The Farm Bailiff was employed by an estate owner, and his main task was to oversee the tenant farmers making sure that rent was paid and farms were well looked after – so basically a farm manager, and he did have the power to evict any tenants that were not up to the mark.
He was also required to be proficient in book keeping and knowledgeable about all things farm related – right down to the milking of a cow. Many estate owners wanted their Bailiffs to be able to work on their own initiative as well as coming up with new money saving ideas.
Very often a farm labourer gained the trust of the farmer, and after some years was promoted to the post of Bailiff.