Daily AncestorJoiner
A joiner was a woodworker who made fine fitted work such as doors, window frames, stairs, paneling and furniture.
A carpenter framed a building; a joiner made the closely fitted parts that went inside it, using joints rather than nails where possible. Joiners also made chests, tables and cupboards.
In colonial records the joiner is distinct from the housewright and the cabinetmaker, but by the 1800s American usage blurred these, and many men were listed simply as carpenter.
As seen in a recordColonial town records, deeds and probate inventories
Saml. Pike, joiner, of Newbury
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Daily Ancestor. "Joiner." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/occupations/joiner. Last checked 2026-10-01.