Genealogy Chat

I am trying to do a street search in the 1881 census & it keeps coming up with not found! I know the street (Church Row in St Matthews Bethnal Green) was there in 1871. Why can't I find it now. My ggggrandfather Bentham Simpson b 1820 Oswaldkirk in Yorkshire is there in 1871 and in 1878 when his wife died, but I cannot find him anywhere in 1881. Can anyone help please?

Put in only the minimum of info.....if you are too specific, the system doesn't seem to like it. Reg

Reg, I did try that - I just put in Middlesex, Bethnal Green, (tried other variations in this bit too) and then Church Row. Still didn't work. I don't have to put in a name do I? - This is on ancestry btw. Carolyn

Cant easily see him in 1881? Is this him in 1901? Name: Bentham Simpson Age: 80 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1821 Relation: Father-in-law Gender: Male Where born: Oswaldkirk, Yorkshire, England Civil Parish: Godalming Ecclesiastical parish: Busbridge St John County/Island: Surrey Country: England Street address: Occupation: Condition as to marriage: Education: Employment status: Subscribe now to see this information. Registration district: Guildford Sub-registration district: Godalming ED, institution, or vessel: 7 Neighbors: View others on page Household schedule number: 1 Household Members: Name Age Alice L Johnson 26 Grace Mercer 15 Elizabeth Moss 65 Emma Louisa Moss 23 Frank E Moss 14 Lily Moss 16 Reuben Moss 59 Sarah Jane Moss 55 Bentham Simpson 80

Hi Suzanne - Yes it is. In 1891 he is living with his son-in-law's brother's mother (!) in Hornsey RG12/1060, but I just cannot find him anywhere in 1881. I tried his daughter but she is a boarder in someone elses house.

I meant son-in-law's brother's wife. Henry Moss had left her. Carolyn

Even number for church row no 14? Source Citation: Class: RG11; Piece: 430; Folio: 49; Page: 8 Odd number for church row no 7? Source Citation: Class: RG11; Piece: 430; Folio: 47; Page: 4 Yes you have to put in a name also. Suzanne X

Thanks Suzanne. I'll try to have a look for him now but I'm having a bit off a problem with my internet connection - keeps switching off. In1878 when his wife died he was at 6 Church Row - at the Parochial School.

Hmmm - he's not there, Nos. 4, 5& 6 are unoccupied. Any ideas where else or how I should look for him please? Carolyn

Ive had a nose around the 1881 census and cant see him. Possibilities are he is mistranscribed somewhere. He may have spent time in the workhouse where they sometimes just put initials rather than names? He could be living anywhere really, maybe gone back to Yorkshire? I noticed the Moss family moved around a lot going on their childrens places of births? Even his age may have been mistranscribed? Or he could be homeless (was he a man of wealth/profession)? not that stops one from becoming homeless! Suzanne

Thanks for spending time on it Suzanne & sorry I didn't get back to you last night. i couldn't keep my eyes open! both families moved around a lot as they were teachers - Reuben a headmaster & Bentham a school master (although i was told he ended up a Dr of Science and that many people came to his funeral at Kensal Green Cemetary in 1905). By the look of the family gravestone I don't think that he could have been poor - wasn't enormous, but wasn't small either. He was living in Parkstone, Poole, Dorset when he died, so I don't know what he was doing down there. Did people retire to the seaside in those days too - I suppose they did for a bit of 'sea air'? All 4 of his children were teachers but 2 died in their 20's & one never married. The other was married to Reuben. Anyway, thank you for your help. I think i am going to have to moveon to another line here. Not sure where else I can look for him. Carolyn

I had the same problem with an ancestor in the 1851 census. I knew where he was in 1841 census, I knew he died in the same house in 1858 but couldn't trace him, or anyone else in his family group in 1851 census. I finally managed to visit the library that had the microfiche. I trawled throught the whole census for the appropriate parish to find that the STREET was missing never mind my ancestor. Either it wasn't fimed properly or the census taker had a bad day and went home early! Terry

It's just SO frustrating isn't it! I have thesame problem at the other end with Bentham too as he was illegitimate and trying to find out anything about his mother has proved impossibe! Maybe I'm just not very good at this sport!!