Genealogy Chat

On a very early census return (1821) I have someone described as 'inmate'. This is not an institution, hospital etc. It is a farm. Does anyone have any idea what this could refer to? Is it perhaps just another word for 'servant'? There is another person at the same address who IS a servant. Thank you

Could the farm have served as a poor house?

Maybe a lodger but did they use that word then ??

Found by googling. http://english.stackexchange.com/questions/116001/how-did-inmate-evolve-to-only-apply-to-prisons-and-asylums


Q. How did “inmate” evolve to only apply to prisons and asylums?


A. Perhaps the simplest way to observe the evolution of inmate is to note the definitions that dictionaries have assigned to the term through the years. Here are the relevant ones that I have at hand.

From Samuel Johnson's Dictionary of the English Language (1756):

Inmates are those that be admitted to dwell for their money jointly with another man.



From Noah Webster's Compendious Dictionary of the English Language (1806):

a lodger, one who lives in the same house.



From Webster's American Dictionary of the English Language (1828):

A person who lodges or dwells in the same house with another, occupying different rooms, but using the same door for passing in and out of the house.

2. A lodger; one who lives with a family, but is not otherwise connected with it than as a lodger.



From Merriam-Webster's American Dictionary of the English Language (1864):

A person who lodges or dwells in the same apartment or house with another; a fellow-lodger.




From Joseph Worcester's Comprehensive Dictionary, Revised Edition (1873):

One who dwells jointly with another; a fellow-lodger; a fellow-boarder.



etc

Thank you, everyone. This has helped a great deal in explaining the mystery.