Author Topic: living on own means  (Read 8658 times)

Offline 243rose

  • RootsChat Senior
  • ****
  • Posts: 302
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
living on own means
« on: Thursday 02 October 08 14:07 BST (UK) »
I have 2/3 instances of "living on own means" or "living of own accord" being entered for occupation on census returns.
The people that this refers to would not to my knowledge have been of any wealth.... is this a euphemism for something else ???

cheers
iain.

Offline joyce341

  • RootsChat Senior
  • ****
  • Posts: 446
  • My Dad aged two in 1891
    • View Profile
Re: living on own means
« Reply #1 on: Thursday 02 October 08 14:15 BST (UK) »

 I.m not sure but would imagine they get by doing things like takeing in washing etc.
Joyce
Hickman,Cleobury Mortimer,Shropshire/Staffordshire, Parkes,Dudley,Beddoes Lindridge,Cleobury Mortimer,
Asker,Snettisham,Norfolk,Newby Howe,Kensington,SuffolkLawrence,Greenwich,Bermondsey.Putman,Kensington,Hertfordshire.

Offline 243rose

  • RootsChat Senior
  • ****
  • Posts: 302
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: living on own means
« Reply #2 on: Thursday 02 October 08 14:20 BST (UK) »
i forgot to mention that these particular people were what we would condider 'retirement age' and have grown up children who were employed living with them.
perhaps they were being looked after by their kids.

Offline genjen

  • RootsChat Marquessate
  • *******
  • Posts: 5,427
    • View Profile
Re: living on own means
« Reply #3 on: Thursday 02 October 08 14:27 BST (UK) »
I have always assumed it to mean that whilst they were beyond the age of earning an income, they were not dependent on the parish or any other outside source for their upkeep. So maybe they had some savings but  should imagine the family would have helped too.

No doubt someone like Stan will come along soon and give the full answer. I hope!  ;)

Jen
All Census Look Ups Are Crown Copyright from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

ESS: Howe French Cant Annis Noakes Turner Marshall Makerow Duck Spurden Harmony
SCT: Howe Shaw Raitt Milne Forsyth Birnie Crichton Duncan McBeath Daniel Hay Robertson Jaffrey Smith McDonald Alexander Craighead
NRY: Bushby Smith Bland Iley Cunion Kendrew Thornbury Favell Lonsdale Crossland Rudd Pratt Gibson
WES; Dickenson Jackson Ewbank Waller
STS: White
SRY: Knight
DUR: Smith Littlefair
HAM: Williams Grose Lush Venson


Offline 243rose

  • RootsChat Senior
  • ****
  • Posts: 302
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: living on own means
« Reply #4 on: Thursday 02 October 08 14:32 BST (UK) »
Jen.

Thanks for that.
that sound about right.

Ta
Iain.

Offline behindthefrogs

  • RootsChat Marquessate
  • *******
  • Posts: 5,756
  • EDLIN
    • View Profile
Re: living on own means
« Reply #5 on: Thursday 02 October 08 14:37 BST (UK) »
"Own means" or "independent means" is really defining what someone wasn't rather than what he was. He had an unspecified source of income but not from a current occupation whether as employer, employee or self-employed. Nor was he a pauper. Someone with an formal pension or annuity might be described as "pensioner" (eg Chelsea Pensioner etc) or "annuitant"

David
Living in Berkshire from Northampton & Milton Keynes
DETAILS OF MY NAMES ARE IN SURNAME INTERESTS, LINK AT FOOT OF PAGE
Wilson, Higgs, Buswell, PARCELL, Matthews, TAMKIN, Seckington, Pates, Coupland, Webb, Arthur, MAYNARD, Caves, Norman, Winch, Culverhouse, Drakeley.
Johnson, Routledge, SHIRT, SAICH, Mills, SAUNDERS, EDLIN, Perry, Vickers, Pakeman, Griffiths, Marston, Turner, Child, Sheen, Gray, Woolhouse, Stevens, Batchelor
Census Info is Crown Copyright from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Online Gillg

  • RootsChat Aristocrat
  • ******
  • Posts: 2,655
    • View Profile
Re: living on own means
« Reply #6 on: Friday 03 October 08 11:59 BST (UK) »
In census returns for my family I have one relative who had inherited money from her father - "living on her own means" - and several who were either employers or who owned their own small businesses - "own account". 

Gillg
Census information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

FAIREY/FAIRY/FAREY/FEARY, LAWSON, CHURCH, BENSON, HALSTEAD from Easton, Ellington, Eynesbury, Gt Catworth, Huntingdon, Spaldwick, Hunts;  Burnley, Lancs;  New Zealand, Australia & US.

HURST, BOLTON,  BUTTERWORTH, ADAMSON, WILD, MCIVOR from Milnrow, Newhey, Oldham & Rochdale, Lancs., Scotland.

Offline 243rose

  • RootsChat Senior
  • ****
  • Posts: 302
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: living on own means
« Reply #7 on: Friday 03 October 08 12:40 BST (UK) »
Thankyou Gill and David for your replies.

i suppose they were filling in what fitted best as per the guidelines accompanying the census. If they had no job to speak of and were not being paid by the parish.

Thanks

Offline meles

  • RootsChat Marquessate
  • *******
  • Posts: 3,472
    • View Profile
Re: living on own means
« Reply #8 on: Friday 03 October 08 13:00 BST (UK) »
I have a couple in my tree. They had managed to avoid the dreaded workhouse, but were no doubt scrimping and scratching a living.

I have seen others - not in my tree! - who are very comfortably off, thank you.

meles
Brock: Alburgh, Norfolk, and after 1850, London; Tooley: Norfolk<br />Grimmer: Norfolk; Grimson: Norfolk<br />Harrison: London; Pollock<br />Dixon: Hampshire; Collins: Middx<br />Jeary: Norfolk; Davison: Norfolk<br />Rogers: London; Bartlett: London<br />Drew: Kent; Alden: Hants<br />Gamble: Yorkshire; Huntingford: East London

Census information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk