how to find out name of farm and people employed on it?

[Ahmed_U]

hi all,

I have two gents. They both had a farm. The sister of one ended up marrying the other farmer, after he became a widower.

What I want to know is, how to find out the name of the farm they owned, and if possible, how to find out the names of the people they employed? Would it be possible? If anyone wants the names of these gents, I would be more than happy to supply, as this really is a hard one for me, and I am not sure how far I can get with this on my own.

Thank you.

Ahmed

[IrishOrigins]

Ahmed,

I don't know whether you are searching the UK or not, but my instinctive reaction would be to check the census which covers the time you really know about when these gentlemen owned the farms.  If they were resident farmers then the information provided at the time of the census should give you most of what you are looking for.  If their employees lived on the farm then from my understanding, they will be named also.  Sometimes, at least in England where I've tracked some of my people, the workers lived in cottages supplied by the owners, maybe they were named after the owner? 

My problem is exactly the reverse.  I have an ag lab and his family living in a cottage which I firmly believe is named after the owner/builder but can't find his name anywhere. 

My expertise here is almost non-existent, I'm just working on what I've found in searching for my own family in England.

I am sure there are people here who know a lot more than I do, and I'll be interested to see what advice they have to offer.  Who knows, it might even help me too!!!!

Best of luck in your search,

Philippa

[nanny jan]

Hi,

Agricultural workers were often "casual labour" amd moved from area to area. 

One of my ag labs in Kent gradually moved from Ruckinge to Plumstead  and his 13 children all had a different birthplace. 


Nanny Jan

[Ahmed_U]

Hi Philippa, Jan,

Thank you for your messages.

My farm-owner (John Stevenson, Kettering) had some servants every now and then, but it does not seem that any of his labourers ever lived with him. I really do need to find the location of his farm - someone pleeeeeease help!

Ahmed

[nanny jan]

Hi,

As you have an area, Kettering, the local Record Office might be able to help; they usually have a collection of old maps.


Nanny Jan

[purplekat]

Hi

You don't give any dates but the 1881 census may be a good place to start as it is free on family search, (and other websites).  I found a farmer ancestor and the census gave the name of his farm and the people who worked on the farm.  Also as the 1881 census is free there are no worries about checking out the neighbours! 

Jean

[Ahmed_U]

Thank you all,

I do have membership with ancestry and findmypast, so can search all the censuses. I know John Stevenson lived in:
1861 - Lodge Farm, Grafton Underwood
1871 - Grafton Underwood
1881 - Stephensons House, Weekley (or maybe this is supposed to be Stevensons House!)
1901 - 33 Broadway, Kettering

Now what I need to know is the name of the corn farm in 1881 and the people who were working on it. Was it still Lodge Farm? Was it a different farm?

Thank you.

Ahmed

[willow154]

Hi Ahmed,

I had a look at the historical directories for you - the only record I could find for a John Stevenson was the following:
Stevenson, John Joseph farmer
Grafton Underwood
1860 Post Directory
*does not mention name of farm

Tried looking for Grafton Underwood pages, but site was playing up so much I had to give up, I'm afraid.
Then I had a look through the pages of the census for Grafton Underwood in 1881 - farm doesn't seemed to be named, unfortunately

So, Ahmed, all I can tell you is that when they built the airfield in WW2 that it says there were two farms affected - Rectory Farm and Grafton Lodge Farm, but whether this is the same farm it is hard to tell. Here is the site:
http://www.kettering.gov.uk/downloads/grafton_underwood.pdf
Some nice info on it, anyway.

Also know that there is someone researching Stevenson in the 1800s. Her name, and email address, is on the list on the Genuki site:
http://www.kellner.eclipse.co.uk/genuki/NTH/Surnames/
I know you aren't researching that name is particular, but people often pick up all bits of useful information along the way.

Only other thing I can offer is this guide, which helps you understand what land records are available, and what details they give:
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/rdleaflet.asp?sLeafletURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Enationalarchives%2Egov%2Euk%2Fcatalogue%2Fleaflets%2Fri2153%2Ehtm&lBack=-1

Hope this helps - good luck.
Paulene

[Springbok]

Hi Ahmed,

On Ancestry, have you tried going to any of the Census years and then scrolling lower down page to the County list. Northamptonshire

Then click on that to bring up the towns ,villages etc.in that area .Go to Grafton  Underwood and then you can search,page by page.

Sorry if i misunderstood and you have already tried this . A bit time consuming but often a better way.

Spring