1878 Will

[sheiljr]

I have just received a copy of my Gr.Gr.Grandfather's will made in 1877

I was surprised that an Agricultoral Labourer of that time had enough money requiring  to make a will.

In it he owned his own cottage and two gardens. It was estimated that they should fetch at least £170 when sold.

It would be interesting to find out how he acheived this.  I do not think it was from his father who has ten children and was also a labourer.

[Lisajj]

Maybe his wife's family had money?

[jim1]

Maybe he had another income,many people had more than one job.Quite an achievement though.
Did he stay in the same place most of his life? if so he may have worked for the same employer & lived in a tied cottage.On his retirement he would normally have had to leave but as an "old retainer" his employer may have gifted it to him.
Not all employers were ogres.

jim
Edit:
reading Lisa's post prompted me to recall some such thing with one of mine.An ag.lab. marrying a farmers daughter & becoming the owner under the law at that time.Women being able by law to own there own property while married came in 1890's I believe but I'm sure I'll be corrected if I'm wrong.

[Lisajj]

I think you're right Jim!

[sheiljr]

 I do not think that  his wife  would have brought  money to the marriage.  He did live in the same lane from at least 1841.