william preston

[caroleoh]

Hello, Could anyone tell me what Freeholder N.S.O means. I recently found this reference to an Ancestor of mine, just wondered if anyone knew what this meant Thank you.caroleoh.

[jorose]

Hi there,

Where did you see this? "Freeholder" is probably a reference to property ownership (e.g. as qualification to vote) but "NSO" less clear.

[caroleoh]

Hello , Think I saw it in the census of 1841-51 on Ancestry love to know what it means. Kind Regards Caroleoh

[stevie922]

A freeholder NSO was a commonly used term from the 1830s to 1890s. It segregated different types of freeholders.

A freeholder NSO meant a person who owns property for the purpose of "boarding out" (we know it as renting out), in London people listed as "freeholder NSO" were called lodging house keepers, who ran homes that they "boarded out" (rented) rooms to people in order to earn an income. Sometimes, this is commonly found in London, lodging house keepers ran homes that acted like brothels. 

[caroleoh]

Hi Stevie, thanks so much for the info much appreciated .Best Wishes caroleoh