Genealogy Chat

How reliable is the place of birth on cencus records ? My great grandfather has his place of birth down as Loanhead Scotland on the 1911 cencus.
I have searched high and low and can find no cencus records previous to this and no birth records matching this .
I have no idea about his parents details so am feeling a bit stuck . Any ideas on what I should try next

Thank you for your time
Rachel

Cornish Susie
Hi , I have found a village on the outskirts of Edinburgh called Loanhead so it appears to be a real place !
Rachel

Just had a look on the map - there is a Loanhead in Midlothian, just off the bit where the A701 meets the A703 today. It's a few miles south and slightly east of Edinburgh.

not reliable


sometimes the enumerator took a wild guess at the spelling ... or what he thought he heard. Think of a broad Devon accent being understood in Birmingham or Manchester, for example


sometimes the enumerator asked "where's that then?" when given a name of a small village. Person said "it's near Ipswich" so Ipswich went in the column

Sometimes the person gave the place where he/she grew up, but that wasn't where he had been born

Sometimes the enumerator seems to have asked "where are you from?" ........ the answer was the name of the last place they had LIVED.

Sometimes, person giving information didn't know where spouse (or maybe even children) had been born.




all intended to make life hard for us!!!



also remember that the majority of our ancestors were probably illiterate, so they couldn't read what the numerator had written down .... so they couldn't correct any errors




Why don't you give your g grandfather's name and let us see if we can help you find him





sylvia

Thank you for the offer Sylvia
His name was William Adamson and he was born 1876
I also know he died in 1954 in Whitby
Rachel x

Thanks for that info Sylvia!

I too have a gt. grandfather for whom I cannot find a birth place. In one cenus he was born in Chelsea, Surrey and the next one he is born in Chelsea, Middlesex. Can't find him anywhere. Have tried 'Chertsey' 'Chelsfield'... the lot ... so good luck Rachel, hope you get your man sorted. Regards.

Rachel


I have to go out, and don't have time right now .......... I'll look back on here when I'm home again, and see if anyone has been able to help you




Hi Cynthia! ~~~~
Hope you find your guy




sylvia

info left on this thread

http://www.genesreunited.co.za/boards.asp?wci=thread&tk=1134311

one thread on the one person or family is best really rachel as people will do the same work over again for you.

but i will add that no census records have been found ,,yet

Rachel,

I put Loanhead in for the place of birth but don't see him. Where is he in 1911?

Rose

Hello Rose
In 1911 cencus he was living in Mells Somerset
He seemed to move around a fair bit !
Rachel

Vivenne
THank you for your help I see my mistake . I have read the message on the other link and can see I should have only asked one question .
I appreciate the time you have given me

Rachel

thats ok ,we all have to learn somehow
leave that one and stay here

what was williams job?
groom?or coachman or similar?

Vivienne
In the 1911 cencus he was a coachman Family chat says that later on he became a Chauffer for a well to do family in Whitby .
He and his wife seemed to give there lives to this family as they left their only daughter to be raised by her Grandmother . ( Williams mother in law )
Thank you
Rachel

Rachel,

Are you sure about Somerset? He's in Hereford in 1911 and he was married there too.

Rose

then this is him near to where he prob met and married his wife
hereford is not too far


1901 England Census
about William Adamson
Name: William Adamson
Age: 24
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1877
Relation: Head
Gender: Male
Where born: Scotland

Civil Parish: Diddlebury
Ecclesiastical parish: Diddlebury
Town: Corfton
County/Island: Shropshire
Country: England

Street address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Education:

Employment status:

View Image

Registration district: Ludlow
Sub registration district: Diddlebury
ED, institution, or vessel: 2
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 29
Household Members:
Name Age
William Adamson 24

he is a groom

as i said earlier we all have to learn,and this is the rung down from coachman
cant see him earlier

but if i know, portland rose, she will prob find him if anyone can ,if shes still looking

Is this not your family?

Last names First names Sex Birth year Age in 1911 District / other County / other Transcript Original page
ADAMSON ALICE MAUD MARY F 1879 32 Hereford Herefordshire
ADAMSON WILLIAM M 1877 34 Hereford Herefordshire
ADAMSON MARY MOFFAT F 1907 4 Hereford Herefordshire


Marriages Jun 1905
Adamson William Hereford 6a 1117
BURGE Alice Maud M Hereford 6a 1117


Rose

Rose
You Are right I was taking info from memory and should have looked it up . Please don t think I m not taking this seriously . I am really thankful for your help and I must admit I am enjoying having some interaction with genee people . I am hoping your knowledge will rub off on me
Rachel x

Hi Viv,

I agree about that being William in 1891. Problem is, there are just too many William Adamsons in Scotland in 1881 and 1891 to know which is the correct one.

Rachel,

You will need to buy the marriage cert. to get his father and occupation.

Rose

Alice has another middle name beginning with M. Perhaps that's Moffat?

Rose

Rose and Vivienne
THat is my family . Mary Moffat Adamson was my Gran ! I have been able to trace Alice Burges family they didn t seem to move very far . William is the one who has been my stumbling block . How do you follow people around the country ? I think you must both be Miss Marple !
Regards Rachel