Please can anyone tell me the meaning / a description of, the address of my G Grandfather Daniell in the 1881 census (LDS site extract below). I know he is widowed (by then for 10 months) and has the youngest of his children still with him (he has been for at least 25 years a serious alcoholic) and will shortly be taken off to live with a married son and his wife. We'd just like to know what "Free Paddock" was, if we can. Not the location, the accommodation if you see what I mean. Is this a polite way of saying "under a hedge"? It is March. I expect he would be destitute. David (enumerator can't spell or is confused by the plural) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Thomas DANIELS Household Male ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Other Information: Birth Year <1822> Birthplace Bromsberrowe, Gloucester, England Age 59 Occupation Gardener Marital Status W <Widowed> Head of Household Thomas DANIELS Relation Head Disability ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Source Information: Dwelling Free Paddock Census Place Mathon, Worcester, England Family History Library Film 1341622 Public Records Office Reference RG11 Piece / Folio 2582 / 29 Page Number 4
David, The term paddock is common in Worcs for a small piece of land. I think "free paddock" refers to common land on which a cottage or more had been built. That is, the land is unencumbered by rent or lease or other obligations. In south Herefordshire which I am more familiar with, many parishes had a small piece of free common land with cottages though I have not seen the term free paddock used in those parts. Usually they were occupied by agricultural workers, the infirm, the aged. I have noticed many being occupied by people who were unrelated and sometimes one or more on outdoor relief especially when seasonally out of work. Worcestershire RO has a good run of Poor Law records which might help. Best of luck, Adrian Verry