Character Bios
Farmer Maggot
Location(s): Bamfurlong, Marish, The Shire
Race/Species: Hobbit
Type/Kind: N/A
Title(s): commonly referred to as Farmer Maggot, though Merry addressed him as Mr. Maggot
Dates: III~IV -no specific dates given
Parents: unknown
Siblings: unknown
Spouse: Mrs. Maggot (no first name given)
Children: two sons and three daughters are mentioned but no names are given
Description:
Farmer Maggot was the master of Bamfurlong in Marish, which was located in the Eastfarthing south of Stock and the Bucklebury Ferry.
They passed along the edge of a huge turnip-field, and came to a stout gate. Beyond it a rutted lane ran between low well-laid hedges towards a distant clump of trees. Pippin stopped.'I know these fields and this gate!' he said. 'This is Bamfurlong, old Farmer Maggot's land. That's his farm away there in the trees…’
LotR: FotR: Book One: Chapter IV - A Short Cut to Mushrooms
Farmer Maggot was apparently a hobbit of some importance in that part of the Shire, being well thought of by the inhabitants of Buckland.
'He's a good friend to all the Brandybucks. Of course he's a terror to trespassers, and keeps ferocious dogs - but after all, folk down here are near the border and have to be more on their guard…’ [Pippin to Frodo and Sam] LotR: FotR: Book One: Chapter IV - A Short Cut to Mushrooms
‘He is a friend of Merry's, and I used to come here with him a good deal at one time.’ [ibid.]
Farmer Maggot was also rumored to have gone into the Old Forest at times, which seemed to be borne out by the fact that he was known to Tom Bombadil.
'Old Maggot is a shrewd fellow,' said Merry. 'A lot goes on behind his round face that does not come out in his talk. I've heard that he used to go into the Old Forest at one time, and he has the reputation of knowing a good many strange things.’
Lotr: FotR: Book One: Chapter V - A Conspiracy Unmasked
[Tom] appeared already to know much about them and all their families, and indeed to know much of all the history and doings of the Shire...he made no secret that he owed his recent knowledge largely to Farmer Maggot, whom he seemed to regard as a person of more importance than they had imagined. 'There's earth under his old feet, and clay on his fingers; wisdom in his bones, and both his eyes are open,' said Tom.
LotR: FotR: Book One: Chapter VII - In the House of Tom Bombadil
For a physical description of Farmer Maggot, Tolkien wrote:
Through the gate there now appeared a broad thick-set hobbit with a round red face...
LotR: FotR: Book One: Chapter IV - A Short Cut to Mushrooms
and:
The Hobbits of that quarter, the Eastfarthing, were rather large and heavy-legged, and they wore dwarf-boots in muddy weather. But they were well known to be Stoors in a large part of their blood, as indeed was shown by the down that many grew on their chins.
LotR: Prologue: Concerning Hobbits, and other matters
Contributors:
~Nessime 11/15/2003
