Census 1851 - occupation

[Gadget]

Digging deep into my memory of studying a crofting community  a little further up the coast of R&C, I'd say that he was likely to be what was called a crofter/fisherman.

https://www.nwhgeopark.com/thriving-communities/crofting-fishing/

Gadget

[Gadget]

The location of Ardban, where they were living in 1851:

http://www.rootschat.com/links/01s89/

It's to the south of Applecross village on what looks like a rugged promontory. That whole area is very rugged and remote. I remember driving over the Bealach na Ba for the first time in the 1980s*. It was a bit hairy, to say the least.  The new coast road was being built at the time.

They would definitely need a boat!


Gadget

*time flies -  it was the mid 1970s!

[Gwenn02]

I have this for census 1851 from a transcription

CENSUS 1851
Name: Kenneth McLennan
Age: 47 Estimated
Birth Year: abt 1804
Relationship: Head
Spouse's Name: Isabella
Gender: Male
Where born: Applecross, Ross
Parish Number: 58 Civil Parish: Applecross County: Ross and Cromarty
Address: Ardbam
Occupation: Farmer Of 3 Acres & Shipowner
ED: 1 Page:  Household schedule number: 54 Line: 2 Roll: CSSCT1851_13
household : Kenneth, Isabella, Margaret McRae, servant, 19 y


If I am looking at the right man (married to Isabella MacDonald) living in Applecross
In 1861 he was a crofter
In 1871 he was a fisherman
In 1881 he was a mariner in the mercantile service
In 1891 he was a crofter
He died in 1896 and is buried in Applecross Burial ground

I can’t see him in 1851 census.
Why do you think he was a ship owner?

[Boreades]

Three acres would be a very small farm, might be more like a crofter's smallholding, just growing enough to keep a few families alive. Likewise the boat could be small, for fishing close to shore or crab/lobster pots.

[Forfarian]

I think that whoever suggested 'shop' was right.