Small farmers –

Two schedules provide information about small farmers. One lists a group of 14 men, who include 5 Wilsons and 2 Ramages, living on 6 farms. Each farm has a cow (Alex Ramage has 5). 4 farms keep 2 or more horses (A.R has 4 horses and 3 carts). Thomas Lishman and John Wilson both farm at Burnhead and between them have 7 horses and 7 carts. The inference is that this group of farmers is providing a carrier service to local industries and farms. Are they the remnants of freehold farmers, who have retained their status but are now providing day labour to survive? Three of these men came forward to serve as volunteers.

The other schedule is devoted to John Goodman (age 44) who lives with his wife and family on a farm that boasts 1 ox, 3 pigs, 2 draft horses. He has sowed 4 bolls oats, 4 bolls barley, 1/2 boll potatoes, and 7 pecks potatoes, as well as hay. This farmer has no servants, and is clearly well able to provide for his family. No volunteers for training in arms, here!