What was a "bosc maker?"?

Question

I came across an 1850 US census record for a man in New York City. His occupation: Bosc Maker. You can see the actual image of the census ledger page here:
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-11754-97408-50
Line 36, B. Oldake

The occupation _could_ be "Bose Maker," but I don't think so. Look at the "c" in "Doctor" on 32 and other "c"s made by the census taker.

I have looked through a number of web sites giving explanations of old occupations and haven't found it.

TIA

Answer 1

Artificial flower making was usually a woman's job. Perhaps he made ceiling roses?



Edit

Have you tried looking for him in the 1841 English census or do you have more details about him so we can look?

Answer 2

I've continued looking for some explanation of either "bosc maker" or "bose maker." I did find "bose maker" listed as occupations of some people who worked in a box factory, listed in a 1911 Yorkshire, England census record. This is the link to that transcribed census record: http://www.thanksfrank.co.uk/census_1911_14.htm



The individuals listed as "bose maker" are near the end of the transcribed records living in "Abode: 2, Sheffield Road, Penistone, Yorkshire." If the occupation is "bose maker," then what is/was a "bose?"



Since the census record that interests me is for a man who was born in England, perhaps "bose maker" was a more common term in England? I believe B. Oldake in the record which interests me immigrated to New York City during the 1840s.



Thanks for the guesses, so far.

Answer 3

I'd guess "Base Maker" and the tail of the "a" in "Base" was too high. Argument against, the "e" in "base" doesn't quite match those in "Feed Store", in the next line. What the bases were used for is anyone's guess.



My wife guessed "Rose Maker", which would be someone who made artificial flowers. Several people on the page have names that start with "B" and "R", and the distinction isn't always clear.

Answer 4

I would say it was rose maker http://19thcenturyhistorian.wordpress.com/2013/07/22/a-is-for-artificial-flower-makers/