The Census returns were completed locally and transcribed by hand. They contain many mistakes, so never give up looking for misspellings of your ancestor's name, and so on.

Do not give up either, when you have found your ancestor, for he or she may be recorded twice in separate places, providing a wealth of extra information!

Here are three examples taken from the Census records:

Augustus Christopher

Edwin Dalling

Thomas Henry Spurrier

 

Name	Occupation	Status	Marital Status	Age	Birthplace
Augustus Christopher	Baker	Head	Married	27	Chatham
Caroline Christopher		Wife	Married	26	Middlesex
Andrew Christopher	Scholar	Son		2	Middlesex
Emma Christopher		Daughter		4m	Middlesex
Eliz. Christopher		Niece		7	Middlesex
Anne Lawrence	Servant		Unmarried	15	Norfolk

Dwelling	Census Place
7 Albion Place	Paddington (Marylebone), Middlesex

Name	Occupation	Status	Marital Status	Age	Birthplace
Jane Geddes	Baker	Head	Widow	45	Middx., Clapton
Jane D Geddes		Daughter	Unmarried	20	Marylebone
Janet C Geddes		Daughter	Unmarried	17	Marylebone
Eliza D Geddes		Daughter	Unmarried	13	Marylebone
Rebecca Miller	Shopwoman	Sister	Married	33	Middx.,Clapton
Elizabeth George			Unmarried	21	St Geo.-i-t-East
Willm. Carmichael	Baker-Journ		Married	31	Scotland
Augustus Christopher	Baker-Journ		Married	28	Dev, Plymouth
John Reid	Baker-Journ		Unmarried	22	Middx.,Uxbridge
George Shiels	Baker-Journ		Unmarried	25	Scotland
William Whiskin	Errand Boy		Unmarried	13	Norfolk, Lynn
Frederick Bowman	Errand Boy		Unmarried	14	Middx., St Geo.

Augustus was a journeyman baker, hence the need to record his presence at Albion Place. The naming of Plymouth in error as his place of birth is understandable, if Augustus was not present at the time the enumerator called. Confusion between the naval towns of Chatham and Plymouth is a strong possibility, just as Portsmouth and Plymouth are often confused today.

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Name	Occupation	Status	Marital Status	Age	Birthplace
Edwin Dallin	Shoe Maker	Head	Unmarried	55	Devon, Ilfracombe
Mary Tucker		Mother	Widow	86	Devon, Ilfracombe

Dwelling	Census Place
103 High Street	Ilfracombe, Devon

Name	Occupation	Status	Marital Status	Age	Birthplace
Edwin Dalling	Boot Maker	Head	Unmarried	60	Ilfracombe, Devon
Tobias Dalling	Ret. Cst. Gd.	Brother	Married	65	Ilfracombe, Devon
Eliz. Dalling		Sister	Unmarried	59	Ilfracombe, Devon
Grace Redecliff		Cousin		65	St Mellion, Cornwall
Mary Wheller		Visitor		60	St Mellion, Cornwall

There are discrepancies as to spelling and age, but for some reason Edwin does seem to be in two places at once.

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Name	Occupation	Status	Marital Status	Age	Birthplace
T H Spurrer	Sailor	Head	Married	62	Poole, Dorset
E Spurrer			Married	47	Bruton, Som.
T H Spurrer	Sailor		Unmarried	25	Newport, Mon.
Arthur Spurrer	Sailor		Unmarried	21	Newport, Mon.
D Spurrer			Unmarried	10	Newport, Mon.
E F Spurrer			Unmarried	5	Newport, Mon.
George Slaren		Lodger	Unmarried	26	Bridgewater, Som.

Vessel	Census Place
"Rose"	Ilfracombe, Devon

Name	Occupation	Status	Marital Status	Age	Birthplace
Richard Ireland	Pilot		Married	32	Caerleon, Mon.
Thomas Spurier	AB (SMN)		Married	63	Poole, Dorset
John Montgomory	Boy (SMN)		Unmarried	16	Newport, Mon.

Despite the two (both incorrect) spellings and the age difference, there is no doubt it is the same person. It would appear that Thomas was one member of this seafaring family in port on the day the census was taken, but not his home port. Perhaps the absence of forenames at Newport indicates that the lodger was the only one at home when the ennumerator called!

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