Genealogy Chat

Hi all. Can someone look at the following census image on ancestry and confirm a name for me please please please. 1841 england, gloucestershire, cheltenham, district 38, page 3, 9th row (HO107/353/14). I'm trying to find a William Adams (bc 1802) and a Lavinia Adams (bc 1816). The transcriber on ancestry reckons it is Jamima Adams. I think this may be my poeple though, with the ages recorded that wrong way round. What do people think please? Many many thanks, Paul

What was your Williams occupation in later census?

Good question thanks. In 1851 William was a gardener (born in somerset), Lavinia was a laundress (born in berkshire). Note that Lavinia is actually called Sarah in the 1851 and 61 census, and Lavinia in the 1871 and 1881 census, but I nearly 100% sure it the same person. William died pre 1861 (well Sarah is down as a widow anyway). Can you read the occupations on the 1841 census image? I can't.

Do you know when they married? Although they are not very youg, the oldest child in 1851 is only 7, so maybe they were not married in 1841? Merry

I can't find any information on their marriage :-( But, from Their sons (William George) birth cert Lavinia Adams maiden name was Alley.

From what I can make out Paul, the females name does look like Lavinia. UNFORTUNATELY, when you then check the first letter with other names on there it does start to look like a J. BUT, the job she has looks like laundress to me. Enumerators can make mistakes and I have peeps whose names and birth places have been transposed. Would the birth dates be right then? Its a big gap between them. Are you sure this isnt mother and son? Williams job Im having a tough time seeing - anyone else want a go? On first site it looked like Roof something to me. But this enumerator has such flowery writing .................. I think theres a good chance its your lot. It says both not of this county - does that match in?

Thanks Heather. It looks like Lavinia to me too, until I look at the J in James a few rows above. But, if you think the job is laundress, that also starts with a letter that looks like the J. Maybe this persons J’s and L’s are the same?! I can’t remember, did they round down in 1841? William is down as 49 in 1851, and Lavinia as 35. They were both not born in Gloucestershire.

They were supposed to round down to nearest 5 - but in practice Ive found quite a lot of areas where they give the right year. I take it you are going backwards from their childs birth cert? Have you tried the IGI for a marriage? What was Lav's maiden name? Sorry, just seen it above.

Oh dear! Am I looking at a different couple in 1841??!!! lol I thought it said Jemima occ Indt (for Independent) and William occ Profor .........(as in Professor of something or other - though he's a bit young....could be 24 though!) Merry

I'm going backwards from the birth cert, and other census data. According to the birth cert the maiden name was Alley. Can't find William Adams marrying a Lavinia (or a Sarah) Ally on IGI. I can find a William Adams marrying a Jemima in Dorset in 1837.

Hi Merry, No, I think this is the same people! Heather thought that Indt was Laundress?! And that Prof was Roof?! They are hard to read! I didn'tlike tohave a guess.

You may well be looking at the right one Merry, I am only guessing what it says - I wish a few more peeps would have a look. Such damn flowery writing. Trouble is there is a Lucy on the right hand side and that is def a different style to the first letter of Lavinia/Jamima

I'm looking at the same one as Merry. I think it says Jemima and she's 41 and Indt (for independent) and William is 20. Cant read his occupation but its not gardener. They are living in the same house as the Moss family whose head James Moss is an accountant. The whole area seems quite up-market with a solicitor and another accountant on the same pages. If I came accross them I would have thought that William might have been Jemima's son. BUT who can say on the 1841??? Anne

Had another look and can see the Indt now - I was thrown by thinking the first letter was same as the first letter of her name - which I hoped was an L. Thing is - if the ages have been transposed, William would be the 40 year old, so quite likely in a professional job??? There are some sailors bunged in amongst that page - havent checked out the addy - is it an area for boarding or what? Did we decide what job William has in the next census. (Being hassled by hubby to get his work up to date - will check in later)

Thanks Anne, Heather and Merry. I think maybe I am having a 'wishful thinking' moment, and these aren't my people. If only I could find reference to the marriage. Oh well.

Paul, I have to shoot (or be shot!!!) but give the eldest kiddies birth details and Im sure someone will have a go at finding the marriage for you. Dont despair, Im sure you will sort them out. Must go, supposed to be catching up on three weeks typing here (since puter busted) but will peep in later if I can!

Thanks Heather, Birth details according to birth cert (any my reading it) are: When and where born: 25th Nov 1843, 16 St Paul Street South Name: William George Sex: Boy Name and surname of father: William Adams Name, Surname and maiden surname of mother: Levinia Adams, formerly Alley Occupation of father: Gardener Signature, description and residence of informant: Wm Adams, Father, 16 St Paul Street South, Cheltenham

Hmmm... I wonder whether this is my Lavinia Alley in 1841 census: 1841 England Census > Berkshire > Beedon > District 13 > page 6 bottom right Name = nk Alley (female). The place of birth matches the 1851 census. Or could this be the one: 1841 England Census > Surrey > Lambeth > Brixton > District 5 > page 15 bottom right. Age is right. Place of birth doesn't match later census though which say Berkshire (1851 - Beedon, 1861 - Newry, 1871 - Newbury) I need that marriage cert! May well be between 1841 census and nov 1843 birth.