Genealogy Chat

What's the likelihood of an enumerator in 1841 mistaking Buckden for Buckinghamshire? I'm clutching at straws I know. M. Steer

County of birth wasn't normally given on the 1841 - are you looking at the image? OC

Is the word actually on the image? Or is that how it has been transcribed? Reg

Same question......are you looking at the image? Reg

O.C., and Reg, sorry, slip of the finger or short term memory loss. Should have said 1871. M. Steer

Sorry Reg, when I first looked at the image I wasn't certain, though it was definitely Buck... ? Ancestry have transcribed it as Buckden. If you'd care to look - it's for Ann Splevins. M. Steer

Definitely Buckden.......... Reg

So Reg, do you think the transcriber could have mistaken Buckden for Buckingham(shire)? Could Lety have changed her name to Ann and lied about her age? As I said, I'm clutching at straws - but in this game anything is possible. M. Steer

I assume this is the woman (1861) Name: Letitia Splevins Age: 63 Estimated birth year: abt 1798 Relation: Wife Spouse's name: Samuel Gender: Female Where born: Olney, Buckinghamshire, England Civil parish: Offord Darcy Town: Offord Darcy County/Island: Huntingdonshire Country: England Registration district: St Neots Sub-registration district: St Neots ED, institution, or vessel: 12 Neighbors: View others on page Household schedule number: 27 Household Members: Name Age Letitia Splevins 63 Samuel Splevins 61 No way would 73 pass for 60............. Reg

Anything is possible......theoretically. However, as Buckden was in Hunts and the woman was living in the county, it seems unlikely. This other person you refer to.........what did she do for a living? Reg

Hi Margaret I think it's really unlikely that she changed her name, lied about her age and the enumerator got the place of birth wrong! To verify this - try and find the person you have found in 1871 in earlier/later census returns and compare with what you have about your ancestor. Think you might be back to searching for your ancestor again. But, post her name - yob - place of birth etc and see if anyone can help. Good Luck Jill

This solves it, I think.............DEATH Name: Letitia Spleving Year of Registration: 1861 Quarter of Registration: Apr-May-Jun DISTRICT: St Neots County: Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire Volume: 3b Page: 184 ( Reg

AND........possibly??? Name: William Splevins Estimated birth year: abt 1799 Year of Registration: 1866 Quarter of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec Age at Death: 67 DISTRICT: Bedford County: Bedfordshire Volume: 3b Page: 193 Reg

Jill and Reg, the other person was a widow, aged 60 and described as a Nurse. Laetitia and/or Lety (Maiden name unknown) Splevins was born c.1797. According to one Census she was born in Cambs., according to another she was born in Buckinghamshire. I can trace her on '41, '51, and '61 Census. I believe her husband may have died in 1866 (can't be %100 certain) but he vanishes after 1861. The only female Splevins that I can find in '71 of a similar age is Ann (widow, aged 60). I've been unable to find a Death for Lety Splevins. M. Steer

I posted her death about an hour ago.......... Reg

Reg, our replies got 'crossed over'. I could kiss you! Don't know how you found it (I've been searching all day - talk about a 'fart in a collander') but I'm sending off for Laetitia's Death Certificate. I'm still not sure about William, he may or may not be mine? Thankyou so very much. M. Steer

Glad to have helped......... Reg