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census advice

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ProfilePosted byOptionsPost Date

Katherine

Katherine Report 2 Aug 2006 16:05

Hi all,I got my dads B.C.and it named his parents as Ernest Edward Flaxman and Arabella Dunford. I sent off for Ernest Edwards' B.C. and that named his parents as Charles Joseph Flaxman (occu whitesmith) and Elizabeth Julia nee James. Ilooked them up on the 1901 census and found Charles, Elizabeth and quite a large family.Ernest Edward isn't named, but a child called Charles aged 6 is. Could Charles(aged 6) be Ernest Edward, he would be that age in 1901 as his birth was registered in 1895. Also, what is a whitesmith, and why do census enumerators put a line through occs etc? I hope you can help.

Angela now in Wilts (not North Devon)

Angela now in Wilts (not North Devon) Report 2 Aug 2006 16:09

Would've thought it unlikely that Ernest Edward would be called Charles on census, could he be with relatives? A whitesmith is metalworker who works with white metals, i.e. tin. Angela

Susan

Susan Report 2 Aug 2006 16:21

hi ya some times it pays to search the street as i have found children with neighbours or older siblins and even a child as the head of the house and then recorded as the parents had stept out!! by the way i have dunfords in my lot are yours in dorst by any chance?

AnninGlos

AnninGlos Report 2 Aug 2006 16:55

I think the lines through occupations were not necessarily put there by enumerators but by people checking the forms off. Ann Glos

Researching:
Photo spring Researching Somerset, Dorset, Hampshire, Derbyshire, Staffs, Devon, Glamorganshire. Ingram, Masters, Tamblyn, Knight, Warner, Bate, Allen, Riggs, Dominey, Duffin

Katherine

Katherine Report 2 Aug 2006 19:36

Hello Angela thanks for responding. Ilooked at the rest of the census page,but didn't find him, I've looked at all censuses but he isn't anywhere. I'd never heard of a witesmith before. Thanks for enlightening me. On with the search.

Katherine

Katherine Report 2 Aug 2006 19:38

Hi Susan, I think my Dunfords were Londoners.Ther's still no sign of Ernest.

Glen In Tinsel Knickers

Glen In Tinsel Knickers Report 2 Aug 2006 19:39

A blacksmith worked with heavy metals,a whitesmith worked with lighter metals. Often the two jobs could be performed by the same man,they are essentailly both metalworking,it is just the materials they are working which are different. Glen

Katherine

Katherine Report 2 Aug 2006 19:41

Hi Anne in Glos, thanks for repliying It's a nusience when they do that because you miss all sorts of things.

Merry

Merry Report 2 Aug 2006 19:49

I think Charles aged 6 probably is him and the enumerator has made an error. (imagine copying all those details.....mistakes happened!) There is no Charles Flaxman registered for birth around the right time, so if this Charles is not a mistake, his birth doesn't seem to have been registered. Merry

Katherine

Katherine Report 3 Aug 2006 12:01

Hello Glen do you know what sort of businsses would use whitesmithies,what sort of things would they make?

Katherine

Katherine Report 3 Aug 2006 12:05

Merry, Thanks that was my original thought,it was just I wasn't sure how they could get Charles and Ernest mixed up.