Lou - Your mention of owning a farm leads me to wonder... how would I check? Family lore says that my great grandfather, William Dawson FLETCHER owned a farm in North Owersby. Not sure when he moved there but it was between 1851, when the census shows him in Donnington on Bain, and 1861, when the census reports: 1861/2395/65 North Owersby 48 Church Road William Fletcher, Head, , Threshing machine owner, employs two men Subsequent descriptions were: 1871 "farmer- machine man" on Caistor Road, North Owersby 1881 "machine man & farmer" and the address is shown as "Caistor Road Farm House," which, from the current map, appears to be what is also the B1205 which for a short space is Caistor Road running into Kelsey Road 1891 "farmer" In 1901 he has moved to The Lodge, Usselby and is described as "farmer, labourer, worker" but by then he was almost 80. The family lore does also claim that his major fame relates to being one of the earliest owners of a threshing machine in the county. (Actually, my aunt claimed that was the first in the county and that he developed it, but I'm not going there.) His son, William Lanes Fletcher was also a "machine man" though at a different address - and not mentioned at all in family lore. So, given all of that, what source would I check to see if he ever owned any of the land he farmed? (Incidentally, William Dawson Fletcher was grandfather to the Edith Eveline Burgess who, until her death in 1997, was renowned as an expert on Lincolnshire dialects and used to give talks, mostly I think through the Womens Institute, on that topic. She was also a rarity in another way - the wife of a clergyman (Canon Fred Burgess) AND the mother of triplets. Happy hunting!   Diana Robinson (nee Gardner) Now in Rochester, NY, USA

Hi Diana The vast majority of land was owned by a very small circle of owners Most farmers leased their land for periods of one or more years and renewed it after set periods (or not) In the course of their working life they often bought a small amount as an investment and to perhaps live on when they retired The easiest source to check for land ownership is the Returns of Owners of Land 1873, this was a land census of sorts and listed all land owners of 1 acre or more For Lincolnshire W. FLETCHER residence Owston 1 acre 1 rod FLETCHER William Branston 1 acre 1 rod 19 poles FLETCHER William Freiston 7 1 30 FLETCHER William Halton Holegate 1 3 21 FLETCHER William Hameringham 54 - - FLETCHER William Raithby 9 3 2 The above are all the W or William FLETCHERs who owned 1 or more acres in Lincolnshire Another clue is in the census, land owners generally made the point known Nivard Ovington in Cornwall (UK) On 17/02/2014 21:19, Diana Robinson wrote: > Lou - > > Your mention of owning a farm leads me to wonder... how would I check? > Family lore says that my great grandfather, William Dawson FLETCHER owned a > farm in North Owersby. Not sure when he moved there but it was between 1851, > when the census shows him in Donnington on Bain, and 1861, when the census > reports: > 1861/2395/65 North Owersby > 48 Church Road > William Fletcher, Head, , Threshing machine owner, employs two men > > Subsequent descriptions were: > 1871 "farmer- machine man" on Caistor Road, North Owersby > 1881 "machine man & farmer" and the address is shown as "Caistor Road Farm > House," which, from the current map, appears to be what is also the B1205 > which for a short space is Caistor Road running into Kelsey Road > 1891 "farmer" > > In 1901 he has moved to The Lodge, Usselby and is described as "farmer, > labourer, worker" but by then he was almost 80. > > The family lore does also claim that his major fame relates to being one of > the earliest owners of a threshing machine in the county. (Actually, my aunt > claimed that was the first in the county and that he developed it, but I'm > not going there.) His son, William Lanes Fletcher was also a "machine man" > though at a different address - and not mentioned at all in family lore. > > So, given all of that, what source would I check to see if he ever owned any > of the land he farmed? > > (Incidentally, William Dawson Fletcher was grandfather to the Edith Eveline > Burgess who, until her death in 1997, was renowned as an expert on > Lincolnshire dialects and used to give talks, mostly I think through the > Womens Institute, on that topic. She was also a rarity in another way - the > wife of a clergyman (Canon Fred Burgess) AND the mother of triplets. > > Happy hunting! > > Diana Robinson (nee Gardner) > Now in Rochester, NY, USA

Thank, Nivard! I suspect that the several changes of address over time make it more likely that he was either a tenant farmer or a farm manager. Most probably a tenant farmer, I'd guess. Warmly, Diana Robinson -----Original Message----- From: Nivard Ovington [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Monday, February 17, 2014 4:45 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [LIN] Admin. note: Myths vs. Reality Hi Diana The vast majority of land was owned by a very small circle of owners Most farmers leased their land for periods of one or more years and renewed it after set periods (or not) In the course of their working life they often bought a small amount as an investment and to perhaps live on when they retired The easiest source to check for land ownership is the Returns of Owners of Land 1873, this was a land census of sorts and listed all land owners of 1 acre or more For Lincolnshire W. FLETCHER residence Owston 1 acre 1 rod FLETCHER William Branston 1 acre 1 rod 19 poles FLETCHER William Freiston 7 1 30 FLETCHER William Halton Holegate 1 3 21 FLETCHER William Hameringham 54 - - FLETCHER William Raithby 9 3 2 The above are all the W or William FLETCHERs who owned 1 or more acres in Lincolnshire Another clue is in the census, land owners generally made the point known Nivard Ovington in Cornwall (UK) On 17/02/2014 21:19, Diana Robinson wrote: > Lou - > > Your mention of owning a farm leads me to wonder... how would I check? > Family lore says that my great grandfather, William Dawson FLETCHER owned a > farm in North Owersby. Not sure when he moved there but it was between 1851, > when the census shows him in Donnington on Bain, and 1861, when the census > reports: > 1861/2395/65 North Owersby > 48 Church Road > William Fletcher, Head, , Threshing machine owner, employs two men > > Subsequent descriptions were: > 1871 "farmer- machine man" on Caistor Road, North Owersby > 1881 "machine man & farmer" and the address is shown as "Caistor Road Farm > House," which, from the current map, appears to be what is also the B1205 > which for a short space is Caistor Road running into Kelsey Road > 1891 "farmer" > > In 1901 he has moved to The Lodge, Usselby and is described as "farmer, > labourer, worker" but by then he was almost 80. > > The family lore does also claim that his major fame relates to being one of > the earliest owners of a threshing machine in the county. (Actually, my aunt > claimed that was the first in the county and that he developed it, but I'm > not going there.) His son, William Lanes Fletcher was also a "machine man" > though at a different address - and not mentioned at all in family lore. > > So, given all of that, what source would I check to see if he ever owned any > of the land he farmed? > > (Incidentally, William Dawson Fletcher was grandfather to the Edith Eveline > Burgess who, until her death in 1997, was renowned as an expert on > Lincolnshire dialects and used to give talks, mostly I think through the > Womens Institute, on that topic. She was also a rarity in another way - the > wife of a clergyman (Canon Fred Burgess) AND the mother of triplets. > > Happy hunting! > > Diana Robinson (nee Gardner) > Now in Rochester, NY, USA