Away Fishing

[Shortfuse]

Hello All
Can I ask if it was usual for fishermen,especially on small boats to be missed in the census ? Or if not usual did it happen ?
best regards
sf

[Alcluith]

SF

My Grt Grt grandfather Norman McLeod not only missed the census but his death was never recorded. we suspect he died at sea whilst fishing circa 1881/82 it might have been due to the great storms recorded around that time.

rgds

Drew Davidson

[Russell]

Hi SF

We have several census entries from Cellardyke where the wife is at the top of the list of the household but no husband present. She is listed as 'married', 'fishermans wife' and the husband appears on a later census as head of the household so it would appear that they were often not present on census night and not recorded anywhere.
The census was supposed to record those who had slept under that roof or in attached outbuildings on the night in question. We have a couple where vagrants sleeping in an outhouse overnight were recorded but no names given since they had already departed by the time the enumerator came to call.

Russell

[Shortfuse]

Thanks for the info,I had the feeling this was the case.I suppose it must be impossible to cover all areas on the one night with boats leaving from all the little coves and harbours around the coast.In fact I've got so many relatives missing who had nothing to do with the sea that they must have organised a booze cruise on census night along with the fishermen
regards

sf

[marilyn morning]

Shortfuse wrote

In fact I've got so many relatives missing who had nothing to do with the sea that they must have organised a booze cruise on census night along with the fishermen
regards

Hi SF,

Now here's an explanation that I never heard before, thanks for the laugh.