1891 Census -- Pages Missing??? .....

[Tusker]

Does anyone know if there are pages missing from the 1891 Census?

I ask because I've found my g-grandfather & g-grandmother (and their family members) in the 1881 census, and the 1901 census. However, I can't find any trace of William and Esther Adams & family in the 1891 census. I just can't find Alexander, John, James, Jane, Andrew or young William either individually or as a family in 1891 anywhere in Scotland, although they appear in 1881 and the younger ones also appear with Mom & Dad in 1901. It's driving me nuts!

Did they take off to Benidorm, orra Costa Brava? Had they witnessed a mafia hit down the coalmines, and were placed in the witness relocation program, in Saltcoats? Were they working on some highly-secret mission for the government?.......Or did they just tell the enumerator that they gave at the office?

Tusker.

[LesleyB]

Hi Tusker
I also have elusive relatives who just do not appear in the 1891 yet were, I'm pretty sure, still in the country, as one of them is listed in the PO directory for 1891-92 and the years before (and after). What area would you expect your "missing" ones to be in, as a matter of interest? My lot were, I believe, in the Govan/Hillhead area.

Best wishes
Lesley

[DavidWW]

There are several reasons for such census "disappearances" apart from missing pages/EDs/RDs in the censuses (as well as the Flying Saucer effect ), - have a look at the Census section on this site for what is known in terms of such missing material.

Apart from known missing material, the least likely reason is that they weren't enumerated, or gave false information; although such did happen.

The more likely reasons are that the information that the Head of Household gave in the original household schedule was mis-transcribed into the enumeration book by the enumerator.

Or, in situations where the enumerator filled in the household schedule on behalf of the Head of Household, what he heard, quite possibly distorted by the accent of the Head, and his, the enumerator's, unfamiliarity with that accent was such that what ended up being recorded bore little resemblance to the actual surnames.

In many cases the use of wildcards will lead to a solution, but there will always be a residual number of situations where the level of distortion is such that even the most expert application of wildcards won't help !

It's a perfect example of one of the "joys" of genealogical reearch, in terms of, in such situations, never really knowing if the lack of the expected record is because, for a census, the family weren't where expected, or even furth of Auld Scotia; or whether the record is there, but hiding behind impenetrable mistranscriptions or mis-hearings, or false information

David

[LesleyB]

Tusker
Your family were at 68 Main St, Barony, Lanark, Scotland in 1881 (Volume 644-4, EnumDist 80, Page 11) - is that correct?
Were they still at that address in 1901?
Just trying to work out if there is any pattern to this...
Best wishes
Lesley

[Tusker]

Tusker
Your family were at 68 Main St, Barony, Lanark, Scotland in 1881 (Volume 644-4, EnumDist 80, Page 11) - is that correct?
Were they still at that address in 1901?
Just trying to work out if there is any pattern to this...
Best wishes
Lesley

Lesley -- "Yes" to 68 Main St. "No" to were they still there in 1901. They were in Rutherglen in the 1901 census. The last trace I can find of them prior to 1891, is on their 13-yr-old daughter Sarah's death certificate dated October 1888, at 18 John St Lane (now Landressy St.) in Bridgeton.

After that, the entire family disappears, with the younger ones resurfacing in Rutherglen with Mom & Dad in 1901.

David -- I've tried searching throughout All regions and All districts in the 1891 census for any William & Esther's going - with no luck at all. If they were "mis-filed" wouldn't that show them as living in Auchenshuggle or some equally as exotic locale? I'll check your suggested reading material for any further clues. Thanks!

Tusker