Annotations to 1911 census form

[monmurph]

Can anyone tell me how the following message was annotated to my ancestors 1911 census form (Cheshire).  "Memo:  These people pass off as married but they are not.  Thomas Pritchard Registrar.  Did they actually check these forms, or would it be "nosy neighbours".

[avm228]

Welcome to Rootschat

What an interesting thing to find.  There was no process of investigation into the information provided, but often the enumerator would be a local person and may either have had knowledge of the true situation or, as you say, had a tip off from a nosy neighbour.

Can you tell us a bit more about the relevant people and where in Cheshire they were (just out of interest)?.  You may be able to identify whether the enumerator lived locally.

[stanmapstone]

This appears to be in contradiction to the instructions sent by the Registrar General to the Registrars
 http://www.rootschat.com/links/01e6d/
Stan

[monmurph]

The family were Kirkham and they lived in Chapel Street in Altricham, Cheshire.  John (I assume) had filled in the form, stating they were married.  This was crossed out and "single" added, by I think the registrar (same handwriting).  The memo was so condescending.  Wonder when it was written

[monmurph]

Thanks for link for confidentiality, very interesting.

[sparrett]

Hi
Looking at the entry it is clear to me that John himself completed the form. The pen and writing are different from the Memo.  He signed his name and the registrar who wrote the memo also filled in the address.

It occurs to me that John himself may have a first written married and the chosen to confess to his true status of single and in fact stated this fact to the registrar who then noted it.

 Another possibility is that John was married, but not to Mary.

Sue