I'm wondering if anyone can comment on a household of James Vickery aged 45 who I've just found in Buckland St Mary in the 1861 census returns. There were two non-family members, one described as a *boarder* (an 80-y-o spinster, who by-the-way was with the family 10 years earlier, but was then described as a lodger); and a 76-y-o widower, described as a *lodger*. I had previously assumed *boarder* and *lodger* were synonymous! Thanks, Jenny

Hi Jenny, Dictionary says a Boarder is the same as a Lodger but with Meals Steve

Jenny Davis wrote: > I'm wondering if anyone can comment on a household of James Vickery aged 45 > who I've just found in Buckland St Mary in the 1861 census returns. There > were two non-family members, one described as a *boarder* (an 80-y-o > spinster, who by-the-way was with the family 10 years earlier, but was then > described as a lodger); and a 76-y-o widower, described as a *lodger*. > > I had previously assumed *boarder* and *lodger* were synonymous! Possibly because the phrase "board and lodgings" :)) Think of a boarder in terms of a pupil in a boarding school: meals and accommodation provided. A lodger had his/her lodgings (accommodation) only provided. S/he had to provide or obtain their own meals. Possibly the 80 y-o spinster was spry enough at 70 to provide her own meals but in the interim had become frail enough for the family to provide them. -- Charani (UK) OPC for Walton, Greinton and Clutton, SOM Asst OPC for Ashcott and Shapwick, SOM http://wsom-opc.org.uk http://www.savethegurkhas.co.uk/