Annuitant

[coombs]

I have an ancestor who was male and aged 66 in 1851 and was a former ag lab who was an annuitant.

[sirrogue58]

Hi

I've got on the 1851 census of an ancester who was a 70 year old widow in Shepton Mallet  Annuitant of £28 arising out of I think household something.

Any ideas?

[Billyblue]

I think it's "arising out of freehold property"

Which to me means it came from rents paid by someone, to an estate, for property which may have been left to one member of a family with the proviso that the annuity had to be paid to another person during their (the annuitant's) lifetime.

Even today, with superannuation, there are some schemes which a few years ago, you could take out which give an annuity (here in Australia) though currently I don't think that option is available.

Dawn M

[sirrogue58]

Thanks Dawn

Amazing what a fresh pair of eyes can see.

Thanks for the explanation too

[Bluett56]

From reading quite a few Wills lately, I have found that often the benefactors were left property which appears to be rented out. The monies from such rents are awarded in these Wills as a regular annuity to the benefactor. The Will usually contains many provisos to govern the Estate in the event that the original person is unable to receive the benefit. Such things as future marriages, lack of offspring, and even death, may be anticipated in the Will.
I have found servants and friends are mentioned in ancient Wills. This would indicate that a annuity may not necessarily have been derived from family. I recommend developing a background in reading Wills from the 'County of interest' and preferably a similar time period. Often Wills become available to read online for free (Ancestry.com), or through other researchers. Ask nicely and be willing to share!

[youngtug]

A lot of widows annuity's would have been paid by a friendly society.
 http://www.historyshelf.org/shelf/friend/03.php