1861 Census - Lavinia Paton .....

gzmcwherter · Post by **gzmcwherter** » Fri Dec 09, 2005 3:57 am

Lavinia Paton, niece, unm, 16, born St. Cuthbert Edinburgh is listed in the 1871 Census in the household of James Allan, Monifieth Parish, Forfarshire. I tried to find a birth/marriage/death record on SP but was unsuccessful. I had hoped to find her listed in the 1861 Census, but again, no luck. I do not know the name of her parents. I think she might be the daughter of a previously unknown Allan sister or possibly the product of a second marriage for a known one... or maybe the wife's niece, in which case the mother would be a McPherson...).
Any hints, tips, or shoves in the right direction would be tremendously appreciated.

Regards,
Gina

DavidWW · Post by **DavidWW** » Fri Dec 09, 2005 10:11 am

Gina

No trace at all that I can see in 1861, even using the most extreme wildcards.

An age of 16 in 1871 involves a 75% chance that she was still to have her birthday, so would have been born in 1854. No trace either on IGI.

I am beginning to suspect that, for whatever reason, she had adopted a different surname to that at birth, not unusual if she was illegitimate.

Unfortunately, it's not possible to search the indexes on ScotlandsPeople by given name only as there can't be too many Lavinias in all Scotland!

Assuming that the place of birth info in 1871 is correct, then it would be possible to look through the microfilm for the 1861 census for St Cuthberts looking for any Lavinia, but this would take several hours st least, and there's no guarantee that she's there

David

Andy · Post by **Andy** » Fri Dec 09, 2005 10:56 am

Don't know if you have this:

LAVINIA ALLAN PATON
Female Family

Event(s):
Birth:
Christening:
Death:
Burial:

Marriages:
Spouse: JOHN JAMES ALBERT POWELL Family
Marriage:
09 JUN 1878 Saint Nicholas, Liverpool, Lancashire, England

Messages:
Extracted marriage record for locality listed in the record. The source records are usually arranged chronologically by the marriage date.

Andy · Post by **Andy** » Fri Dec 09, 2005 11:23 am

Can't see Lavinia in 1881 but there is this:

John POWELL W Male 29 Lpool, Lancashire, England Dock Laborer
John POWELL Male 4 Lpool, Lancashire, England Scholar

Source Information:
Dwelling 6 In 1 Ct Boundary St
Census Place Kirkdale, Lancashire, England
Family History Library Film 1341881
Public Records Office Reference RG11
Piece / Folio 3681 / 46
Page Number 4

Andy · Post by **Andy** » Fri Dec 09, 2005 11:31 am

There's also a death with uncertain age in 1880:

Deaths Mar 1880
Powell Lavinia 2[56] Liverpool 8b 157

gzmcwherter · Post by **gzmcwherter** » Sat Dec 10, 2005 1:50 am

Thank you David & Andy for your attempts to help. I also wish we could search for first names on SP. (Although I must admit that this is the only occassion I've run across which would justify it. Everyone else seems to be named James, Robert, Janet, etc.)

Andy, yes I did see those entries you listed, but being far from sure if it was the same person, thought I'd try to pursue the SP records some more, since from what I've read on this site the English records would not list her birth place or parents. At least I think that was what I read... Please correct me if I'm wrong.
Regards,
Gina

Thrall · Post by **Thrall** » Sat Dec 10, 2005 3:42 am

Gina, the English records are not so bad, but its too late to cry over spilt milk.

The births are pretty well up to Scottish standards, though the date of marriage is not included, and there is unfortunately recognised the possibility of the new born not having a name (yet).

The marriages omit the essential details (for us) of the mothers´ names and maiden names, and "usual residences" of groom and bride.

The deaths are least informative, omitting usually, though not always, the parents´names and occupations, and name of "medical attendant".

Better than nothing, though, and many census(es) are now on line, making progress possible.

With <freebmd.rootsweb.com>, and <ancestry.co.uk> one can go a long way before having to fork out for a census image, or ordering a certificate from GRO.

Not like north of the Border, but there you are!

Good hunting,

Thrall

DavidWW · Post by **DavidWW** » Sat Dec 10, 2005 10:27 am

A subltety not often realised is that, multiple births apart, an English birth record doesn't give the exact time of birth, and, if you ever want a full horoscope then you need that information. You're OK if you were born in Scotland, but unlucky if it was England and there's no-one left to ask !!

David