B.S. initials on census

[ottobottle]

Hi all. Not sure which forum to place this in but figured it might make most sense here.

I have an ancestor called John Left who was born in around 1812. Family legend has it that he was so named because he was left on a doorstep as a baby.

What interests me is that on the 1851 census his place of birth is recorded as "B.S.", as is that of one of his children (though not the eldest). As far as I can establish, "B.S." normally means "British Subject" and indicates somebody born abroad but now living in Britain.

My questions are:

1) Has anybody encountered an instance of "B.S." NOT meaning that someone was born abroad? For instance, if the individual's birthplace was unknown because they'd been abandoned, might the census taker have written "B.S."?

2) If "B.S." does mean "British Subject", does it only ever mean that the person was born abroad?

3) If it can be concluded that John Left must have been born abroad, where can I look to try and find his entry into the UK?

On later censuses his birthplace is simply noted as "Dudley, Staffs" or just "Staffs".

I am not hopefuly of being able to trace back further as even if "Left" bears some relation to his true surname it will be tough to work out what that original name is.

Thanks in advance to anyone who can shed light on the "B.S." mystery!

Regards,

Mark

[Tati]

Hi Mark,

Welcome to RootsChat 

I can't help you with your actual question (though I've only ever seen B.S. added to a foreign place name) but I notice his son Wm also seems to be born B.S. (or something like it ) on that same census 

 

[ottobottle]

Hi Tati, thanks for the welcome.

Yes, that puzzles me also. You'd assume that either all the children would be "B.S." or that none of them would be. As the rest were born in Dudley you'd assume they'd know where William was born.

All in all, very strange. I can't help wondering if the enumerator just had a funny turn when he completed the list for their household! On the other hand, I often work on the theory that the census is right and then try to prove it wrong. So far I can't prove anything!

Regards,

Mark

[Tati]

I have had a look at the previous and following pages but there isn't any other occurrence of it. I was thinking it might mean Birmingham S** (whatever S could stand for) but Birmingham is written out everywhere else. The most likely explanation might be British Subject as in England not known 

Let's see what others think   

[Necromancer]

Strange one - BS is usually suffixed to a place of birth (outside the British Isles)

If a PoB is unknown its either shown as NK or left blank.

Looking for the 3 eldest in 1841 is drawing a blank ...

[Necromancer]

1841 - HO107/997/1;  Rowley Regis District: 1; Folio: 11; Page: 15
Tividale

Wife Hannah not Ann - but thats a possibility ...

The census states that they were all 'Born in County'
 

John Loft [sic] 25  Labourer
Hannah Loft 20 
 
Sarah Loft 6 
Thomas Loft 4 
Mary Loft 2

[ottobottle]

That's definitely them in 1841 - her name was Hannah, maiden name Oakley.

Well, thank you all for your assistance - I think it likely B.S. does just mean that the precise place couldn't be named, which brings me back to the doorstep baby problem!

Tantalisingly, I once found a reference on Google to a whole article about John Left in a genealogical magazine back issue. I can no longer find it on there and don't remember the reference. It makes me wonder if somebody's already looked into Mr Left's origins. It's not that common a name.

Regards,

Mark

[susanemily]

Is the name Left or Loft??
Can see why he would be called "Left" in view of his circumstances.  Poor devil.
I think I have read this somewhere a few years ago now.
The only genealogical magazines I read are Family History Monthly and Family Tree Magazine so it must have been in one of them.
They both have their own websites and a search engine or articles I think.  Will try to look for you.
I do have all copies of ones I have read so when I get a day or so will look up for you also.
Susan.

Edited:  7pm:  Cannot readily see anything on the Web.  (it may be me that is hopeless).  Will have to rely on looking through all my mags.  But will not be able to do so until Tuesday.  Will come back to you if I find anything.

[ottobottle]

Thanks Susanemily! The name is Left but seems to be often mispelt on censuses and transcriptions - Loft, Lift, Lifft etc. I'll have another hunt around on the internet in case there's something there.

Regards,

Mark