Genealogy Chat

I have been looking for family members (a married couple and probably their first baby) in the 1851 census but can't track down using either parent's name or the child's name. The family appears in the 1861, 1871 and 1881 censuses, and the mother under her maiden name and with her family of origin in the 1841 census. Any ideas why they might be missing in 1851 and is this a common issue? Helen

Hi What names are you lookiing for? Sometimes they are mistranscribed, sometimes the area is missing from Ancestry, any numnber of reasons are possible.

Where were you looking for them Helen?

Hello and thanks for responses I was looking in the Ancestry census collections focussing on 1851 in Lancashire (Manchester area) I know that Joseph Wilde born 1828 was married to Harriet Croft also born 1828 by 1861 because they appear in the 1861 census; and that Harriet Croft was with her family of origin in 1841 but not there in 1851, so I am making the assumption that she was married by then. However I have searched 1851 for Harriet Croft and Harriet Wilde, and for Joseph Wilde (and their son William Wilde who was born in 1851 although perhaps later than March that year and so may not appear in the census) and I can't find any entry that seems to fit. Incidentally I can't find Joseph Wilde born 1828 in the 1841 census either - or at least I am not convinced I have found him. In later censuses he is always described as born in Manchester and the only one I have found who seems likely in 1841 is born in Oldham, which in those days would I think not have been confused with Manchester, although all part of Greater Manchester today. I am fairly new to this and so far have only made use of internet census searches - haven't got as far as looking for birth certificates etc as that seems to demand a lot of time and dedication, although I can see that it would add a lot more information.

Helen, just a point in 1841 it doesnt give place of birth, just of this county or not of this county. Have you considered that Harriet may have been married before, even if briefly and therefore doesnt appear under either name you know?

Have you checked to see which 'pieces' of 1851 are missing? It is quite a long list........... In addition, the census returns of the following localities have been damaged by water during storage. Most of the damaged pieces are in the area of Manchester. Piece County Parishes and Hamlets 2332 Yorkshire Broadroyd Head Carlton Carr Green Cudworth with High & Low Cudworth Darton Darton Lane Head Darton with Blacker Mapplewell Notton Roystone Staincross & Swallow Hill Woolley 2219 Lancashire Manchester Ardwick Birth in Rusholme Burnage Chorlton-dum-Hardy Didsbury Gorton Levenshulme Openshaw Rusholme Withington 2220 Lancashire Manchester Ardwick Chorlton-upon-Medlock 2221 Lancashire Manchester Moss-side Hulme 2222/1 Lancashire Eccles Pendleton 2222/2 Lancashire Eccles Pendlebury 2222/3 Lancashire Manchester Broughton-with Kersall 2223 Lancashire Manchester Salford 2224 Lancashire Manchester Salfrod 2225 Lancashire Manchester 2226 Lancashire Manchester 2227 Lancashire Manchester 2228 Lancashire Manchester 2229 Lancashire Manchester 2230 Lancashire Manchester 2231 Lancashire Manchester Bradford Beswick Newton with Culcheth & Kirkmanshulme 2232 Lancashire Manchester Alt Alt-Edge Alt-Hill Ashton-under-Lyne Blackley Cheetham Crumpsall Failsworth Great Heaton Harpurhey Knott Lanes with Lees Knott Lanes & Wood Park Little Heaton Moston Prestwich Taunton 2233 Lancashire Ashton-under-Lyne Ashton Town 2240 Lancashire Prestwich Oldham (St Mary's, St Peter's, Wernet, and Westwood Wards) Reg

Again, thanks for responses. Yes, of course it is possible that Harriet Croft had an earlier marriage although of course I have no way of knowing that at present. Still can't find Joseph though. Reg - your information about damage to census records is interesting as I think this family would have been living in one of the parts of Manchester you have listed in your helpful message. Certainly they were in Hulme in the later censuses. I take it there is nothing to be done about this? Helen