1861 Census Dorset lookup Please

[john0383]

 
Hi,

Looking for  - 

ROBERT HARDING, born about 1852 / 3, Gillingham, Dorset.

Is he somewhere in that area on the 1861 Census ?

Thanking you in anticipation,

John..

[juliew]

Found a Robert Harding born abt 1854 Langton in Dorset

other household members:- civil parish Langton Matravers reg dist Wareham sub reg dist Swanage

Emma Harding wife age born Lymington Hampshire
Frances Harding dau age 8 months born Langton Dorset
Mary Harding dau age born Langton
William Harding head age 30 born Langton Dorset

Julie

[john0383]

 
Hi Julie,
I have just seen your reply to my query - many thanks.
Our Robert Harding is almost definitely born Gillingham - shown on 1891 & 1901 Census' - although 1881 Census shows Wincanton, Somerset !!!
Thanks again.
John.

[DS]

Hello John

This is a strange one.

If Robert was born in Gillingham his birth registration should be in Shaftesbury. I have looked from 1852 until 1861 and the only Harding with a name of Robert is this one

1860 Shaftesbury JAS quarter 5a 217

Henry Robert Harding.

This is the 1881 census entry

Lymington, Milford RG11/1191 Folio 17 Page 28

Robert Harding Head M 21 Ag Lab Dorset Gillingham
Sarah J do Wife M 25 Hants Pennington
Emma do Daur 7mo Hants Pennington

Address Pennington

So the age and the birth place shown here match the birth registration.

Please read on .........

DS

[DS]

Now it goes a bit funny.

1891 Lymington, Milford RG12/900 Folio 8 Page 9

Robert Harding Head M 38 Labourer in Coal Yard Somerset Wincanton
Sarah J do Wife M 39 Hants Milford
Emma do Daur 10 Scholar Hants Milford
Alice do Daur 8 Scholar Hants Milford
Eva do Daur 5 Scholar Hants Milford
William G do Son 3 Scholar Hants Milford

Address Pennington Village.

Robert and Sarah’s age are different and Robert is now shown as being born in Wincanton. Apart from these points the family look to be the same as on the 1881 census (and there does not appear to be another similar one around). There is no birth registration for a Harding called Robert or Henry Robert in Wincanton between 1852 and 1861.

This is (I believe) the same family in 1901

Lymington, Milford RG13/1036 Folio 10 Page 11

Henry R Harding Head M 42 Labourer at Coal Depot Somerset Wincanton
Jane do Wife M 49 Hants Lymington
William G do Son S 13 Hants Milford
Henry R do Son S 6 Hants Milford

Address North St, Pennington St Marks

Robert is now Henry R and has reverted (almost) to the earlier birth date but still insists that he is from Wincanton.

In view of all of this I would conclude that Robert Harding is probably Henry Robert Harding who’s birth was registered in 1860 in Gillingham.

It would be good if someone else would check this out. I have no idea why his birth place should be shown as Wincanton on the last two censuses and I am a bit concerned because John says that in 1901 it is shown as Gillingham. However, I cannot find a Robert Harding born in Gillingham on the 1901 census (the one shown above is all I can find).

DS
 

[DS]

 
On the assumption that what I have shown above might be correct and that Robert was Henry Robert born 1860 in Gillingham, here is the 1861 census entry that matches.

1861

Shaftesbury, Gillingham RG9/1322 Folio 6 Page 5

Henry Harding Head M 36 Grocer Dorset Gillingham
Sarah do Wife M 35 Dorset Gillingham
Sarah J do Daur U 10 Scholar Dorset Gillingham
James G do Son U 8 Scholar Dorset Gillingham
Mary C do Daur U 6 Scholar Dorset Gillingham
Elizabeth A do Daur U 5 Scholar Dorset Gillingham
Lucy C do Daur 2 Scholar Dorset Gillingham
Henry R do Son 8mo Dorset Gillingham

DS

[DS]

1871

Shaftesbury, Gillingham RG10/1970 Folio 47 Page 7

Henry Harding Head M 44 Lab Gillingham Dorset
Sarah do Wife M 44 Stoke Trister Somerset
George do Son 18 Lab Gillingham Dorset
Bessie Ann do Daur 15 Scholar Gillingham Dorset
Robt Henry do Son 10 Scholar Gillingham Dorset
Edward do Son 8 Scholar Silton Dorset
Tom do Son 6 Scholar Gillingham Dorset
Martha Alice do Daur 5 Scholar Gillingham Dorset
Jane Butt Wife’s Mother 88 Pauper Cucklington Somerset

George is James G And Bessie Ann is Elizabeth Ann from the 1861 entries and, Henry has just started to prefer the Robert part of his name !!!

Also notice the Somerset connection via his Mother and Grandmother which has been introduced.

I think that this is who we were looking for but (as I said), in view of all the
various discrepancies it would be good if someone else would check it out and confirm that it is correct or show why it is not so.

Either way, John, I hope it is of some use to you

Best wishes

DS

[john0383]

 

Hello DS,

Many thanks for all the information on this one.
I am fairly sure that this would be the correct family throughout.
I have family knowledge of James George, who used either name at various times and also altered his age - maybe it was a family thing !!
I have a marriage at Lymington 1879 for Robert Henry Harding & Jane Hatchard.
Thank you very much for all your help with this.
Regards,
John