Refidentor - meaning?

[rachelwindsor]

Hiya,

I'm a local historian looking at the history of Leith, and have come across a profession called 'refidenter' on an old tombstone.

A Google search on this term provides no illumination, so I wondered whether anyone here can help me out?

Ta muchly.

Rachel

[mikeyBoab]

I've not heard it before, but I googled it too. Results always come up as something like "John Smith, refidenter in Glasgow . . . " or some such thing. If we assume that the "f" should actually be an "s" (not uncommon in old documents) it would be a "residenter", or perhaps "resident" - ie John Smith, resident of Glasgow.

I can't back this up, it's more or less a guess.

[mikeyBoab]

Ah - but check this out Residenter - definition of Residenter by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.

[rachelwindsor]

Originally Posted by mikeyBoab

I've not heard it before, but I googled it too. Results always come up as something like "John Smith, refidenter in Glasgow . . . " or some such thing. If we assume that the "f" should actually be an "s" (not uncommon in old documents) it would be a "residenter", or perhaps "resident" - ie John Smith, resident of Glasgow.

I can't back this up, it's more or less a guess.

Thanks Mikey.

This Google Book result appears to back that up.

Laws Concerning the Election of ... - Google Book Search

I had got all carried away with possible connections to the term fidenter and the similar connotations of con-fident. It does seem to be a largely Scots word though, judging by the results, which is perhaps why it flummoxed me so.

Thanks again.

R

I

[aNonnyMoose]

I've seen it used in the 18th century OPR of Dunfermline, in the context "residentor in the back of the Rood" - in other words, living behind the Abbey.