Moving right along in the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge – In the Census. Censuses are a great genealogy tool for the family historian. They provide snapshots in time of your ancestors. You can find out ages, place of birth, occupation, address, relationships between residents at an address. Sometimes, though they leave you scratching your head.
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Week 5 – In the Census
Trawling through my ancestors to see what “quirk” I could find in a census of one of my ancestors. I ended up selecting the 1871 and 1881 Censuses of my great-great-grandfather, Frederick Washbrook as they fit the criteria. Frederick was born between 1822-1825 in Willenhall, Staffordshire.1,2,3 At the time of the 1871 Census, he was living with his wife Sarah in Lane Head, Willenhall.1 They had four children – Isaac (10), Sarah (8), Abraham (4), and my great-grandmother, Alice Elizabeth (2).1 All were born in Willenhall.1
There was nothing remarkable in the 1891 Census, Frederick was a Publican.3 The family lived in the Lodge Tavern Inn on Willenhall Road, Willenhall.3 His sons Abraham and Arthur were both Lock Smith’s and Howard a Key Stamper.3 Moving back in time to the 1881 Census, the family is living in the Lodge Tavern, 90 Lane Head, Willenhall.2 However, Frederick, is working not only as a Publican, but a Lockmaker as well.2
Wait! What?
.I thought this seemed strange so I checked out the 1871 Census. Sure enough, Frederick’s occupation is listed as a Cabinet Locksmith and a Beer House Keeper.1
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I find it incredibly strange in an era where you tended to have an occupation for life. Most people also worked in occupations similar to their father. Frederick’s own father, John had been a Locksmith as seen in many of the documents relevant to him.4 Indeed his own sons were working as Locksmiths and Key Stampers.3 So my question today is how does one become both a Locksmith and a Publican?
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Click on the image to find quirky things in your ancestor’s census records.
Bibliography
- 1. 1871 Census England, Wales & Scotland, Frederick Washbrook Household, Lane Head, Willenhall, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England, Archive Ref.RG10, Piece no.2947, Folio 10, P.15, (Online digital image at Findmypast of original records held by The National Archives) (Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives, 2015), accessed March 7, 2015, https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=GBC%2F1871%2F2947%2F0022&parentid=GBC%2F1871%2F0006942701.
- 2. 1881 Census England, Wales & Scotland, Frederick Washbrook Household, Lane Head, Willenhall, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England, Archive Ref.RG11, Piece no.2811, Folio 13, P.19, (Online digital image at Findmypast of original records held by The National Archives) (Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives, 2015), accessed March 7, 2015, https://www.findmypast.co.uk.
- 3. 1891 Census England, Wales & Scotland, Frederick Washbrook Household, Lodge Tavern Inn, Willenhall Road, Willenhall, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England, Archive Ref.RG12, Piece no.2239, Folio 137, P.18, (Online digital image at Findmypast of original records held by The National Archives) (Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives, 2015), accessed March 8, 2015, https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBC%2F1891%2F0015284722
- 4. 1851 Census England, Wales & Scotland, John Washbrook and George Washbrook Households, Willenhall, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England, Archive Ref.HO107, Piece no.2020, Folio 551, P.29, (Online digital image at Ancestry.com of original records held by The National Archives) (Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives, 2015), accessed June 8, 2015, https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/8860/images/STSHO107_2020_2021-0647?treeid=&personid=&hintid=&queryId=7a5ba35ae75d204114613a4f8908c275&usePUB=true&_phsrc=Fsc40&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&pId=8571437.
I enjoyed reading this article. How interesting about your relative’s “quirk” and giving us readers an opportunity to check out our relatives background as well. I may try to find some information about my relatives as well.
Keep up the great work.
Regards,
Yvette
Hi Yvette
I’m glad you enjoyed this post. It is funny how “quirks” in records make us question who are ancestors are. I hope you find some things out about your ancestors.
Regards,
Megan
Great post! I’ve had quirky experiences going through the US Census. One dealt searching for my father in the 1930 census. It wasn’t easy because my father was born in Brooklyn, NY and I had no idea where in Brooklyn that he lived. It was tough till I got in touch with a distant cousin whose great grandfather was my grandfather’s uncle. She told me what street he lived on and after some time, I found my Italian grandfather lived a few blocks away. When I found it, my grandfather had a more American name (Nicholas) and my father had a girl’s name, last letter was an “a” instead of “o”. I wish the 1930 census had a soundex like some of the previous censuses.
Hi Kevin
They certainly weren’t as pedantic in those days about ensuring documentation was correct! I had a similar situation with my great-great-grandmother Henney who was coded a Henry! So glad you were able to find someone who could point you in the right direction. I bet you were ecstatic when you found the correct record!
Regards,
Megan