[ewalsh1]

I believe my ancestor was a migrant farmer in the mid 1700's.  What did this mean at that time?  Is there a source to find out how they chose their place to farm and their original birthplace if it was not where they farmed?  Since I live in the United States of America I'm not sure what this means.  I know migrant farmer does  have a different meaning in the U.S. in 2011.  I'm having difficulty tracing him. Thank you to all that can answer my questions.

[cpigman]

I am researching my French ancestors in the mid 1600's as well.   They are connected to their home place in Correze in several documents.

I have found out that most of my ancestors at that time were called labourers.  That means to plough, to furrow, to churn up, or to dig into.