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I have a missing James Townsend in my tree. He disappears after the UK 1871 census and my guess is he immigrated to US or South Africa. (3 of his brothers came to Australia and kept in touch with each other so we can rule that out). There is a James Townsend in US that I have found in 1880, 1900, etc that is of major interest to me. However on the 1900 US census he says he had been in US for 32 years, which would make his immigration 1868 and rule him out from being 'my' James. However if this figure was slighly out, he could still be mine. Could someone please check the 1870 US census and see if there is a James Townsend b 1849 in England, single, and possibly in New York. He possibly worked as a carpenter, as that was his profession in later census. The funny thing is, it will actually be more helpful if you CAN'T find him.....it will point more to the James that I have found being him, if that makes sense. Thanks.

Just this chap a Carman: 1870 United States Federal Census about James Townsend Name: James Townsend Estimated birth year: abt 1835 Age in 1870: 35 Birthplace: England Home in 1870: New York Ward 9 District 15, New York, New York Family and neighbors: View Results Race: White Gender: Male Value of real estate: View image Post Office: 11 Greenwich Av

No I think that one would be born a little early, to be honest. Perhaps someone could also check Canadian records for me as a lot of people went to Canada first.

Hi there! Did you mean you saw him on the 1871 UK Census? I'm not sure if this is your guy or not, but here's what I found on the 1880 US Census: James Townsend Home in 1880: East Chester, Westchester, New York Age: 31 Estimated birth year: abt 1849 Birthplace: England Relation to head-of-household: Self (Head) Spouse's name: Mary Jane Father's birthplace: England Mother's birthplace: England Occupation: Carpenter Marital Status: Married Race: White Gender: Male Household Members: Name/ Age James Townsend 31 Mary Jane Townsend 27 George R. Townsend 5 Grace D. Townsend 2 Mary Jane and the 2 children were New Yorkers, not English. George, the oldest child would have been born in 1875. Which puts James' travelling between 1871 (if you know he was on the UK Census) and 1874

Yes Paula. That's the one I am interested in from 1880 census. But as to whether he is 'mine' still remains to be proved. 'Mine' was definitely still in UK in 1870. If you look at the 1900 census for the one you found, you will see he says he was there in US for 32 years, which would make him coming over in 1868. But sometimes not all the census info is exact. Thats why I thought if I found him on the 1870 entry it would show he was not mine and I could eliminate him.

nudge for Eleanor

My ancestors left England and Ireland and settled in Canada in the 1800's. One ancestor is listed as arriving around 1868 (67?) when I have proof he was in Canada prior to 1858. I have at least two other ancestors who have incorrect immigration dates, but they are off by just a few years. While searching for friends' ancestors, I've run across American census records that have immigration years changing on each form! In your case, perhaps someone just gave the incorrect date?