Wives Enumerated Under Their Maiden Name

Post by **Jean Jeanie** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 7:48 pm

After spending a few hours today transcribing for Freecen can I just remind everyone, that in many cases, a married woman is enumerated under her maiden name.

The District I am working on at the moment is a prime example. There are more women enumerated here under their maiden name, rather than their married name.

This little reminder may just help someone in their searches for those elusive ancestors.

Best wishes
Jean

sheilajim · Post by **sheilajim** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 9:23 pm

Hi Jean

You are so right.
It took me nearly two years to find one of my GGGrandmothers on the 1901 Census. I found her only by chance when I was researching one of her daughters.

There she was living with her daughter under her maiden name. I hadn't thought to look for her under her maiden name because on every other earlier census, she was listed by her married name.
I think that it is best to look for your female relatives under both married and maiden names.

Regards

Post by **Anne H** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 10:50 pm

Hi Jean,

Sometimes, I do remember to check under both names, but that's a good reminder. Many thanks and what a wonderful way to give of yourself

Regards,
Anne H

annie1 · Post by **annie1** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 10:56 pm

Hi Jean,

That is something that I will remember, thank you, recently while searching for a lady in a census I was pulling my hair out trying to find her, I had her forename and surname, eventually I found her, but with no first name, she was simply, Widow Kinnear, did this happen often

Ann

Post by **emanday** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 11:10 pm

Hi Ann,

Yes, the "Widow" instead of the christian name caused me to take two years to find one of my direct rellies! It wasn't till I discovered the name of one of the sons that I could find the census record using his name and approx age.

Just another example, I'm afraid, of the low esteem given to women in those days

She was recorded simply as the widow of a man, rather than a person in her own right!

Post by **SarahND** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 11:16 pm

Hi Ann,
I have seen the "Widow ____" many times, also sometimes "Mrs." -- very aggravating when you are trying to figure out who she is

In the U.S. censuses in certain years there are whole areas where the enuerator just listed everyone by their initials

I don't think it was in the instructions to do so, but some of them did anyway

Regards,
Sarah

Post by **SarahND** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 11:21 pm

emanday wrote:She was recorded simply as the widow of a man, rather than a person in her own right!

In India, women used to be called "_____'s mother" [insert name of eldest son]. This is probably still the case in certain rural areas, but probably not in the cities. I was actually called that a few times when I was traveling there with my young son in the late 1970's.

Regards,
The mother of SarahND's son

Post by **emanday** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 11:22 pm

Ach, we're just one of the "goods and chattels" once we get wed

speleobat2 · Post by **speleobat2** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 11:42 pm

Hi everybody!

I came across a different listing when I was reading OPR's recently. One of the witnesses was listed as "Widow John Anderson ie Sarah Murker". Those may not be the exact names. It was a couple of weeks ago. I had never seen "ie" used in the extracts before.

Carol

annie1 · Post by **annie1** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 9:59 am

Thats another reminder for my notebook then, Widow, Mrs, or as my husband jokingly said, I should try Wifie

Thank you.
Ann