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Help- a Yeoman

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Ann

Ann Report 11 Aug 2006 21:06

I have one of mine rels as a Yeoman in 1841. I have just looked up the term and i beleive it means he was a landowner/farmer. Does anyone know, is it a title that is granted, or just a description that anyone who owned a bit of land could call themselves?

Vicky

Vicky Report 11 Aug 2006 21:09

well, I have one or two calling themselves Yeoman in their wills... I think its the sort of title anyone could use, if they wanted to. one of them who was alive in 1841 is on the census as a mere farmer

InspectorGreenPen

InspectorGreenPen Report 11 Aug 2006 21:27

Yeoman 1) Farmer who owns his own land rather than a tenant farmer; qualified to serve on juries and vote for shire representatives. 2) Assistant to an official. 3) Crewmember (Navy petty officer) in charge of ship's stores. Or he could just have had ideas above his station.

InspectorGreenPen

InspectorGreenPen Report 11 Aug 2006 21:33

Adding to that we have one, he was actually a parish official, constable etc. When he died about 1800 he left his daughter her bed, chest of drawers and a sum of money believed to be worth about £50,000 today. His grandson, my gg grandfather, 40 years later was penniless, and working as a manservant......!

Olgiza

Olgiza Report 11 Aug 2006 21:51

Hi Ann. A yeoman was a landowner and worked himself, with or without help. If he had labourers who did the work whilst he sat back and watched he would have been a 'Gentleman Farmer'. Roger GC

Ann

Ann Report 12 Aug 2006 08:17

Thanks everyone for your replies, probably ideas above his station than!!!