What does 'cottager' in the 1841 census signify?

[Scottsearcher]

An ancestor, in just about the rural middle of Lincolnshire, is described as a 'cottager'. What precisely does this signify?

Thanks for your thoughts

[Alexander.]

Usually a cottager was an agricultural labourer who lived in a cottage that was probably owned by a farmer or landowner - they usually did not have much (if any) land of their own.

Alexander

[Plummiegirl]

As said previously a 'cottager' would have been an agricultural labourer living in a 'tied' cottage

Nothing to do with the meaning of Cottager today!!!!

[Scottsearcher]

Thanks, both of you for your replies.

I've been doing a little family history for quite a while but this is the first occasion I've come across this term even though there are plenty of Ag. Lab.s in most of my lines.

Why was this one different?

Thanks again

Jackie

[davidrigg3]

an agricultural labourer living in a 'tied' cottage

The job and the accommodation are linked, so if the person loses the job they also lose the accommodation.

'Ordinary' Ag labs would be renting the accommodation from someone who they may or may not work for. They may work seasonally for several different people depending on what work is needed, to earn the money to pay the rent.

[Plummiegirl]

Also many ag. labs lived in Tents, which has been queried somewhere else on this site.

Those not in either tied accomodation or local housing would have moved around the countryside following the work through the season, taking their family with them. A very transigent lifestyle and some were still living like this within my living memory and I am 57.

[Scottsearcher]

Thanks for your replies.

What a truly awful existence. Literally Tents as in canvas structure? I watched the final 'Who do you think you are?' last night - Tracey Emin. I know that some semi-itinerant workers were offered 'trailers' (wooden, wheeled structures, a little like gypsy caravans) if their work took them away from home but this idea of Tents shows a whole new dimension.

I'd always assumed that all Ag. Lab.s were in effect cottagers and the intinerant lifestyle, following hiring fairs included some sort of accommodation.

Regards

Jackie

[Jeremy10]

A number of "Cottagers" are included in the 1852 Poll Book for Lincolnshire.  I assume they must have met the requirement to hold freehold land valued at min. £10 in order to vote. In light of previous comments is this unusual?

[MollyC]

I have a vague recollection, someone will correct me if I am wrong, that prior to Parliamentary Enclosures, cottagers had a house and a small "garden" area but crucially had common rights to graze a few animals and collect other benefits from commons.  They had no land in open fields but they may have worked for farmers sometimes if they wished, at harvest etc.  One of the criticisms of enclosures was that people who had been independent lost their common rights and were reduced to becoming ag. labs., probably still living in their cottages.