So............. should they be called "shoemakers" or "cordwainers" or is that all "cobblers"?
Between the 16th and 18th Centuries shoemakers and cobblers were two completely separate trades. Cobblers were not permitted to make shoes or boots or even to work on the uppers of any shoes or boots. They were restricted to the repairs of soles and heels. Cordwainers used a special type of leather which I understand originated in Spain. Cordwainer boots were made for special purposes such as for when riding with hounds or with a military uniform or if paying a formal visit to "his lordship". Further on their careers some shoemakers and cordwainers also acquired the additional title of "Master Shoemaker (or Cordwainer)" or "Shoemaker ( or Cordwainer Master)". This denoted that they had served an apprenticeship and were also designated to be an employer. Some shoemakers and cordwainers (later Masters) appear in my Family Tree and lived in the North West Somerset area so the likelihood was that the cordwainer side of their activities was more to do with the area of hunting and less of the landed gentry although this could still have been an aspect of their work. I'm not sure if it paid that well as I see that one of them, having been a shoemaker etc all his life was suddenly living at the Carpenter's Arms in Brompton Ralph as a shoemaker and Innkeeper! - or perhaps he was one of those few males who can multi-task!!
