The following were sent to me by a friend who is both a member of the
Association for Living History, Farm and Agricultural Museums list and the
RevWar list.  They were posted on the RevWar list a few years ago and
further explain some of what Neil Howlett refers to in his post.

Martha Katz-Hyman
****************
This is from the Pennsylvania Gazette:

City of Philadelphia, December 13, 1763.

AS it is intended to put in Execution the Law for cleaning the paved Streets
and Alleys of this City, and in order thereto to divide the same into two
Parts; one to contain all the Pavements South of High (or Market) Street,
together with the same; the other, those Northward of said Street; any
Persons willing to undertake this Business, under the Regulations of the Act
of Assembly, are desired to send in their Proposals, sealed, on or before
the
30th Instant, to the MAYOR, for Consideration.

By the Law it is enacted, "That the Mayor or Recorder, with four Aldermen,
and four City Commissioners, shall, from time to time, employ and agree with
proper and capable Persons to clean the Streets, &c. and to remove and carry
off the Dirt and Filth, in such Manner, and at such Times, as they shall
appoint; and a Penalty of Five Pounds is laid on such Person, so agreed
with,
for not taking on him the Office of Scavenger, and Twenty Shillings for
every
Offence, in not removing all and every Part of the Filth, &c.

"And all Housekeepers, and Owners or Occupiers of Lots, and Sextons or
Keepers of Churches, and other public Buildings, and of Burying Grounds, are
to sweep their Footways, where the Cartway is paved, once a Week, when not
hindered by Ice, under the Penalty of Five Shillings for Neglect or Refusal.

"And no Person is to cast, or lay any Shavings, Ashes, Dung, or other Filth,
or Annoyance, on any Pavement, under a Penalty not exceeding Twenty
Shillings
for each Offence, but is to keep such Shavings, &c. in some other Place,
till
the Scavenger shall attend with his Cart to carry off the same, which he is
to do once a Week, if required, under the Penalty of Five Shillings for
Neglect or Refusal.

"Provided that all Persons pay such Price as shall be settled, for carrying
off all Mud, Ashes, and other Filth, arising from their Trades or
Occupations, and not incident to common Housekeeping; unless they chuse to
carry it off otherwise at their own Expence."

There are later references in the PA Gazette which are similar in nature.
Elizabeth Drinker also talks about having the nightmen come to clean out the
privy.

My great great great grandfather was a carter, according to the 1850 Census.
I'm guessing that this was not the same thing as a scavenger.

Karen Mullian
***********************
This was actually brought up on the list [RevWar list] a while back.
Scavengers (or
night scavengers) apparently were the ones who emptied the public
privies.

Though it's not exactly Rochester, here's what the Laws of the City of
New York, 1834, have to say about scavengers: Under Chapter XVI, Title
II, Paragraphs 15 to 20:

15. The City Inspector may grant permission to empty any sink, privy or
cistpool, which may, in his judgement, require the same, and by which
emptying the public health will not be endangered.
16. The said City Inspector shall inspect or cause to be inspected, all
privies, sinks and cistpools which may hereafter be built in the city of
New-York, and shall report all infractions of the the laws of the said
city in the building of the same, to the Attorney of the Corporation.
17. The said City Inspector shall keep a register designating the
situation of such sinks or privies as are authorized to be emptied, and
the days on which the emptying thereof is required.
18. The City Inspector shall license under his hand, so many and such
persons as may be necessary to act as night scavengers; displacing all
or any of them at pleasure, and appointing others in their places: he
shall also make such rules and regulations for the government of night
scavengers as he may think just and proper.
19. Any night scavengers who shall, after being served with a copy of
such rules and regulations, violate any or either of the provisions
thereof, shall forfeit and pay for every such offense, the sum of five
dollars.
20. No person shall act as a night scavenger without being licensed as
provided in the eighteenth section of this title, under penalty of ten
dollars for each offense.

More than you'll ever want to know about night scavengers.

Scott Peters