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Author Topic: Seems a bit harsh....  (Read 934 times)
greensleeves
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Greensleeves


Seems a bit harsh....
« on: Friday 03 July 09 19:37 UTC (UK) »

I must say I feel a bit put out and filled with indignation on behalf of one Emma Stannard (who inhabits an off-shoot of one of my main lines).  In the 1851 census, she is described as below.  The transcriber on A*ry has read it as 'Cousin-in-law' but I can't see any alternative to 'Concubine'.  I can't say I have come across this description in censuses before, so I would be interested to hear if anyone else has something similar in their trees.  FYI, ref: HO 107, Piece 1799, Folio 258, p.21. 

Greensleeves


* Emma_Stannard_cut.jpg (33.27 KB, 889x293 - viewed 516 times.)
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danuslave
RootsChat Veteran
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Posts: 955


My fashion sense isn't any better now!


Re: Seems a bit harsh....
« Reply #1 on: Friday 03 July 09 20:02 UTC (UK) »

Hi Greensleeves

I have to say that it looks like concubine to me too!

Given that there is a daughter (on the following page) perhaps the enumerator is just using it to mean that they're not married (in those days 'living in sin').

Or....maybe it was his 'word of the day' and he just had to get it in somewhere??

Linda
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Anni B
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Re: Seems a bit harsh....
« Reply #2 on: Friday 03 July 09 20:02 UTC (UK) »

I'm sure it does say "concubine" but I wouldn't get too indignant.  Sounds like someone had a sense of humour.  Remember the 2001 census?  When asked about their religion quite a number of people answered "Jedi"

Anne
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danuslave
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Posts: 955


My fashion sense isn't any better now!


Re: Seems a bit harsh....
« Reply #3 on: Friday 03 July 09 20:08 UTC (UK) »

It seems that she's not the only one.  Have a look here

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?action=search2

Linda

oops try  going into Search and entering concubine

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greensleeves
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Posts: 351


Greensleeves


Re: Seems a bit harsh....
« Reply #4 on: Friday 03 July 09 20:24 UTC (UK) »

Hi Linda and Anni
Interesting results from the 'concubine' search.  Not sure if being referred to as a 'Strumpett' would be better or worse....  Grin

Greensleeves
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Suffolk: Pearl(e) & variations - Brettenham, Hitcham,Rattlesden; Waddilove - Rattlesden and possibly Norfolk.  Garnham - Belstead, Ipswich & area. 
Durham/Yorkshire: Sedgwick - West Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Leeds, Merrington.
Shadforth - Hartlepool/Stockton
danuslave
RootsChat Veteran
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My fashion sense isn't any better now!


Re: Seems a bit harsh....
« Reply #5 on: Friday 03 July 09 20:30 UTC (UK) »

Definitely worse!

Concubine seems to imply in one man's household

A strumpett was probably no better than she ought to be!

Could probably get the enumerators on sex discrimination now anyway.

Linda
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ivanidea
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Posts: 307



Re: Seems a bit harsh....
« Reply #6 on: Saturday 04 July 09 08:55 UTC (UK) »

Ancestry does have some Concubines in its records but these only show up with a search for a particular Census year on the UK Census Collection rather a search on an individual nation. This is because the “Relationship to head of household” field is a fixed choice, drop-down menu for the individual nations but for the UK Collection a word of your choice can entered in the “box”.

In 1861 Ancestry also has 2 Concubridges – one of whom is man: it seems that Ancestry has incorrectly transcribed the word “Concubinage”!

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charlotteCH
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Posts: 3294



Re: Seems a bit harsh....
« Reply #7 on: Saturday 04 July 09 10:18 UTC (UK) »

"Concubine" it is... probably reflects the enumerator's view of the domestic circs in that househol- or else, as suggested, he had a sense of humour-.

charlotte
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HARGREAVES, HANSON, BAILEY, BURTON, HEWITT, JAGGER, LOCKWOOD, UTTLEY, RUDD, TAYLOR, HOLDEN, SHAW  Halifax / Sowerby/ Southowram 18C+

GILL, Accrington, Blackburn, West Derby, Lancs, migrated USA 1891 to RI: GILL in SC: HOTCHKISS in RI: PELOQUIN in RI 

HUMPHRIES, HILLIER, ALLEN, LYDBURY  Nunney/Frome 18-19C

HUMPHRIES, JOYCE, HEWITT, ROBINSON, McMULLEN, SUFFEL, CARNEY, MARRON, COMPTON, FREEMAN  Ont. Canada 1830+

PILSEN, Sask.

82nd Regt of Foot 1808-1825
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heitch
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Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk


Re: Seems a bit harsh....
« Reply #8 on: Saturday 04 July 09 10:23 UTC (UK) »

I've seen it before on some bishops transcripts Shocked

Christening of XXXX, son of XXXX and his concubine! This was in North Wales early 1800's Huh
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Powell, Montgomeryshire
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Davies, Llanbedr & Llanfihangel y Traethau, Merionethshire
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heitch
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Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk


Re: Seems a bit harsh....
« Reply #9 on: Saturday 04 July 09 10:31 UTC (UK) »

http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/wal/MER/Trawsfynydd/BTs/1744.html

 "son of Pierce Ellis and Lowry Thomas his concubine June 30th"



........earlier than I thought!

