Dear Michelle,
Markkoetter,= resident of a small house or small farm.
Mostly on bad (of drassige) ground.[ founded 1500-1700 ].
Markkotters were people who wanted to etablish an independent carreer and
tilled ground that almost nobody cared to own. It was hard work to set up
such a farm.
A Kotten is a lonesome agricultural dwelling making part of the main farm
(Vollerben,
farm that is in the highest tax class, normally with best ground, founded in
medieval aera), leased to third parties.
Thursday I can look up the hollandish word drassig in the dictionary.
Greetings
Falk (Liebezeit)
Diepholz
Hannover-L Nachrichtensammlung, Band 34, Eintrag 58