1881 Census Error Resolved - Eureka!

[Rosemarie]

I've been copmpletely unable to trace a family I knew to be in Liverpool at the time of the 1881 census but, following replies to a recent message I posted, I decided to give it another go (about the 100th I think!) and this time was successful almost immediately.

The family I was looking for was Hatchell but it had simply been transcribed as Matchell and when I substituted H with M the record which had eluded me for so long appeared as if by magic. I knew all the names and approximate ages and saw immediately it was the right one.

Hope this encourages others who've been unsuccessful with census searches to keep trying and especially to imagine what the first letter of the surname could have been substituted with.

Many thanks to those who replied to my original message on this topic.

Marie.

[pillar]

Hi, I have relative of my ancestor William Scott whose daughter Eliza Scott born 28 June 1822 married Rev Thomas Henry Hatchell M.A. Canon and Treasurer of Leighlin Cathedral and Incumbent of Staplestown Co. Carlow married 27 May 1857. I don't have any following information about the family.

[Rosemarie]

Hi

My husband's mother was named Hatchel and she was descended from John Hatchell, born in Ireland round about 1840, who was listed in Liverpool on the 1881 census as John Matchell.

John had four children: Esther, Margaret, Henry and George who was my husband's grandfather.

As you probably know Hatchell isn't a particularly common surname in England or Ireland and one theory I read about its origin in Ireland is that a soldier (or soldiers) named Hatchell went from the south of England to Ireland with Cromwell. There were about 30 Hatchell families in Ireland at the time of the Primary Valuation property survey which took place in Ireland between 1848-64.

I've been unable to establish whether or not the Cromwell connection is true but it sounds quite plausible although  I have no information about my husband's family prior to their record on the 1881 census.

Best wishes

Rosemarie .

[smouse]

There were about 30 Hatchell families in Ireland at the time of the Primary Valuation property survey which took place in Ireland between 1848-64.

Hi

Jumping off topic a little but the survey you mention above, is it like a census.  I've recently discovered a branch of ancestors from Galway and just don't know where to start.  Do you have any advise?

Damian

[Rosemarie]

Hi Damian

It's the Griffiths Primary Valuation Survey. The following is a link to one of a number one of a number of sites which explain a bit more about it:

http://www.from-ireland.net/gene/griffithsval.htm

Rosemarie.

[smouse]

Thanks Rosemarie, I'll take a look.