Genealogy Chat

Looking at my gr,gr,gr grandfather Barnett Miller of Whitechapel, his entry on the 1881 census, in the last box, the blind, lunatic etc, there are the letters 'BS'. I did think it might mean 'blind sighted' but he is not listed as blind in the 1891 census or 1901. Anyone come across this before? It might also have nothing to do with a disability and might relate to his citizen status, as he is from Russia.

Hi Richard Think it means British Subject. Diane:))

BS means British Subject so it was probably recorded in the wrong box!

could be worth looking for naturalisation records then. Barnett Miller looks like an Anglicisation of his original name -- Barnett was fairly common among Polish/Russian Jewish immigrants so there must be some common original name that it corresponds to

Are you sure it is BS and not PS, which could mean Partially Sighted? Partially Sighted would not necessarily mean that he was blind. If definitely BS then as others have said this would mean British Subject. Janet

Janet, I don't think such politically correct phrases were in use at the time. 'Half-blind' would be the term used.

This is the transcription............which I think clarifies the entry Barnett Miller Rebecca abt 1843 (BS), Russia Head St Paul Shadwell London The BS is an addendum........referring to the 'place of birth' column Reg

The extra information you have gained Reggie sounds as though it is definitely British Subject. I am not sure about the PS and Partially Sighted. Yes, it does sound politically correct, though I am almost certain that I have seen this on one of the Census. I will keep an open mind on this for the time being. Janet

Thanks for the replies. I think it must mean British Subject, and is an adendum, as at the time he was running a boot, slipper making business and I find it hard to think he would have been able if he had such severe sight trouble for the census man to notice, and of course it's unlikely he would have recovered either, and no sight problems listed on 1891 or 1901. The naturalisation records bit interests me. How would I go about finding these? The earliest record of Barnett I can find is his 1867 marraige to Rebecca Gobertz, the daughter of a dutch 'chut', Isaac Gobetz, who had come over around 1840 with his father and brother. He does not appear on the 1861 census, I havn't been able to find him anyway, so I presume he came over between 1861-7. I know he was from Odessa and I have been able to find a record of a ship carrying artisans around 1865, including boot makers, but no names were listed. Tried Jew Gen and no luck there either. Any advice appreciated!

Naturalisation papers would be at Kew. Look on The National Archives website, this is their online research guide to naturalisation and citizenship www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=242

Thanks Helen, I shall go look now, hopefully I will be in luck!

Unfortunately all I could find searching their online records was this, Nationality and Naturalisation: Miller, Berl (or Barnett Miller), from Russia. Resident in London. Certificate 14669 issued 29 April 1927. . Nationality and Naturalisation: Miller, Berl (or Barnett Miller), from Russia. Resident in London. Certificate Date: 1927. This is not him, as my Barnett Miller died 1907 and is buried in West Ham, so far too late. Maybe his name was originally Berl as well though? who knows.

Richard I am not sure that I would dismiss the Half Blind or whatever sighted totally, as I am sure that I have read somewhere that very often people with a sight disability went into shoe repairing, especially towards the end of the 19 century, but I cannot think where I have seen or read this. Poor sight then would have a different meaning to today, and might not necessarily be blind, just need corrective glasses. 'Sheltered Workshops' may be worth investigating as these were certainly around in 1900 and gave vocational training to 'Blind' people. These Vocational Training Courses included Knitting, Sewing, Weaving, Cane and Bamboo work, Basket Making and Shoemaking. Janet

i have that on the 1901 for my German grt grand parents.BUT was told that what would happen was the enumerater would ask someone who wasnt british'do you have the right to be here??' they would say 'yes' so he would record as British Subject ,but this didnt necessarily follow that they had taken naturalization or denizization. I couldnt find any record at Kew that my German rellies did altho they had been here since 1880,s and had more children here

I think your right maybe he told the census man he was a citizen, when he'd in fact probably never been naturalised, no record seems to exist. That said I suppose it's also possible Russia (BS) could mean Black Sea, as he was born Odessa, largest port, barring Constantinople, on Black Sea. That possibility didn't occur to me until today! I do wish sometimes though they'd made themselves clearer on the census!