A Land Owner or A Farm Worker?

[SouthernLight]

I have a Joseph TUPHOLME married to Hannah SMITH 29 Jan 1835.
 
In the 1851 and 1861 census he is recorded as being 'A Farmer of 30 Acres' at SeasEnd Road in Surfleet, where he lived with his family.
 
In 1871, his wife Hannah is recorded as still living in Surfleet with her daughter Ann Maria HARGRAVE (but no road shown) and is described as a 'pauper', as is her daughter.
 
If the occupation was shown as a farmer of 30 acres, does that mean he owned the farm or just worked on it?  In both census the family had a servant so I have to say I assumed that they owned it.
 
However, if they owned it, how did Hannah become a pauper the very year that her husband died?  Presumably if they owned the farm she wouldn't have needed to go on Parish Relief.   
 
Any input would be greatfully received.

Cheers

Leah (New Zealand)

[aghadowey]

In Ireland most people were tenants and did not actually own 'their' farm. They could easily had 50 or more acres, called themselves farmers, employed men and boys as farm labourers and young girls to work in the house but still have been tenants. Suspect could have been the same for England but someone will likely known more about this.
P.S. I should also add that many families farmed the same place as tenants for years without owning their land.

[GeoffE]

An ancestor of mine was described in successive censuses as

Farmer
AgLab
Farmer 2 acres
Cottager
(the last three living in the same place)

On his daughter's marriage certificate, after his death, he was Labourer.

[behindthefrogs]

In 1850 and 1860 it is much more likely that he rented the 30 acres rather than owned it.  One question you need to try to answer is whether his wife was capable of continuing to farm that land.  What occupation was she described as having in those census?  Were there any sons?  What was their occupations before and after their father's death?

Unless this was a particularly fertile area 30 acres would hardly support a large family unless he was a specialist farmer say a pig farmer or market gardener.  However in these cases the census returns would have specified this specialism.

David

[Beckey]

Hi,

In bapt. of daughter Ann Maria in 1836 he is shown as Farmer and the same at her marriage to Charles Smith Hargrave in 1854.
Son William in 1839, Joseph in1847, Mary Booth in 1849 buried 1849 inf. and Mary Booth in 1851 still farmer and Parish Clerk, so must have had some standing.

There was a Joseph Tupholme buried 30/1/1871 at Surfleet Seasend age 72, no other details and a Hannah Tupholme buried 19/9/1878 at Surfleet Seasend age 65.

Hope of some help.

[aghadowey]

Unless this was a particularly fertile area 30 acres would hardly support a large family unless he was a specialist farmer say a pig farmer or market gardener. However in these cases the census returns would have specified this specialism.

Farming was on a smaller scale in those days- dairy herds smaller, less acreage, etc.- and most were mixed farms (cattle, sheep, pigs, crops, etc.). You need to look at the size of other farms in area to get an idea of his agricultural standing in the community.

[SouthernLight]

Hi,

In bapt. of daughter Ann Maria in 1836 he is shown as Farmer and the same at her marriage to Charles Smith Hargrave in 1854.
Son William in 1839, Joseph in1847, Mary Booth in 1849 buried 1849 inf. and Mary Booth in 1851 still farmer and Parish Clerk, so must have had some standing.

There was a Joseph Tupholme buried 30/1/1871 at Surfleet Seasend age 72, no other details and a Hannah Tupholme buried 19/9/1878 at Surfleet Seasend age 65.

Hope of some help.

Thanks Becky this is great!

Do you have copies of the registers?  I have all of the details that you have quoted above, but do not have copies of anything.  If you don't have copies, do you know how I could get hold of them from within New Zealand?

I'm very greatful for everyone's input... although none the wiser yet.  I will check the census again as I'm sure I remember other 'farmer of X acres'  noted in other families.

[SouthernLight]

I should mention that I do have the birth certs for William, and both Mary Booths, as well as the death cert for Mary Booth the first.

I also have the death certs for both Thomas and Hannah, but it would be good to see the burial records.


Cheers

Leah

[SouthernLight]

In 1850 and 1860 it is much more likely that he rented the 30 acres rather than owned it.  One question you need to try to answer is whether his wife was capable of continuing to farm that land.  What occupation was she described as having in those census?  Were there any sons?  What was their occupations before and after their father's death?

David

In the 1851 census there is no occupation shown for Hannah.  However Ann Maria (shown as Maria) was recorded as 'Farmers Daughter'.  Interesting though, there is a gentleman named John WHITE who is shown as Brother and farmer of 7 acres who appears to be living in the same abode at the time of the census.  Not sure how his brother could have a different surname but I guess that will be another search.  Charles HARGRAVE, who later married Ann Maria TUPHOLME is shown as Nephew and Farm Servant.

In the 1861 census Hannah is shown as Farmer's Wife, his three sons were referred to as Farmer's Son and Ann Maria was Farmer's Daughter.

Whereas in 1851 there were two neighbouring farmers (including John WHITE) of 7 and 6 acres, the 1861 census only shows neighbours as farm labourers.... so I don't think this helps much.

None of Hannah's neighbours in 1871 have the same names as their neighbours in 1851 or 1861 so although she was still in Surfleet, it is unlikely she was still on SeasEnd Road.  I have checked the census pages either side of Hannah and there is no address recorded on any of them, but three pages back the street is Railway Station Road, which according to the maps is a continuation of Seas End Road.  I wonder if that was the case back then in the 1800's?