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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Ayrshire => Topic started by: wattnb on Saturday 07 February 15 16:23 GMT (UK)
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If a person in the Census is described as Annuitant, what is the likely source of income. I have an example in my family history. I know her husband was a weaver so they probably had very little money. I have copied the extract below:
Surname First name(s) Rel Status Sex Age Occupation Where Born Remarks
LITTLE James Head M M 21 Shoemaker (Journeyman) Ayrshire - Fenwick
Page: 542/32 LITTLE Isabella Wife M F 21 Ayrshire - Kilmarnock
LITTLE Margaret Dau - F 2m Lanarkshire - Glasgow
LONDARY Margaret Visitr W F 46 Annuitant Ayrshire - Galston
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Basically anyone that receives an annual income - an annuity.
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Yes, but could you suggest where it might come from, being as her husband was a poor weaver?
Norma
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I think one might assume that her husband possibly paid weekly/monthly into a fund, possibly a Friendly Society, to provide for himself when he was not able to work, or his wife when he died. :-\
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As said there can be a number of possible sources for the receipt of an annuity but without knowing more of the background of the family anything would be pure guesswork.
The two most common are:
1. Friendly Society/Association where husband was a fully paid up member - a pre cursor to Life Insurance
2. A sum bequeathed by a relative in their will
3. Possibly investment of life savings to give an income.
PS
I know her husband was a weaver so they probably had very little money.
You don't say which time period but prior to mechanisation some weavers were relatively high earners with their own Guild which was tightly controlled