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Powell, Montgomeryshire
Venables, Montgomeryshire
Davies, Llanbedr & Llanfihangel y Traethau, Merionethshire
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charlotteCH
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Posts: 3294



Re: Seems a bit harsh....
« Reply #10 on: Saturday 04 July 09 10:34 UTC (UK) »

ivanidea's quotes about mistranscription on Ance**ry is scary...
one could pickup the concubine error easily but when it comes to people's  ages and names--- well that's a whole  different ballgame.  Shocked
Nothing replaces the oroginal image even tho it may be hard to read the writing at least one is aware that there could be an error.
charlotte
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HARGREAVES, HANSON, BAILEY, BURTON, HEWITT, JAGGER, LOCKWOOD, UTTLEY, RUDD, TAYLOR, HOLDEN, SHAW  Halifax / Sowerby/ Southowram 18C+

GILL, Accrington, Blackburn, West Derby, Lancs, migrated USA 1891 to RI: GILL in SC: HOTCHKISS in RI: PELOQUIN in RI 

HUMPHRIES, HILLIER, ALLEN, LYDBURY  Nunney/Frome 18-19C

HUMPHRIES, JOYCE, HEWITT, ROBINSON, McMULLEN, SUFFEL, CARNEY, MARRON, COMPTON, FREEMAN  Ont. Canada 1830+

PILSEN, Sask.

82nd Regt of Foot 1808-1825
1st WRY Militia 1780-1800
JenB
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Posts: 3247


Great-great-grandfather Thomas Reed


Re: Seems a bit harsh....
« Reply #11 on: Saturday 04 July 09 10:46 UTC (UK) »

Quote
perhaps the enumerator is just using it to mean that they're not married (in those days 'living in sin').

Or....maybe it was his 'word of the day' and he just had to get it in somewhere??

Quote
Could probably get the enumerators on sex discrimination now anyway.

Quote
probably reflects the enumerator's view


I think I must speak in defence of the poor old enumerator who is getting quite a lot of stick here  Grin

The schedule was usually filled in by the householder, who gave it to the enumerator, who then simply copied into his book.

If the householder couldn't read or write, then the enumerator would write out what the householder told him (in theory).

So young Mr Scrutton might well be to blame for the use of the term  Wink

Jennifer

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Reed - Durham
Elsdon - Durham & Northumberland
Swalwell - Durham and Northumberland

All Census Look Ups Are Crown Copyright from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
Nick29
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Posts: 2913



Re: Seems a bit harsh....
« Reply #12 on: Saturday 04 July 09 10:53 UTC (UK) »

Quote
perhaps the enumerator is just using it to mean that they're not married (in those days 'living in sin').

Or....maybe it was his 'word of the day' and he just had to get it in somewhere??

Quote
Could probably get the enumerators on sex discrimination now anyway.

Quote
probably reflects the enumerator's view


I think I must speak in defence of the poor old enumerator who is getting quite a lot of stick here  Grin

The schedule was usually filled in by the householder, who gave it to the enumerator, who then simply copied into his book.

If the householder couldn't read or write, then the enumerator would write out what the householder told him (in theory).

So young Mr Scrutton might well be to blame for the use of the term  Wink

Jennifer



This does seem to be a popular misconception, even among seasoned Roots Chatters.  Enumerators were usually far too busy to act as transcribers for the general public, and it rarely happened.  It was usually another family member or a neighbour who would have provided this service.

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Best Wishes, Nick.

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Rena
RootsChat Veteran
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Posts: 900


James McCarthy


Re: Seems a bit harsh....
« Reply #13 on: Saturday 04 July 09 11:01 UTC (UK) »

I look on the entry as very helpful.  This detail will mean no fruitless searching for a marriage prior to the census entry.  Whoever filled in the census was being honest and the lady was obviously living with somebody as his wife (either main wife or secondary wife) without going through a recognised church or civil marriage in the UK.


Cheers,
Rena  
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JenB
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Great-great-grandfather Thomas Reed


Re: Seems a bit harsh....
« Reply #14 on: Saturday 04 July 09 11:09 UTC (UK) »

This does seem to be a popular misconception, even among seasoned Roots Chatters.  Enumerators were usually far too busy to act as transcribers for the general public, and it rarely happened.  It was usually another family member or a neighbour who would have provided this service.

Just following up this interesting point, here is a quote from http://www.british-genealogy.com/resources/census/#pro-ref

It is a common myth that a census enumerator knocked on doors and asked who was present, and then wrote down the details, often mis-hearing, or mis-spelling. No. Sure, there may have been isolated examples of that having been done, but this is very rare!

Jennifer

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Reed - Durham
Elsdon - Durham & Northumberland
Swalwell - Durham and Northumberland

All Census Look Ups Are Crown Copyright from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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