A visitor on the 1871 Census is driving me crazy. Even though she shows up on all the censuses from 1841 through 1871, she doesn't seem to have been born, married or even died.
![[alien]](./images/smilies/alien.gif "[alien]"){kind=small}
It all started several days ago when I was looking over some SP printouts from some months back, when I noticed that on the 1871 Census for Stirling, that my GGrandfather's sister Margaret McDonald married to Robert Scott had some visitors on the day the census was taken. There were 3 little girls between 6 and 10 with the name of Miller, born in Alloa, and a lady aged 74, born in Fintry, with the name of Janet Dunn.
I really got excited about Janet Dunn. I don't think that I am being unreasonable in assuming that she was a relation, especially when my GGGrandfather's mother was named Chirsten Dun. He was born in Fintry in 1799. My Dunns have been very elusive and this could be the breakthrough that I had been looking for. At age 74, she would be older than my GGGrandfather, possible some cousin.
Further research revealed that the 3 little girls were her daughter's children. Her daughter was named Janet Watson, and had married a Master Baker named John Miller from Alloa in 1852. It also revealed that Janet Dunn was using her maiden name on every census. I cannot find any trace of Janet Watson's father John Watson.
Here is what I have of Janet Dunn:
Census 1841- Denny- Janet Dunn, age 33,
Janet Watson, age 17Census 1851- Denny- Janet Dunn, age 40,
Janet Watson, age 23Census 1861- Alloa- Janet Dunn, age 55.
Janet Miller, age 36Census 1871- Stirling Janet Dunn, age 74,
s Janet Miller-Alloa, age 44What the heck was Janet Dunn's real age?
![[5 cups]](./images/smilies/sm-5cups.gif "[5 cups]"){kind=small}
The age of her daughter isn't as important as I have her marriage and death certs. Janet Watson Miller's husband died in 1868, and she died in 1874.There are only 2 Janet Dunns born in Fintry between 1790 and 1810 and her age doesn't seem to fit either of them. Her daughter is listed on every census as being born in Denny, but I can't find any record of her birth. I can't find any record of a marriage between a Janet Dunn and a John Watson in Stirlingshire for that time period. In the whole of Scotland there is only one marriage listed between a Janet Dunn and a John Watson. It takes place in Leoschol-Cushie, Aberdeen in Dec 1824. I think that Aberdeen is too far away for it to be them. Besides if Janet Watson's age is correct on the 1841 census she was born in 1824.
To rule out the Aberdeen couple of being my couple, I researched them too. They had 3 children all born in Lumphanan, Aberdeen, one in 1825, another named Robert in 1827, and another in 1830. Then this couple and two of their children disappear.
![[comp03]](./images/smilies/comp03.gif "[comp03]"){kind=small}
Only Robert is left for the 1841 Census, his age listed as 12 and employed as an Ag Lab. I followed him through all the censuses to 1891 without finding any connection to my Janet Dunn.In 1881 Janet Dunn and her 7 Miller grandchildren disappear from the census, though two of them show up in the 1891 census living in their deceased parents home.
The worst thing of all is that I can't find the death of Janet Dunn, married to John Watson.
Sorry to be so long winded, but does anyone have any ideas where I should look next, or can they see something that I am overlooking?
Disappointed in California,
Sheila
P.S.John Miller left a Will, but it didn't give me any info on Janet Dunn. Janet Watson Miller didn't leave a Will, but Inventory was recorded, which I haven't looked at yet, doubting that it will tell me anything.
The big problem is the 1871 Census where her age is given as 74, which would mean that she was born in 1797. In the experience that I have, nobody over 18 ever gives her age as older only younger. On the other hand, maybe my Great Aunt gave her age as 74, when Janet was visiting them.
If that was your lunchbreak, what do you do while actually working?!