Occupation of Isabella Michiie, Corgarff

[AvonDee]

Isabella Michie is listed in the 1861 Strathdon  census with the occupation of "fundholder".  She was a widow and lived in Corgarff Castle.  In the transcription I have, there are several other fundholders both male and female but I can see no pattern to them.  Does any one know what this means?

In the 1871 census in Ancestry her occupation is transcribed as accountant but when I looked at the  original I was not convinced that this is what was written.  It looks to me like annuitant She is still living in the castle  I have attached a copy of the entry.  Does anyone have any idea?

Her husband James had been a rural constable.  Do you think he might have got some sort of early version of a pension?

Thanks

[Gaie]

Hello

It looks like annuitant to me; and I've seen it on many other census images.

Annuity - a payment of a fixed sum of money at regular intervals, esp yearly; an investment yielding such payments.

Kind regards
Gaie

[g a r]

I second that 

[Gaie]

How about posting on the Occupations board ( I think there's one) and asking about fundholders and annuitants there.  I'd have thought that the police service was one of the earlier ones to provide widows' pensions, but I'm sure someone can confirm this.

Kind regards and night-night.
Gaie

[Isles]

My trusty Chambers Dictionary defines a fund-holder as one who has money in the public funds.  Funds are permanent Government debts paying interest.  An annuity is a payment (generally of uniform amount) falling due each year during a given term, such as a period of years or the life of an individual, the capital sum not being returnable.  There are various types of annuity, five in all, called Certain, Complete, Contingent, Curtate, and Deferred or reversionary.
Your mention of Corgarff Castle brought back memories of the Corgarff Youth Hostel which I stayed in way back in the 1960's.  A website states that Jennie Smith bought the youth hostel in the late 1970's which is now her cottage, and the nearby bothy.
                                                                                                                                                                   

[AvonDee]

Thanks for the info.  I will have to look into this, especially the police angle.

I have parked many times outside Corgarff Castle and walked or cycled in the hills around it but have never been inside.  Now that I know about Isabella and James Michie next time I am in the area I will be paying a visit to see what I can find out.