1879-1880 Jonas Paxton's Labour Time Book

Description

Original Binding, Original Source, Very Scarce

The fascinating handwritten time book of Joseph Paxton, an auctioneer and land agent who is known to have been prolific in the disposal of property, land and livestock.

A supporter of the Bicester Agricultural and Horticultural Society, and of the Oxfordshire Agricultural Association, Paxton was prominent in securing a railway line between Bletchley, Bicester, and Oxford.

This time book catalogues the 'labour' and 'extra labour' required by Paxton in 1879 and 1880, and includes names of workers, their daily rate, the days they have worked, and the tasks they have been assigned. 

Almost all of the 92 pages of this work have entries written on them.

Work undertaken includes hedging and ditching, draining, burning, digging, 'day work', farm work, and ploughing.

There are also a number of entries detailing the purchase of oats.

This work, with entries from the years 1879 and 1880, offers unusual insight into the transactions of a successful Victorian era auctioneer and land agent.