Old Occupation - 'Alphabet Keeper' ?

shanew

cam across an intriguing occupation in Watson's 1783 directory - google is not throwing up anything useful so far... he's not related to me in any way, just curious. Anyone come across this before or have any ideas ?

William Maturin, Clerk of the Munster Road and Alphabet keeper to the General Post office, Dublin. 57 Camden st.



thanks,

Waitsian

There are some entries in some Google books that seem to suggest that it's a supervisory position, maybe some kind of editor, or possibly a sorter, making sure names and addresses are correct?

I've tried various websites of archaic occupations and am coming up blank.

seamus

The only relevant thing I can find is a reference to "Alphabet office", as well as fees for using it and references to merchants.

Perhaps it was a precursor to the PO Box? I'm sure someone who knows their postal history would know about it.

CeannRua

There's an explanation here http://maturin.org.uk/7.html:
The Alphabet had a Keeper - on a low salary - who was in charge of taking the letters for specific Dublin subscribers who could then collect their letters from the window of a special sorting-office in College Green instead of waiting for the delivery to their door; for the privilege of getting their mail on London market prices etc. before their competitors the grateful customers expected to pay a gratuity to the Alphabet Keeper(s) (4).

Another one: Then there were an alphabet-man, who posted the names of merchants for whom letters had arrived, from http://www.gutenberg.org/files/42983/42983-h/42983-h.htm

shanew

CeannRua wrote: »

There's an explanation here http://maturin.org.uk/7.html:
The Alphabet had a Keeper - on a low salary - who was in charge of taking the letters for specific Dublin subscribers who could then collect their letters from the window of a special sorting-office in College Green instead of waiting for the delivery to their door; for the privilege of getting their mail on London market prices etc. before their competitors the grateful customers expected to pay a gratuity to the Alphabet Keeper(s) (4).

Another one: Then there were an alphabet-man, who posted the names of merchants for whom letters had arrived, from http://www.gutenberg.org/files/42983/42983-h/42983-h.htm

excellent, thank you..

Waitsian

CeannRua wrote: »

....a Keeper who was in charge of taking the letters for specific Dublin subscribers who could then collect their letters from the window of a special sorting-office...

I was on the right track.