Census double entry

[emjsw]

Hi there,

I just wondered if it is possible that one person could have been registered twice in a census please?

I have the marriage certificate of my 2 x grandmother, on 18th July 1899 in Wolverhampton she married Arthur Edward Myers. Her father is David Turner key maker and his father was Isaac Myers confectioners. Witnesses Richard and Alice Baldwin.

I checked the 1881 and 1891 census records for Sarah Ann Turner daughter of David Turner. I found 1881 reg Dudley, piece 2880, folio 59 pg 7, Sarah b 1879 Tipton  Staffs to David and Margaret Turner.  1891 reg Dudley, piece 2296 folio 120, Sarah b 1877 Tipton, parents David and Margaret.

I found a marriage for David Turner to Margaret Love 31/05/1875 St Thomas, Dudley (Love miss transcribed as Lowe). Then I checked GRO and got Turner Sarah Ann, mdn Love, 1878 S Quarter, Dudley, vol 06C pg 62.

So I am fairly sure I have the right Sarah and her correct parents.

BUT In 1901 there are 2 entries. 1 = Wolverhampton Sarah A Myers b abt 1881, Wolverhampton, spouse Edward (many of my rels are known by their middle name)  and my great grandma Florence M Myers piece 2677, folio 35 pg 22, schedule 148. 2= Sarah Ann b 1879 Tipton, parents David & Margaret. She is single piece 2746, folio 50,pg 22, schedule 137.

In 1911  Florence is with her and she is staying with Herbert George Walters who is cited in the divorce. They lie and say she is his sister. Schedule 72 piece 17061

In your opinion please could you tell me if they the same or different Sarahs. Is there another Daughter Sarah Ann father David combo? If not could she be recorded twice? They didn't have a happy Marriage, separated 1906,divorced 1912, maybe she went home?

Any thoughts would be greatful received.

Best wishes Em

[Girl Guide]

It is not unusual to find someone has been recorded twice in the same census.  It may well be that Sarah's parents temporarily forgot that she was married and included her in the census for 1901 as a single person.

Have you checked the Turner family in 1911?  Are the 1901 Turner family the same as the one in 1891?  Taking into account any children born in between census records.

I can't see any suggestion that we are looking at two Sarah Turners with exactly the same parents.

You could double check the births of Sarah's siblings to check they all have the same mother's maiden name for each of the census records.  Presumably Sarah's father has the same occupation in the census records?

When you have checked all that and everyone all relates to David and Margaret then I think you can take it that for whatever reason, Sarah was recorded twice in the 1901 as a single person and a married one.

[goldie61]

Yes, I have a couple of people who have been entered in the same Census twice. And no doubt at all it was the same person.
There have been some posts about the same thing on Rootschat before.
As Girl Guide says, it does happen for whatever reason. 

[sparrett]

A couple in my family history had a “rocky” marriage and in 1881 she was in Middlesex with 3 or 4 children and expecting a baby. Her husband is recorded as having been present too, but he is also recorded in a different county as a lodger.

It might have “looked better“ if she declared him present.
 

[jim1]

In 1901 David Turner is a coal hewer (miner). On the 1899 marriage he's a key maker. A bit of a leap.
What's his occupation 1891 & 1911?

[rosie99]

In 1901 David Turner is a coal hewer (miner). On the 1899 marriage he's a key maker. A bit of a leap.
What's his occupation 1891 & 1911?

From the reference given above in 1891 he is also a Coal Miner
RG12/2296 f120 p25

[rosie99]

Carrying on from Jim's comment on fathers occupation 

The witnesses to the marriage were Richard & Alice Baldwin
Marriage Sep qtr 1892   
Baldwin    Richard       
Turner    Alice       
Wolverhampton    6b   88

When they married Alice also named her father as David Turner occ Key Maker.  One of the witnesses was Frank Turner

In 1901 they (Richard & Alice) are at RG13 /2679 f93 p31

Address on marriage for Alice was Herbert Street   It is also Herbert Street on Sarah's

1881
RG11 /2801 f81 p7
21, Herbert Street, Wolverhampton
David Turner   age 33   occ Locksmith   
Sarah   32   
Frank   14   
Alice      11   
James   7   
David   5   
Elizabeth   1   
All born Wolverhampton except for mother Sarah who was born Birmingham

[rosie99]

Marriage Dec qtr 1866   
Neal    Sarah       
Turner David       
Wolverhampton    6b   813

TURNER, FRANK       mmn NEALE     
1867  Sept Quarter in WOLVERHAMPTON  Volume 06B  Page 470   

TURNER, SARAH  ANN     mmn NEAL     
1882  March Quarter in WOLVERHAMPTON  Volume 06B  Page 566   
 
 

[rosie99]

Other siblings
TURNER, ELIZA  ANN     mmn NEAL     
1868  Dec Quarter in WOLVERHAMPTON  Volume 06B  Page 486

TURNER, ALICE       mmn NEAL     
1870  Dec Quarter in WOLVERHAMPTON  Volume 06B  Page 476

TURNER, FLORENCE       mmn NEAL     
1873  March Quarter in WOLVERHAMPTON  Volume 06B  Page 575   
 
TURNER, JAMES  HENRY     mmn NEAL     
1874  Dec Quarter in WOLVERHAMPTON  Volume 06B  Page 562   
 
TURNER, DAVID       mmn NEAL     
1876  Sept Quarter in WOLVERHAMPTON  Volume 06B  Page 569

TURNER, EDWARD       mmn NEAL     
1878  March Quarter in WOLVERHAMPTON  Volume 06B  Page 597   
 
TURNER, ELIZABETH       mmn NEAL     
1879  Dec Quarter in WOLVERHAMPTON  Volume 06B  Page 55

TURNER, ROSE       mmn NEALE     
1883  Dec Quarter in WOLVERHAMPTON  Volume 06B  Page 567   

TURNER, THOMAS       mmn NEAL     
1886  Dec Quarter in WOLVERHAMPTON  Volume 06B  Page 553