Ratcatchers

This project is to create a database of those People who gave their profession as Ratcatcher or Rat destroyer. Mainly around London, Middlesex and Essex areas in the 19^th century. 

Bibliography.

1. 'The Book of Trades or Library of Useful Arts Volumes I, II & III, 1811-18' Published by the Wiltshire Family History Society.
2. 'Occupations and Descriptions of Yesteryear Folk' Published by the Devon Family History Society 1998.
3. 'Occupations in the Nineteenth and Early 20th Century. A Dictionary of Occupational Terms based on the classification of occupations used in the Census of Population 1921. First published in 1927 by the ministry of Labour. Now Published on CD-ROM by OSFACH Research Group, The Open University (CDR 0088).
4. 'Occupational Sources for Genealogists, A Bibliography' by Stuart Raymond. Published by the Federation of Family History Societies 1992.
5. 'Londoner's Occupations A Genealogical Guide' by Stuart Raymond. Published by the Federation of Family History Societies 1994.
6. 'Scottish Trades and Professions, A selected Bibliography' compiled by D. R. Torrance. Published by the Scottish Association of Family History Societies 1991.
7. 'London Labour and the London Poor' by Henry Mayhew published in 4 volumes from 1851-1862.
8. 'Mayhew's London', Edited by Peter Quennell and selected from 'London Labour and the London Poor'. Published by Spring Books about 1970.
9. 'London's Underworld', Edited by Peter Quennell and selected from 'London Labour and the London Poor'. Published by Spring Books about 1970.
10. 'Mayhew's Characters', Edited by Peter Quennell and selected from 'London Labour and the London Poor'. Published by Spring Books about 1970.
11. 'Full Revelations of a Professional Ratcatcher, after 25 years experience' by Ike Matthews. Published by Messrs W. H. Smith, Blackfriar's Street, Manchester. (publication date probably at the turn of the century?). Copy held in Guildhall Library, London.
12. 'RATS and how to exterminate them', Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Bulletin No. 30, published 1935, priced 6d.
13. 'Rural life in Victorian England' by G. E. Mingay, published by Alan Sutton 1990.
14. 'Mid Victorian Britain 1851-75' by George Best. Published by Fontana Paperbacks, 4th impression 1987.
15. 'The Times London History Atlas', published by Times Books in 1997, reprint 1998.
16. 'London through the ages' by Harold Bagust. Published by Thornhill Press 1982.
17. 'The tales of a rat catching man' by D Brian Plummer and published in 1978 by Boydell Press Ipswich.
18. 'The Brown Rat' by Graham Twigg. Published by David & Charles in 1975
19. 'Rats' by Martin Hart Published by Alison & Busby.
20. 'Ratting and Rabitting for amateur game keepers' by Guy N. Smith. Published by Saiga Publishing Co. Ltd.
21. 'The Population History of England 1541-1871' by E. A. Wrigley and R. S. Schofield, published by Cambridge University Press.
22. 'The worst jobs in History, two thousand years of miserable employment' by Tony Robinson and David Willcock, published by Boxtree 2004. ISBN 0 7522 1533 7

Specialist Indexes.
Indexes are being compiled by family historians for particular trades and professions. Lists of these indexes are available of which the following are examples: -
23. Index of Indexers compiled by Brian Jones and Published by him.
24. Specialist Indexes for Family Historians. By Stuart Raymond & Elizabeth Hampson originally published by the Federation of Family History Societies 1998.
25. Tools and Trades history Society. Contact address not known.
26. Brickmakers Index by David Cufley, Windycroft, Herongate Road, Hextable, Kent BR8 7RQ.