Missing from the 1881 Census?

[Michelle72]

I am trying to find William DOWNING b. 1853 Greenfield, Beds on the 1881 census but he is no where to be found!  He married Sarah Ann BUSHBY (KINGHAM) b. 1857 Harlington, Beds in 1880 and she is on the 1881 census as Sarah Ann DOWNING, unmarried, living with her Uncle and Aunt.  I checked the 1891 census and they are listed under the surname DUNNING in Greenfield.

So where was William in 1881?

Can anyone help me please?

Michelle
Adelaide, South Australia

[cathymcc]

Michelle

I think Greenfield is in the parish of Flitton cum Silsoe?

I think he may be subject to some sort of strange spelling that they did on these census...Dinning/Danning or something more strange?

Try the rootsweb Bedfordshire mailing list where there are many helpful people who may well have the answer.

[Michelle72]

It must have been the accent they had eh?!! 

I've made a post on rootsweb so hopefully someone may find him!   

[cathymcc]

1851 census index of DOWNINGs in Flitton [all born there unless otherwise stated]:

Page 11:
Allen, 1
Bonner, 45
Bonner, 23
Charles, 19
Dinah, 4
Edeth, 6
Fanny, 45 [born Flitwick]
George, 12
James, 17
John, 15
Mary, 11


Page 12:
Anne, 4
Caroline, 9 months
George, 16
Hannah, 11
Lucy, 14
Mary, 40 [born Westoning]
Sally, 20
Walter, 8
William, 40
William, 1

Page 13:
Alfred, 7
Ann, 28 [born Maulden]
Arthur, 3 months
Charles, 4
Ellen, 2
Emma, 6
George, 31

Page 14:
John, 42