Lemon Tree

[darkerhorse]

My ggf's civil records indicate he was a shepherd (pastore) in Sicily in the late 19th century.

I thought my father said that my ggf owned a lemon orchard. If that were the case, would it also have been recorded as his profession? The man died at age 38, so it's not like he would have had much time to change occupations. Is it likely that a shepherd would also own an orchard in that time and place? Or, maybe it was only one tree.

[darkerhorse]

Also, was pastore considered higher status than contadino?

[PippoM]

My ggf's civil records indicate he was a shepherd (pastore) in Sicily in the late 19th century.

I thought my father said that my ggf owned a lemon orchard. If that were the case, would it also have been recorded as his profession? maybe it was not big enough to live on it, but big enough to sell lemonsThe man died at age 38, so it's not like he would have had much time to change occupations. Is it likely that a shepherd would also own an orchard in that time and place? Yes, it is Or, maybe it was only one tree.

[darkerhorse]

Makes sense.

[darkerhorse]

On his death record his profession is listed as "colono". Does that make it more likely he owned a lemon orchard?

I have to check but I think he was "pastore" in earlier records.

[darkerhorse]

age 38 = 1899 - death record = colono, informants were non-relatives - a colono and industrioso
age 35 = 1896 - child's birth record = colono, informant was midwife
age 34 = 1895 - child's birth record = contadino, informant was different midwife
age 33 = 1894 - 2nd marriage record = massaro, self-reported
age 24 = 1885 - 1st marriage record = massaro, self-reported

I guess the shepherds were his father and grandfather.

Looks more like lemon orchard is likely. Any suggestions for more evidence? Church records aren't available as far as I know.

[darkerhorse]

My father might have said his gf "had" a lemon orchard, maybe not that he "owned" one. To the extend that's different.

Anyway, I prefer him to have raised lemons than sheep.