Armstrong Kingarrow

[ajw]

I have a complicated scenario. My person of interest was a Mary Jane Armstrong. I have her in the 1901 and 1911 census. Where its complicated is the ages of the people in the family in 10 years dont match and shows the relationship to head of house (sibling, nephew and neice). I dont know who her mum is and i believe she was illegit as father not on marriage certificate.

Robert            44   60
John               42   58
Margaret Jane 52   69
Catherine        40   56
William John    28
Mary Jane       16  26

I dont know if William John is her brother or cousin but he was a witness at her wedding. Any info would help

[kingskerswell]

Hi,
   The old age pension was introduced in 1909 and it is surprising the number of people who aged considerably between 1901 and 1911.

Regards

[myluck!]

Aging between 1901 and 1911 was relevant to individuals!
Many people did not know accurately when they were born and guessed hence a change, some single women lost years in the hope of still marrying; some older people gained years in the hope of a pension!

1901 census
1911 census
On both census returns she is shown as Robert’s niece which would imply that either her mother or father was his sibling; if her father’s name was not shown on her marriage certificate then it is more probably a sister.

Have you located a birth cert for Mary Jane?

[aghadowey]

Robert            44   60
John               42   58
Margaret Jane 52   69
Catherine        40   56
William John    28
Mary Jane       16  26

What is fairly consistant between 1901 and 1911 census are the difference in ages between Robert, John, Margaret Jane and Catherine. If the 1st persons age is correct and then he (or other person in household) calculates the rest of the ages from the incorrect date you do see this sort of result.

[myluck!]

There is a possibility that this is the civil record for Mary Jane's birth in 1888
on another site there is a birth on May 19 1888/baptism Jun 08 1888 in Lisnaskea Workhouse of a Mary Jane Armstrong, father unknown, mother Martha Armstrong

Like all things in family research needs some investigating and proving!

[ajw]

Because she was illegit what would be the chances her mother went into workhouse to give birth and then came out when born, what was the norm for this scenario of illegit children. 

[aghadowey]

Not always. Remember that there was also usually a hospital attached to the Workhouse (although I can't find a mention of one here) and that also accounts for some births shown under workhouses.

In case you haven't seen this on Lisnaskea Workhouse-
http://www.workhouses.org.uk/Lisnaskea/

[ajw]

I believe I may located her birth on find my past; jul-sep 1884 in lisnaskea

[myluck!]

I believe you are correct from another site
DoB Jul 08 1884; DoBap Aug 01 1884 Derrylin; address Kingarrow; mother Katherine Armstrong

as Catherine was the younger sister I would consider that William was not her son based on ages
however their ages are inaccurate!