Social standing

[Kiki1958]

In 1812, my 5Th great grandparents had their wedding announcement put in the London Gazette.   The marriage took place in Hill.  Until I saw the announcement, I assumed both parties ( Thomas Hignell and Sarah Burroughs ) were working class since he was described as a yeoman or farmer.. Was Mr Hignell a merchant farmer?

Confused in Brooklyn

[Mabel Bagshawe]

If he were owner of a sufficiently large farm (and "farmer" - either himself or through a manager)  he wouldn't be working class and might well be of sufficient social standing to be announcing his marriage in such a paper. Yeoman farmer can in some usage apply to very  "old" families that may by then not have much money or estate, but still carry a high social position locally - e.g. an old manor that has slowly dropped down the pecking order or into he line of younger sons. I'm trying to think ofa literary example that might explain this nuance of English society!

Could also be related to his wife's social status

[Ruskie]

A farmer can be wealthy. A yeoman is a (small) landowner. It probably just comes down to terminology so difficult to make a judgement.

Do you have Thomas in any census to confirm his occupation? Or his children's baptisms?

Did he leave a will? (you may get an indication of his wealth from that)

Perhaps the announcement was put in by Sarah's family.

Added: I see Mabel is thinking along the same lines .... 

[Rena]

A Yeoman was a "free man" and owned land (hence a "freeholder"), probably a small estate which wasn't park land but a working farm raising crops and/or livestock.  I guess he would have had the title "Mr" which, at the time, wasn't how farm hand ("ag.labs") and other working class people were addressed.

[youngtug]

Might be interesting; http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/rd/7280278b-ad5a-4f24-86a7-6249e607e561