUmbrellasPhonographs1900Census.jpg (11.35 KiB) Viewed 1236 times

Allen

[Curt A]

It looks like P-a-t-r-i-n-s Dealer... Maybe "Patterns" misspelled? I can imagine an immigrant whose first language was not english, pronouncing patterns as patrins... Genealogy research is full of such things - what did the person actually say AND what did the interviewer hear or interpret?

Screenshot 2023-08-21 at 5.45.54 PM.png (16.54 KiB) Viewed 1213 times

My family name is Angstman, but the census taker wrote Aukeman, which made it difficult to find...

[KCW]

Tough call - I spend a lot of time doing genealogy and have looked at these census pages a lot. When I get tripped up by handwriting I will compare to other letters on the same page (usually the enumerator is the same for several pages). If you go letter by letter and then find other examples of that same letter on the same image it’s possible to sort it out (looking at the other people enumerated by the same person). Post the entire page and we can give it a shot.

[KCW]

Tough call - I spend a lot of time doing genealogy and have looked at these census pages a lot. When I get tripped up by handwriting I will compare to other letters on the same page (usually the enumerator is the same for several pages). If you go letter by letter and then find other examples of that same letter on the same image it’s possible to sort it out (looking at the other people enumerated by the same person). Post the entire page and we can give it a shot.

[AllenKoe]

Hi KCW,

If I get that larger sampling, I will let you know. I did do a Search on Ancestry with the word "Dealer" listed under Occupation (no name), and I got zillions of combinations, like poultry dealer, patents, patent medicine dealer, etc.

Almost looks/sounds like "patron." Maybe they meant "gadgets... or decorative furnishings?"

It is a long shot.

Allen

[Shawn]

Allen, (all)

A couple of observations.

• I don't believe the "dot" that appears above the text is part of the text. More likely it is an artifact of the paper or printing. Therefore, what has been assumed an "i" in P a t r "i" is most likely not an "i"

• What has been assumed to be an "a" in P "a" t... Does not match the form of the "a" in dealer. I suspect it is not an "a".

Allen it would be ideal to see a larger sample of writing from this document to beging to look for patterns in characters to really match letters and figure out what is what in this word. Can you post more of the document to examine?

Shawn

[Curt A]

Now, start thinking of ANY seven letter word that starts with a "P" and ends with an "s"...

[Curt A]

ALL seven letter English words starting with P and ending with S...
This list of 7 letter words that start with P and end with S is valid for both American English and British English with meaning.

