Arnell/Arnold

[SarahCarroll]

Using Census i've taken my 4th Great-Grandfather Philip Arnold back to being born in Exford, Somerset 1786 or thereabouts. But looking at Parish records the only one that seems possible is a Philip Arnell born in Exford in 1785. How likely is this to be the same person?

[Jebber]

It looks like the correct one, you have to allow for variations.

The age in the census depends on the date of birth, if born at the beginning of the year they will have a birthday before the census, if born later in the year they won't have had their birthday, so appear a year younger. Even then census ages are not always accurate.

[AJ100]

Arnell was an alternative spelling to Arnold. Few people could read or write then so the clergyman took down the details and wrote what he heard. If the name was spoken with an accent this would alter the spelling even more.
So if there was a Philip Arnell baptised in Exford in 1785, it is exceedingly likely to be your relative. Unless, of course, there were a great many others of the same family in Exford.

Regards

AJ

[SarahCarroll]

Great thankyou