This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: maryellenchambers Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.britisles.ireland.may.general/7872.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Nora~ Ocean might have some exact ways but I would assume that it is similar to someone leasing/renting property today in the USA. A person for whatever reason could no longer manage the lease and pay the rent. Therefore, it was taken over by a person who could. It woulds have been arranged with the approval of the landlord. Since this was Mayo, after the Great Famine, many landlords in the west country went from farming to cattle. Perhaps, this was the reason for a new tenant who would handle live stock on the land. When my husband's family left Waterford in 1850, the landlord never leased it (about 30 acres) until it was sold in the 1870s. We found this out through the Valuation Office in Dublin. Wanted to be sure we had the correct land. At the time we did it, it was about 40 Irish pounds ($56. American. It was an interesting history of the farm for our records. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.