Thank you. 1851 census for Sticklepath, Sampford Courtenay Parish shows 84 men and 7 women worked in agriculture. (Total of 138 men and 71 women had occupations stated, 412 people including children in 80 households). This is a gross underestimate of the numbers working in agriculture eg of the 14 married farmers, not one thought their wife did work! It is so interesting to learn about the local agriculture, types of crops, local tools used, when the bad harvests were and the impact etc. It can be interesting to follow the career of individual 'labourers' over time, perhaps becoming 'carters' etc and then labourers again when hard times hit. Some achieving a few acres of their own to farm.
That is all so interesting, thank you! I wonder how many men throughout history have underestimated the work their wives do? Something we have to acknowledge more broadly is misrepresentation of people's actual work both by themselves and others. Of course often you have to (or are given) one identifying marker but then as now so many people do different work at any one time, let alone over the course of their working lives. Agriculture is one of those things where local conditions really matter just as you say Helen.
Thank you. 1851 census for Sticklepath, Sampford Courtenay Parish shows 84 men and 7 women worked in agriculture. (Total of 138 men and 71 women had occupations stated, 412 people including children in 80 households). This is a gross underestimate of the numbers working in agriculture eg of the 14 married farmers, not one thought their wife did work! It is so interesting to learn about the local agriculture, types of crops, local tools used, when the bad harvests were and the impact etc. It can be interesting to follow the career of individual 'labourers' over time, perhaps becoming 'carters' etc and then labourers again when hard times hit. Some achieving a few acres of their own to farm.
That is all so interesting, thank you! I wonder how many men throughout history have underestimated the work their wives do? Something we have to acknowledge more broadly is misrepresentation of people's actual work both by themselves and others. Of course often you have to (or are given) one identifying marker but then as now so many people do different work at any one time, let alone over the course of their working lives. Agriculture is one of those things where local conditions really matter just as you say Helen.