Lower ranked doshin such as prison patrol doshin just received a ration for five persons, but in reality they had real handsome income as they received bribes from territorial lords and merchants, so they could afford to hire some private servants such as okappiki and meakashi (thief-takers).
牢屋廻り同心など最下級クラスでは二人扶持程度の俸禄でしかなかったものの、実際は諸大名家や町屋(商家)からの付け届けなどでかなりの実収入があり、そのため岡っ引や目明しのような私的使用人を雇う余裕もあった。