Genealogy Chat

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In 1861, I have found 2 people called Nancy Fearn. One is living with my 4xggrandmother Martha Douglas in Thornhill near Dewsbury, She is listed as a visitor and is aged 16, born in Thornhill. The second is living with her parents Joseph Fearn and Hannah Fearn (nee Douglas) in Batley. She is aged 17 and born in Thornhill. On 1851, Nancy is living with her parents in Batley. Fearn is a very uncommon name in that area at that time as Joseph was from Bakewell in Derbyshire. Checking on familyhistoryonline, there is only 1 Nancy Fearn listed for 1851 in Kirklees. I know that the HuddersfieldFHS have name indexes for the whole of that area for 1851. I believe they are the same person, what do you think?? Thanks for your help Russell

Sounds very much as though parents thought they should give names of everyone who usually lived in the house or forgot that Nancy was out that night.

I too have had someone appearing twice, once as a visitor and once with her parents.

I also have three people who appear twice! Some are with relatives and others with employers. It really makes you wonder how many there were like this - I only have about 350 people on my trees but I know of these three and another two possibles. These are just the ones I know about - there might be others for all I know! At this rate the population must have been smaller than they thought. On the other hand I suppose they are cancelled out by all those people we can't find!! Anne

I have a relative who appears twice in the 1861, once listed with her parents, and once where I believe she actually was, at work in another village. Helen

It's not fair! I only get the ones who aren't listed at all!!

My great grandfather appears twice in 1901, once living with his parents, and once with his 'secret' wife!!!!!!!!!!!

Russell, I have a rellie twice on a census return. He was a railwayman who was listed at his lodgings where he worked and also listed with his family at another address. With a first name of Kenric, I am pretty sure its the same man as both have his occupation as being a railwayman. Allie

Could Nancy the Visitor be visiting from another county? She may have been born there, moved away, and been back on census night. So don't just check for births in that county. It is possible for her to be the same person. Enumeraters had to walk so Nancy could have been at her parents' when he called, walked to the other house and still been there when the enumerator came calling.

You've probably figured this out by now – but yes. Two of my ancestors were servants to the 19th-century church architect and stained-glass artist Frederick Preedy (1820-1898). In the 1881 Census, he is listed as head of household at his home/work address (13 York Place, London W1) – but simultaneously as a 'visitor' at the Vicarage, Cold Ashby, Northants (where he was designing/making two stained-glass windows for the church). There weren't two of him...

Yes people can appear twice or more on the census return. In the last one me and my flat mates had had some beer when we filled ours out so not only are we Jedi Knights for religon but then went to a friends flat to have a few more beers and was put on there as visiting.

Thankyou everyone for your input. Russell

I also have a person on 2 census returns in 1901. On one of them he was at sea and the other one he was at home! Maggy

So there you have it Russell. Either two entries or no entries. At least in 1841-1901 they weren't Jedi knights!