Quote:
Originally Posted by Rupert
In the countryside a labourer was something just about any farm would have at that time, unless the farmer had a son of suitable age (and even then he might hire a labourer and send his son out to work as one for experience).
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Indeed - noting that it's similar to the lower middle class filter: if you have a farm that can pass as anything above a smallholding, you're already better off than quite a lot of the population.
Also, I'm reminded that dairymaids were suprisingly well paid for female servants - apparently they required a great deal of skill and a good one had the capacity to make a lot of money for their employer.