Genealogy Chat

On a copy of my g/g/grandfathers marriage cert his fathers rank/profession is stated as husbandman. What is that?

I have always understood it to mean tenant farmer. It can be stretched to mean a farmer who looks after animals - which is where the term 'animal husbandry' comes in. Husbandry is the act of looking after something.

Jools, your are right. Definition of Husbandman- A person who operates a farm. Will delete the wrong message. Heather

Hi Have just looked up on the web and it says a Husbandman is a : Farmer, a tiller of the ground, In England and the U.S historically, a tenant farmer who cutivates leasted land. Source: Black`s law dictionary, 4th edition. 1580-1660: The small farmer in late tudor and early stuart England. Hope this helps Lyn.

I think the term is often used loosely to mean a farm worker who tends animals, as opposed to crops. Not necessarily a farmer who owns land. This is where the word 'husband' comes from, so there were obviously a lot about, just as unmarried women were 'spinsters' (spinners of wool). nell

I always thought this meant a man who looked after farm animals. Got quite excited when someone said it was someone who leased land - as there would be some documentation about that.

Thanks everyone for your help. I now know a lot more than i did a few hours ago. Again thanks for taking the time to answer my question Christine