McConnachy - in two places at once in 1841 census? .....

[McConnachy]

Is it possible for the 1841 census that my relative John McConnachy could be listed twice -

1. As the Head of the family and a coast guard in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire - but noting his place of birth is outside the census county. [The 1851 census says he was born in Sadell, Argyllshire]; and

2. As the son of Duncan and Catherine McConnachy from Saddell in Argyllshire?

His age is exactly the same eg 35 years of age. I wonder if sometimes people simply recorded their entire family whether they were living there or not or whether the census was done over a period of time and therefore John could have been in both places at the time the census was done.

Any thoughts?

[JustJean]

Hi there

My thoughts say Yes it is possible! I had a similar situation eons ago with a family in Ayrshire. One family member was recorded twice.....as a visitor with other family and in his usual residence and if I recall correctly this one was early on and I think 1841 census. I've also seen cases of grandchildren visiting with grandparents and also listed at home in the same census.

Best wishes
Jean

[LesleyB]

Hi McConnachy

His age is exactly the same eg 35 years of age.

In 1841 the ages were supposed to be rounded down to the nearest 5, so 35 really means anywhere between 35-39years old.

or whether the census was done over a period of time and therefore John could have been in both places at the time the census was done

The census was taken on one night - see:
http://www.talkingscot.com/censuses/census-1841.htm
for more details about the 1841

Best wishes
Lesley

[McConnachy]

It is intersting about the ages being rounded down as this what they look like (and they don't seem to be rounded down or up or anything) -

Piece: SCT1841/232 Place: Peterhead -Aberdeenshire Enumeration District: 3
Civil Parish: Peterhead-Parl.Burg Ecclesiastical Parish, Village or Island: -
Folio: 3 Page: 16
Address: Shiprow

Surname First name(s) Sex Age Occupation Where Born Remarks
MCCONNACHY John M 35 Coast Guard Service Outside Census County (1841)
MCCONNACHY Mary F 30 Aberdeenshire
MCCONNACHY Helen F 7 Aberdeenshire
MCCONNACHY John M 5 Aberdeenshire
MCCONNACHY Robert M 3 Aberdeenshire
MCCONNACHY Alexr M 1 Aberdeenshire

and

Piece: SCT1841/531 Place: Saddell & Skipness -Argyllshire Enumeration District: 4
Civil Parish: Saddell Ecclesiastical Parish, Village or Island:
Folio: 4 Page: 9
Address: Grogport


Surname First name(s) Sex Age Occupation Where Born Remarks
MCCONNACHY Duncan M 66 Agricultural Labourer Argyllshire
MCCONNACHY Cathrine F 62 Argyllshire
MCCONNACHY John M 35 Argyllshire
MCCONNACHY Duncan M 29 Argyllshire
MCCONNACHY Ann F 25 Argyllshire
MCCONNACHY Hugh M 20 Argyllshire
MCCONNACHY Archd. M 18 Argyllshire



By way of further clarity the 1851 census confirms John was from Sadell -

Piece: SCT1851/168 Place: Old Machar -Aberdeenshire Enumeration District: 1
Civil Parish: Old Machar Landward Ecclesiastical Parish, Village or Island: -
Folio: 145 Page: 2 Schedule: 3
Address: Coast Guard Stn.Bridge Of Don


Surname First name(s) Rel Status Sex Age Occupation Where Born Remarks
MCCONNACHY John Head M M 44 Boatman, Coast Guard Argyllshire - Saddell
MCCONNACHY Mary Wife M F 39 Aberdeenshire - Peterhead
MCCONNACHY Helen Dau U F 16 Scholar Aberdeenshire - Peterhead
MCCONNACHY John Son U M 15 Scholar Aberdeenshire - Peterhead
MCCONNACHY Robert Son U M 14 Scholar Aberdeenshire - Peterhead
MCCONNACHY Alexander Son - M 11 Scholar Aberdeenshire - Peterhead
MCCONNACHY Peter Son - M 9 Scholar Aberdeenshire - Peterhead
MCCONNACHY Jane B. Dau - F 7 Scholar Aberdeenshire - Peterhead
MCCONNACHY Mary Dau - F 5 Scholar Aberdeenshire - Peterhead
MCCONNACHY James Son - M 1 Aberdeenshire - Old Machar

Be interested if you think John is the same one in two places. I really think it is and that the Sadell family simply recorded all their children rather than those who may have been in the household at the time.

