"Living on own means"

[clarefmshaw]

I do hope that this query doesn't sound too "naive" and that someone might be "patient" enough to respond....! Sorry, I'm not usually so sarcastic!

In 1901 my husband's grandfather (aged 73) is listed as a "foreman platelayer, (Primitive Lay Preacher), living on own means".

I would be very grateful if some could tell me what 'living on own means' means as far as this census is concerned? This man (Thomas Gleadle) had been (on previous censuses) an agricultural labourer, then an (agricultural) foreman, then an ironworks labourer. He couldn't have been terribly well-off, whatever.

Thanks for any help!

[Peter Goodey]

We can probably assume that "foreman platelayer" was his most recent occupation; "lay preacher" was how he now filled his time and "own means" is how he now lives. It's just an unspecified source of income (sometimes just equivalent to "mind your own business"). More specifically it implies income from investments, rent received, savings under the mattress etc - anything that wasn't wages, salary or formal pension. Government bonds (gilts) were popular among fairly ordinary people in those days as a safe home for savings.

[clarefmshaw]

Thanks, Peter, I appreciate the explanation.