Genealogy Chat

This is a real long shot, but I'm trying to think of possible reasons why someone who should be on the 1901 census isn't coming up in searches.

Simon Don't know if they all are, but I have seen some in hospital listed. Only thing is sometimes they are put in as initials only. Also prisoners were listed the same way. Lynda

Choose institution search on 1901 site , type in hospital on top box and then place in second box should then bring up the names of all those hospitals in the area. It won't bring up the peoples names unless you select image, in other words you have to pay to even see just the names, so if you know which hospital this will make life cheaper.You can also do this for schools orphangaes etc. good luck . KIM

I had one family the other day who would not come up on person search but when I put in their address, there they were! Dont know why they didn't show up even though their neighbours did! Sue G

Cheers people. Think the best thing will be to slog on trying different combinations of names/spellings etc. The hospital idea was just a long-shot, and he was only 8 yrs old so too young for the war. If anyone comes across a Sydney Frank Barnard let me know !

Where was he born?

Sue, That's a very good question and something I'm not entirely sure of. His father was William James, and the only Sidney that comes up on 1901 of the right age, with a father called William is from Gloucestershire. Whilst I'm not discounting him altogether it just doesn't seem to ring true somehow. As the rest of the family is from Norfolk (Sydney married in Norfolk in 1915). Two things that could be connected, or perhaps are just throwing me off, are that on FreeBMD there is a marriage listed in 1870 between a William James Barnard and a Mary Anne Anderson, in the Aylsham District. This feels like a very strong contender for Sydney Frank's parents to me. (There is also a listing in Aylsham of a birth of a William James in 1870). On the 1891 census there is a William Barnard age 21, born in Caston (which is in the Aylsham District). However he is boarding in West Ham Essex. This would suggest Mary should appear somewhere else without her hubbie but can't find her. So, if the above is true, by the time you get to 1901 William James should be around somewhere and so should Sydney his son - but I can't find him anywhere.

Actually, I've just spotted the Sidney Barnard born in Rowledge in Essex - is it a bit of a leap of faith for him to have been born there whilst William was lodging in West Ham Essex ?!

I had found that Sidney too but by just going on age. From what I can read on the decoder, he was not living with his parents at the time of the census! Got me thinking now!! Sue G

It's certainly a strange one isn't it. I've been checking out the decoder as well and the numbers make him look as if he's on his own - not likely for an 8-9 yr old !

Staying with grandparents? I have seen that one on 1891 census, mother died and one of the three sons went to live with grandparents instead. You have also got to remember that the census didn't represent where they were living, just where they were at the time of the census, so could have been on holiday. Got to check this out, Be back in a minute. Sue G

I was in hospital on the night of the 1961 census and appeared on the hospital census On the 1891 census, my great uncle stayed with his grandparents overnight

Lost you then,went to the wrong board! Here goes: Herbert J groves head 28 b I of Wight Cowes Minna Groves wife 28 born Essex Rowledge Nellie F Groves daughter 3 b Hants Southampton Dorothy Groves daughter 6m b Hants Portsmouth Sidney Bernard NEPHEW 9 b Essex Rowledge Frank Hall boarder 22 b I of Wight E Cowes Address 52 Walden Road Portsmouth So looks like he was living with his mums sister at the time. Hope this helps Sue G

Gosh - many, many thanks for that Sue - it is indeed very helpful ! A few things now start to click into place. Very grateful for your help. Simon

You are most welcome :-)

The only thing I need to work out now is what they mean by Rowledge, Essex as Rowledge is actually in Surrey ! Does anyone know what this would have means ? Not being good at geography, I initially thought it might have indicated a border change until I checked and realised London is slap in betweeb Essex and Surrey !

Just checked census again and it definately says 'Essex Rowledge', Typo on their part not mine. Whew!!! :-)

Simon , I too couldn't find people I knew existed but found them eventually with surnames spelt wrong or sometimes they weren't known by their first name e.g. Buckett and Beakett instead of Beckett , and my grandfather Michael George known and recorded as just George . Some just recorded with initial instead of first names . Hilary

Simon , there are a number of William Barnard names aged 30/31 including some in the Norfolk and Suffolk areas . I do not have credit to search their families but it might be more fruitful to come at it from this direction if you haven't already . Hilary

I think you're right Hilary. This one is still troubling me a bit - there are too many William Barnards and too few Sydney Barnards to be able to tie any of them together conclusively. I have found that the Minna mentioned above in the 1901 cenus, was Barnard before marriage - so I'm hoping she is William's sister (therefore confirming her as Sydney's Aunt). She show's up with her parents and siblings on the 1881 census - but unfortunately William isn't there - probably old enough to have left home. The thing that still concerns me, is that all of the family were born in Essex. The possible William James Barnard that I had found was born in Norfolk, but boarding in Essex in 1891 - which was what first lead me onto the Essex connection - so could a seemingly 'Essex through and through' family have their first child in Norfolk ? I think I need to find someone who can do an 1871 Essex and/or Norfolk census search as, being 10 years earlier, William should still have been at home. If he shows up on the Norfolk one, but with parents from Essex, it would all fall into place confirming that his parents (Thomas and Jane ?) had lived temporarily in Norfolk. Isn't Genealogy fun ?! . . . . . please, someone tell me it's fun !