"Notts Southwell B.S." Completed

[Alexander.]

On the 1851 census, Ann Rogers's birthplace is given as "Notts Southwell B.S." (reference HO107/2134, f 305, p 17).

It may not be at all important, but if anyone has any ideas for what "B.S." might stand, it would be much appreciated. I've browsed a few of the surrounding pages and cannot see it next to anyone else's birthplace.

Thank you!

Alexander

[Nottschick]

If no-one comes up with the answer to this, I'm hoping to visit Nottingham archives on Wednesday and I will ask the very helpful archivists if they know. 

NC

[Alexander.]

Thanks Nottschick - that would be much appreciated. Since posting I've had a few ideas about what it might be, but none of them seem very likely.

Alexander

[IMBER]

It usually means "British Subject", but with the birthplace tending to be overseas. Did her parents have any foreign connection?

Imber

[Alexander.]

Hi Imber,

I thought it might be that, but all her family was from Notts, and had no foreign connection at all.

Yesterday I searched for the household instructions for the 1851 census but I couldn't find them. If it said in the instructions to write British Subject next to a foreign birthplace, perhaps she or whoever filled out the schedule misunderstood the instructions?

Alexander

[larkspur]

Alexander I have a friend and her 4x gt grandmother also had BS next to her name, which came quite out of the blue. Turns out she was born in Belgium. All the other children were born in Yorkshire, she has never discovered why this child was born abroad. Stranger things can happen!!

[IMBER]

Hi Imber,

I thought it might be that, but all her family was from Notts, and had no foreign connection at all.

Yesterday I searched for the household instructions for the 1851 census but I couldn't find them. If it said in the instructions to write British Subject next to a foreign birthplace, perhaps she or whoever filled out the schedule misunderstood the instructions?

Alexander

Yes, I have come across people doing exactly that but for ALL the family.

Imber

[Nottschick]

I asked the archivist today and he confirmed that it means British Subject but could not explain why her birthplace is clearly shown as Southwell in that census and the next but without BS in 1861.  He could only assume that the enumerator made an error somehow. 

NC.

[Alexander.]

NC, thanks for asking. It's a shame "BS" doesn't mean anything significant, but at least I can stop wondering now.

Thank you all for your input.

Alexander