Genealogy Chat

There's a John Henry Cole, farm labourer, living in Blackawton in 1861, who might well be yours. John Henry Cole abt 1833 Blackawton Lodger Blackawton Devon

Thanks again Snowdrops. Everyone else is probably waiting for the board to refresh! Mark

aaarrrrggghhhh this site - sorry it's so long, but you know what it's like at the mo!! Well, from what I've seen I'd say you've definitely got the right person. I've been backwards and forwards between the 41, 51 and 61 census and compared all the Henry's with all the dob's and occupations and I say you do have the right one. Has anyone else looked?

Hi Snowdrops - I think you're right on the Farm Lab. - it can't sensibly be anything else now I've squinted at it ... 1881 has Henry (transcribed as Harry) back with his original birthdate of 1828. I think I'm going to have to get his marriage cert to be sure I'm following the right one. Mark

Second part of your problem: Looking at the 1851 there are two Henry Coles born Slapton Deveon, one 1828 (yours) and another 1831 (possibly the one showing in 1861?). Am off to view the 1861 now

Mark It looks like a load of gobbledegook doesn't it? However, in the absence of anything else, I'm giving it a shot. Looking at the line underneath, the occupation is retired farmer. The beginning of farmer looks very very similar to the beginning of your Henry's occupation. Now if you half close your eyes and imagine his pen has slipped you could make out (from the last two letters which really do look like a d and an n) a slipped r and ending in m. Which would give you farm lab and it's what you would expect to see given the retired gentleman underneath. Can anyone see any thing clearer?

The second part of the problem is that in 1861 I have what I think is the same Henry - now married to Mary Ann and living in Plymouth. His occupation is Journeyman Shoemaker, but his dob is now 1831. There is another Henry in 1851 b 1831, but he is not listed as a shoemaker. Any opinions please?

Henry Cole b 1828 Slapton, Devon on 1851 census - he was with the same family in 1841 but as 'ap. shoe asst'. Now he is listed as servant, and some sort of lab., but I can't make it out ...