Several possibilities come to the mind of a non expert like me.
(1) They were responding to market forces and simply wanted a life of
adventure given low farm incomes
(2) Other workers only joined after serving apprenticeships. Indeed did
none ag. labs. do specific tasks in the navy that required
apprenticeships.
(3) Were they recorded as ag. labs. but were not really ag. labs?
Certainly I get the impression that in workhouse records all young
females were referred to as domestic servants whenever they didn't have
a recognised trade or occupation. Maybe something similar was taking
place in navy recruitment in Lancashire.
(4) Is Lancashire typical or untypical of other counties.
David
On Mon, 7 Aug 2000 15:08:09 +0100 Peter Park
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:
# I am carrying out research into naval recruitment in Lancashire in 1795 and
# 1796. I have found that agricultural labourers who enrolled were significantly
# younger than men in other occupations. has anyone any suggestions as to why this
# should be so?
#
# Thanks in anticipation.
#
# Regards,
#
# Peter Park. Walton on Thames, Surrey, UK.
#
#
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David Alan Gatley (Dr),
School of Humanities and Social Sciences,
Staffordshire University,
Stoke-on-Trent,
ST4 2XW
Telephone 01782-294780 (Office)
01782-415340 (Home)
Fax 01782-294760
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