Looking through my books on Scotland I came across a term I had forgotten - cottars - and then recalled a book I had about Australian farmers or smallholders who I seem to recall were known as cotters. Some (often ex service men) were given grants after World War 1 to start a tough life farming in the outbacks or backblocks (Australia and New Zealand). In the Scottish scene cottars were peasants (derived I believe from the use of a cot/hut or some sort of dwelling) and they were paid for working at a fixed sum when needed. In Scotland's earlier history, my books tell me, cottars were called upon to serve the Laird (or via him, the King) and to fight for them if necessary: they were not free men, were tied to the land and could be given severe physical punishment (such as an ear cut off) if they left. If they managed to get away and stay in a Burgh (such as Moffat) for a year and a day and had not been taken back, they could apply to become "free men". I suppose that there were a number of varieties of agricultural workers in Scotland, as elsewhere, farmers - who owned land (above them the Lairds and Estate owners), crofters who rented land to farm and cottars who had use of a dwelling, working as hired hands. I know that the Clearances eventually caused a rethink and crofters may own their land. I expect others will be able to give a more informed answer to the question. I know there are some folk musicians calling themselves Cottars or Cotters and those overseas I assume are from emigrants who took the old name with them. Betty ___________________________________________________________ Inbox full of unwanted email? Get leading protection and 1GB storage with All New Yahoo! Mail. http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/nowyoucan.html