[JustJean]

Hi again

Lesley is so right to point you to the rules that census takers were to follow in collecting and entering the data in 1841 and the conventions to be used....but.....from viewing your records I'm still going to agree with your assessment.

Now at the risk of putting Jack on the spot...(Jack if you're out there you better sit down as I'm about to do a direct quote from the old SPDG days )....

My own record that I believe this same type thing happened on was not as I recollected being in 1841...it was in 1861 instead. I had written a query on the old Scotlands People Discussion Group Forum and Jack was kind enough to reply in his usual and very helpful manner. Fortunately I was able to print off a copy of his reply and kept it in my GUTHRIE folder so that when the forum closed it was not lost to me. This is what I was advised in my case....and no one ever offered any alternate possibilities......

http://talkingscot.com/gallery/displayi ... p?pos=-974

(Just realized my scan slightly trimmed the margin so a few letters maybe missing off the words...but I think you can still make it out ok)

Hope this is helpful for you....and confirms that yes sometimes these things appear to happen!

Best wishes
Jean

[Jack]

Hi Jean,
Do you know, i can't remember getting them - but that will come as no surprise!
I wouldn't think there is a census year that doesn't have someone in two places!
There was also these 1851 censuses.
You confirmed that wee Elizabeth (7) was a gr-daur; that tied things together.
===
1851 census 689 Ed 3 p 26 (Inveresk)
Newbigging.
Daniel BATHGATE, head, marr, 37, tanner, b Dirleton, ELN
Elizabeth BATHGATE, wife, marr, 54, formerly weaver, b Musselburgh, MLN
Jane GORDON, niece, 15, hair cloth weaver, b Musselburgh, MLN
Elizabeth HUNTER, niece, 7, at home, b Musselburgh, MLN

1851 census 689 Ed M3 p 14 (Inveresk)
Newbigging.
Thomas HUNTER, head, marr, 60, labourer, b Musselburgh, MLN
Bella HUNTER, wife, marr, 59, -----------------b Colinton, MLN
George HUNTER, son, marr, 31, labourer, b Musselburgh, MLN
Isabell HUNTER, daur, u/m, 19, formerly servant, b Musselburgh, MLN
Hugh HUNTER, son, 13, hair factory ap., b Musselburgh, MLN
Mary HUNTER, daur-in-law, marr, 39, hair cloth weaver, b Musselburgh, MLN
Isabell HUNTER, gr-daur, 8, scholar, b Musselburgh, MLN
Elizabeth HUNTER, gr-daur, 7, scholar, b Musselburgh, MLN
Margaret HUNTER, gr-daur, 5, scholar, b Musselburgh, MLN
Thomas HUNTER, gr-son, 2, -----------b Musselburgh, MLN
William HUNTER, gr-son, 8days, -----b Musselburgh, MLN
====
Another from 1861; showed that John Bryce was recorded twice.
--
1861 cens 644-8 Ed 92 p 2 (Anderston)
7 Bothwell St.
John BRYCE, head, marr, 40, engine smith, b Glasgow, LKS
Margaret BRYCE, wife, 31, ---------- b Glasgow, LKS
Thomas BRYCE, son, 11, scholar, b Glasgow, LKS

1861 cens 644-9 Ed 61 p 14 (Tradeston)
54 Eglinton St.
Elizth. BRYCE, head, widow, 70, ------------ b Glasgow, LKS
John BRYCE, son, marr, 40, engineer, b Glasgow, LKS
Margt. BRYCE, gr-daur, 9, ---------- b Glasgow, LKS
====
Glad you'd copied Samuel's censuses!
It's such a shame that SP didn't offer a "read only" for the articles on their Discussion Group.
There were a lot of interesting topics which would've been useful to keep.
Like others, i'd sent answers to queries just before they pulled the plug on it, and i'll never know if they were read...!
But i suspect not - it was only minutes before it all ended....
On a much brighter note we now have the very friendly >>>>[talkingscot]
Jack