Daily AncestorDetective
A detective investigated crimes and gathered evidence, either as a police officer or for a private agency.
A detective collects information to solve crimes by talking to witnesses and informants, gathering evidence and searching records. Some police forces made detectives from uniformed officers who passed an exam, while others hired them directly from civilian life. A detective may also work privately for a client.
The 1900 census instructions list "watchman, policeman, or detective" as examples in the service occupations.
As seen in a recordOccupation and industry columns of the 1910 to 1940 census
Owen Mulready, 44, Detective, City police
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Daily Ancestor. "Detective." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/occupations/detective. Last checked 2026-10-12.