Genealogy Helps and Lookups: AF-1120: Ashes, Bones, and Grease — The Rag-and-Bone Collector

Long before cities had garbage trucks and recycling centers, there were the rag-and-bone collectors—wandering figures with pushcarts, sacks, and sharp eyes trained on the gutters and alleys of the industrial world. These scavengers were among the earliest forms of organized waste management, turning trash into treasure in a time when nearly everything had some kind of second life.

Though rarely respected in their time, these individuals were vital to the ecosystem of 18th- and 19th-century cities. Their work supplied raw materials to soap makers, glue manufacturers, paper mills, and even farmers. They lived on the fringes of society, but their role supported entire industries. In many families, rag-picking or bone collecting wasn’t just a temporary job—it was a generational trade...

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