1881 Census "Living on private means" .....

malcatgala · Post by **malcatgala** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 11:21 am

Hello
Researching my GG Grandmother in the 1881 Old Monkland census, I find her (age 68,widowed for many years and living with 2 unmarried adult sons ) with occupation described as "Living on private means". I'm not very familiar with census entries----was this a commonly used entry? and what it is likely to mean?
As far as I can determine from previous censuses and other sources, the family had been very poor, but 2 eldest sons were at that time rising through the ranks and became managers of steelworks in Lanarkshire. --I suppose they were a likely source of the private income?
Would welcome any comments
Many thanks
Malcolm

Russell · Post by **Russell** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 12:58 pm

Hi Malcolm

We have quite a few entries 'living on private/independent means' right across Scotland. Not all of them are obviously in financially sound positions and the age range is tremendous.
My wife's g-g grandmother was a widow bringing up her deceased sons children down in Ayrshire. Her husband had been a miner so no obvious income from that and he had been dead for twenty years or so. As far as we can see she had no employment and, at 83, she must have been past working anyway.
Another rellie was left a pot of money when her husband died so it was quite clear there.
An unmarried g-g-aunt was living in Kilmarnock 'on independent means' had enough left over to erect a Memorial stone for her parents and brother.(Her name was added later!)
We may never find out enough to establish how they survived before State pensions and income support. What seemed most important was that they did not have to go the 'the Parish' for support.
Perhaps there was a thriving black economy then as now.

Russell

DavidWW · Post by **DavidWW** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 12:59 pm

Hi Malcolm

Welcome to TS !!

As you suggest, a private income, - that could derive from bank interest, rental income on land and/or buildings, share dividend income, etc., etc., including support from her family; plus, possibly, a private pension from a former employer.

"Pensioner" in the Victorian censuses much more often than not means an Army pensioner (for a male, obviously!!), being short for Chelsea Pensioner, - only a very small proportion wore the red coat of the Chelsea Hospital, and were "in-pensioners", - the great majority being "out-pensioners", living at home.

David

malcatgala · Post by **malcatgala** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 2:34 pm

Many thanks David and Russell for these prompt and very helpful comments

Greatly looking forward to contributing to TS forum
Malcolm

Thrall · Post by **Thrall** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 5:21 pm

Hi All, on a similar note, I discovered another term recently on a DC from 1938, for a 77 year old spinster who presumably inherited something from her father, a miller. She was said to be a Fund Holder.

Has anyone else seen this job description i.e. "rank or profession"?

Guid hunting and a welcome to Malcolm,

Thrall

Post by **emanday** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 5:42 pm

I've seen it on one of my censuses but can't remember which year. The family were of some means and were in business. It was, if I remember correctly, a sister who had that title.

I'll try and get it and have another look.

I'd assumed (there's that word again) it meant she held shares in the business.