What is a Carter?

What is a carter?

The old occupation of a carter refers to someone who had a cart and horse to transport goods.  Most importantly, they played an important role before the 1920s.  This is because they helped the movement of a wide variety of goods, such as agricultural produce, raw materials, and manufactured items.

They were either self-employed or employed by merchants, manufacturers or farmers.  Although, they were skilled workers, they did not hold the same prestige as craftsmen or merchants.  In fact, carters occupied a lower to middle class status in society. 

The term carter was used broadly, but there were regional variations in the name and specifics of the job.  For example, in Scotland, a carter might also be known as a carrier or sledder.

What was a carter’s role

• Transportation of Goods: Carters transported goods between farms, markets, towns, and cities. This was essential for trade and commerce before the advent of railways and automobiles.
• Maintenance of carts and animals: Carters were responsible for the upkeep of their carts and the horses that pulled them.  This included tasks such as repairing the cart, shoeing horses, feeding and grooming them. They had to follow regulations and bye-laws, just like today for cars and trucks, to maintain their cart and horse.  Here we have two newspaper articles from the early 20th century when 2 men maltreated a horse and another man who did not have his lights on his cart:

• Loading and Unloading: The job involved physical labour because they had to load and unload goods from their carts.  They had to ensure that the goods were securely fastened to prevent damage during transit.
• Route Planning: Carters needed to know the best routes to take, which could vary depending on weather conditions, road quality, and the destination.  They also needed to be aware of tolls which were many in Scotland.

They really did make the wheels of Scotland go round!

With the rise of railways, motor vehicles, and eventually trucks, the traditional role of the carter diminished.  By the mid-20th century, this old occupation disappeared.

Despite its decline, the legacy of the carter stills exists in  literature and historical records.  Identifying an ancestor who was a carter can help you understand their economic status and lifestyle.

Where to find documents relating to the carter job?

• Archival centres: both the City of Edinburgh Archives and the National Records of Scotland hold the records on The Incorporation of Carters in Leith. Perth Archives hold documents on 1844 Applications for Carters Licences.  So it is best to check the local archives where your ancestor resided to locate records on carters.
• Images – you can access old images of streets, people, occupations, transport from Scottish cities and towns, such as Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee.  Therefore, it is worth investigating to see if the local area you are interested in has any images.
• Post Office Directories: the National Library of Scotland has the online post office directories for Scotland and these publication will list trades alphabetically.

Other familiar records:

• Statutory and Old Parish Registers

• Census returns
• Cemetery Records
• Valuation rolls
• Wills and Last Testaments
• Military records
• Newspapers
• Emigration records

Can you think of anywhere else?

Are you any wiser on what is a carter?

I hope so.  The carter job was an essential part of historical economies, providing the necessary service of transporting goods.  While the role has become obsolete with modern transport, its significance is evident in historical contexts.