conflicting census .....

[AlanMC]

On the 1841 census I have the following family.
1841 Census index - Stranraer Burgh
10 Queen Street
Helen Blain 5
Isabelle Blain 3
John Blain 13
John Blain 35 merchant seaman born Ireland
Peter Blain 7 months
Sarah Blain 32 born Ireland

As you see both John and Sarah are listed as being born in Ireland, I was on SP last night and got the 1861 census in Stranraer for the family and it has both of them listed as being born Stranraer.

I have not been able to find them on the 1851 census for Wigtownshire, only their Son James (my 2nd great grandfather) is on the 1851 census. So where has the rest of the family went, James was not listed on the 1841 census it may be he was out in a fishing boat or lodging in another town (Kirkmaiden) as both he and his son John are in the 1871 census.

So 3 questions.
What census is right for where John and Sarah are born, 1841 or 1861.
Where are the family in the 1851 census.
Where was James in the 1841 census.

Alan.

[DavidWW]

....snipped............So 3 questions.
What census is right for where John and Sarah are born, 1841 or 1861.

On the basis of present information, either

....Where are the family in the 1851 census.

Have you considered alternative spellings such as BLANE

....Where was James in the 1841 census.

As you say, at sea, or across the North Channel in Ulster

The 1871 census doesn't help for Sarah as she died in 1866, and the possible 1871 census for John only confuses matters - there's the death of an 80 year old Fisherman, a Widower, in the Wigtonshire Poorhouse in Stranraer, but no info on the names of the wife or parents, and the informant was the Governor, - the probable matching 1871 census poorhouse entry shows a 72 yr old widower, born Stoneykirk parish, but given the lack of info that the poorhouse had in 1879, - always assuming that it's the same man, - and taking into account that it would have been preferable for him to declare a local parish of birth to be admitted, - just how reliable is that info

Anyone out there know if the Wigtonshire Combination Poorhouse inspectors' reports are extant?

David

Duplicate post deleted - AndrewP

[AlanMC]

The 1871 census doesn't help for Sarah as she died in 1866, and the possible 1871 census for John only confuses matters - there's the death of an 80 year old Fisherman, a Widower, in the Wigtonshire Poorhouse in Stranraer, but no info on the names of the wife or parents, and the informant was the Governor, - the probable matching 1871 census poorhouse entry shows a 72 yr old widower, born Stoneykirk parish, but given the lack of info that the poorhouse had in 1879, - always assuming that it's the same man, - and taking into account that it would have been preferable for him to declare a local parish of birth to be admitted, - just how reliable is that info

Anyone out there know if the Wigtonshire Combination Poorhouse inspectors' reports are extant?

David

You are right David Sarah did die in 1866 of drowning and John died 1879 With hardly any information on his death certificate have not been able to find his parents as a result.
I never had the 1871 census for John (will get that next time I'm in Park Circus)
A good wee puzzle to work on with John.

Alan

[DavidWW]

In case anyone is wondering, these are the OPR records -

John Blain, Mother: Sarah Logan

International Genealogical Index / British Isles

JAMES BLAIN - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Christening: 26 DEC 1824 Leswalt, Wigtown, Scotland

PETER BLAIN - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Christening: 23 MAR 1827 Leswalt, Wigtown, Scotland

JOHN BLAIN - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Christening: 27 MAR 1829 Leswalt, Wigtown, Scotland

HELEN BLAIN - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Female Christening: 17 MAR 1832 Leswalt, Wigtown, Scotland

HELEN BLAIN - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Female Christening: 10 DEC 1835 Leswalt, Wigtown, Scotland

ISABELLA DOUGLAS BLAIN - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Female Christening: 18 SEP 1838 Leswalt, Wigtown, Scotland

All are extracts.

David