players pablums packers packets padauks padders paddies paddles
padnags padouks paellas paesans pagings pagodas paisans pajamas
pakehas pakoras palaces palapas palates palings pallets pallors
palmers palsies palters pampers panadas panamas panders pandies
panfuls pangens paniers panners pansies panties panzers papains
papayas papisms papists pappies pappous papules papyrus parades
parados paramos parangs paraphs parcels parches pardahs pardons
parents pareses paresis pargets pariahs parians parings parises
parkers parlays parleys parlors parlous parodos paroles parrals
parrels parries parrots parsecs parsers parsons patrons partons
paruras parures pascals passels passers pastels pasters
pasties pastils pastors patacas patches patents patinas patines
patness patrols patrons patsies pattens patters patties patzers
paulins paupers pausers pavanes pavings paviors pavises pawnees
pawners pawnors pawpaws paydays paynims payoffs payolas payouts
peaches peahens peanuts peaveys peavies pebbles pechans peckers
pectens pectins pedalos pedants peddles pedlars pedlers peelers
peepers peepuls peeress peeries peewees peewits pegless pelages
pelites pellets pelmets pelorus pelotas pelters pelvics penangs
penates pencels pencils penises penners pennies pennons pensees
pensils pentads pentyls penults peonies peoples pepinos peplums
peppers pepsins peptics peptids perches percuss perdues pereons
perhaps periods peritus permits pernods perries perrons persons
perukes peruses pesades pesetas pesewas pesters pestles petards
petasos petasus petites petnaps petrels petrols petrous petsais
petters pettles pewters peyotes peyotls phallus phenols phenoms
phenyls phlegms phloems phloxes phobias phobics phoebes phoebus
phoneys phonics phonies phonons photics photogs photons phrases
phreaks phyllos physeds physics phytins phytols phytons piaffes
piazzas picaras picaros piceous pickers pickets pickles pickups
picnics piddles pidgins piecers pierces pieties piffles
piggies piggins piglets pigmies pignuts pigouts pigpens pikakes
pilaffs pileous pileups pilfers pilings pillars pillows pilules
pimples pinangs pinatas pincers pinches pinders pineals pinenes
pingers pingoes pinions pinites pinkens pinkers pinkeys pinkies
pinkoes pinners pinnies pinoles pinones pintles pintoes pinyons
piolets pipages pipings pipkins pippins piquets piranas pirates
pirayas pishers pissers pistils pistols pistons pistous pitayas
pitches piteous pitiers pitmans pitsaws pizzles placers placets
plagues plaices plaints planers planets plaques plashes plasmas
platans platens platers platies pleases pledges pleiads plenums
pleuras plexors plights plinths plisses plotzes ploughs plovers
plowers plunges plurals plushes plusses pluteus plutons
plowers plunges plurals plushes plusses pluteus plutons pneumas
poaches pockets podites podiums podsols podzols poesies poetess
poetics pogroms pointes poisers poisons polders poleyns polices
pollees pollens pollers polyols polypus pomaces pomades pomelos
pommels pommies pompoms pompons pompous ponchos ponders pongees
pongids pontils pontons pooches poodles poolers popguns poplars
poplins poppers poppets poppies popples popsies porches porgies
porisms porkers porkies portals porters posadas poseurs posoles
possess possets possums postals posters posties postins potages
potboys poteens potfuls pothers potions potpies potsies
potters potties pottles potzers pouches pouffes pounces pourers
pouters powders powters powwows pozoles praises prajnas prances
praters prayers preacts preamps prearms prebids prebuys precess
precuts prefabs prefers prelims premeds premies premiss prepays
presets presses prestos pretors prevues prexies preyers priapus
pricers priests primers princes prisons prisses privets privies
prizers probers probits process profess profits projets prolans
prolegs prologs prompts propels propers propyls prosers prosses
proteas proteus protons protyls provers prowess proxies pruners
pseudos psocids psyches psychos psyllas psywars pterins publics
puckers puddles pueblos puffers puffins pugrees puisnes
pulings pullers pullets pulleys pullups pulpers pulpits pulpous
pulques pulsars pulsers pumelos pumices pummels pumpers punches
pundits pungles punkahs punkers punkeys punkies punkins punners
punnets punters punties pupates puppets puppies puranas purdahs
purfles purgers purines purisms purists purlins purples pursers
pursues purveys pushers pushups pusleys pussies putlogs putoffs
putouts puttees putters putties puzzles pyemias pygmies pyjamas
pyknics pylorus pyrenes pyrexes pyrites pyrolas pyrones pyropes
pyrosis pyrrols pythons pyurias pyxides

Now, think of all seven letter words that might be misspelled...

[Lah Ca]

Another possibility is the Latin adjective, Patrius, which I believe is also a surname.

2023-08-23 07.00.07 www.wordsense.eu 6be1e0b52b5d.jpg (10.07 KiB) Viewed 975 times

There are a number of contemporary companies with this name.

[Curt A]

Allen's quote: "This was the Census-Taker's version of a Dealer's activities in downtown Manhattan (NYC) - we know from other sources that he was selling "Novelties" - Toys - Umbrellas - Canes - and even small phonographs. Various imports/exports, maybe like "fancy goods" or the first '99-cent store.' Late 1890s..."

The most logical explanation (at least to me) is that the word before Dealer is the family name "Patrino".
From Ancestry.com:

Screenshot 2023-08-23 at 10.17.04 AM.png (84.8 KiB) Viewed 971 times

The description "Patrino Dealer" makes sense as an Italian immigrant description of his business as a general "dealer" of various items.