Hello again. I have a query. In the 1851 census in Toppesfield, Essex, I have found an ancestor whose 'address' is 'in field'. I haven't come across this before, but I am assuming he, and his family of 10 lived in a field? They were agricultural labourers, so poverty would have been plentiful. But I'd like some ideas from you please to what specifically it could mean. Eg: shed, outcrop, barn.....?? Or if you've come across this before. It's really quite heartbreaking. Thank you Polly x
Hi Polly, My great uncle Albert spent most of the year living in a caravan out in the fields from Spring through to the beginning of Winter. He worked from sunrise to sunset - and beyond - as a farm labourer and it was better than having to trudge through the lanes to get to work. He was an Ag Lab.
Ahhh a caravan! I hadn't thought of that. But with 10 people? Still that's really good to know. Thank you.
The family of my Romany great aunt Councellatta had it seems a base in Writtle Essex but when they went to fairs, horse sales etc they went by caravan, in 1881 there were 8 children plus of course the parents with just the one caravan. According to Councie's daughter, who my wife and I visited, Councie and some of the older children would have to sleep under the caravan and some in the nearby hedgerows. By the way in at least one Census their place of abode was stated as "in a field".
Thank you very much Derek. That's really helpful to know. I haven't come across it before so it's great to understand more about how people lived in those times.
Councie's family was the only one to have the "in a field" tag in my lot, Councie married my paternal grandmother's brother that's how we got a Romany in our family tree. Councie provided a lot of interest for me, for a start in my early genealogy days when I found the grave for her and my great uncle in the churchyard at Great Leighs, Essex, seeing the name Councelletta I though my gt uncle had married a Spanish Lady. My wife and mother were with me and my mother corrected me, my mother had met Councie several times and new her background. When on another trip back to the UK and Essex we met Councie's daughter another piece of family lore went down the gurgler, it was thought that Councie had worked as a barmaid at Sr Anne's Castle pub in Gt Leighs, wrong, she had in fact, with her sister Sylvester, rented a room above the Angel pub in Broomfield Essex.
Another census query for you: What does 'keeper of parish relief' mean? I understand if you had parish relief, but why 'keeper'? Thanks as always for your imput.
It is 1851 census under Philip CORNWELL (1798) with wife Ann in Bottisham, Cambridgeshire. Thank you!
I think it's Receipt, but spelled Recept. Compare the first letter with the 'R' of Relief, and there's a 'K' a couple of lines above - a child with the splendid name of King William Fletcher.
Just had a look at the original and it looks like "Receipt of Parish Relief" rather than Keeper - which makes more sense. Ref: HO 107, piece 1762, folio 312, page 13 for others who wish to see. Edited to add: snap, Arthur!