Strange anomaly in the IOM census index 1841 to 1851

[Dan Pearson]

I'm trying to look up some ancestors (Cleators of Braddan) in the index for the 1841 and 1851 censuses. Now, I'm matching them up as family by shared piece, folio and schedule - and a set of names seem to match from one census to another. The strange thing is while some of them have aged 10 years from one census to another, others have only aged 5, 6 or 7 years... does anyone have the key to why this might be? Am I going crazy?

In 1841 we have under:

Cleator / Braddan / Piece: 1463/5 / Folio: 22 / Schedule: 5

Hugh 19
Ann 15
John 17
Joseph 5
Margaret 22
Mary 50
Thomas 50
Thomas 25
William 9
Joseph 5

Then in 1851 we have under:

Cleator / Braddan / Piece: 2525 / Folio: 453 / Schedule: 106

Hugh 25
Joseph 13
Mary 56
Thomas 60
Thomas 30

The household has shrunk but they have to be the same, right? Just about the only Cleators in Braddan at the time... Thomas Sr has aged appropriately but Hugh, Joseph, Mary and Thomas Jr have all aged differently - 5, 6 or 7 years.

I confess I'm not sure about the exact meaning of the numbers, so maybe there's something I don't understand.... any help? Thanks

[matthewj64]

I've heard that some people didn't really know how old they were or have good numeracy so they would just say or guess the nearest number in multiples of five or ten or so

[KGarrad]

I think Hugh's age across the censuses was fairly consistent?

In 1841 he was 19. So born c1822.
In 1851 he was 25. So born c1826 in Lezayre.
In 1861 he was 35. So born c1826 in Lezayre.
In 1881 he was 58. So born c1823 in Lezayre.

There was another Hugh Cleator around at the same time
He was born in Maughold, and married Judith Corkill and then Bridget Corlett.

[Dan Pearson]

Thanks for your replies - they're certainly food for thought 

The Cleators that especially interest me are Joseph and Thomas - and any wives they may have. I know my great-great-grandfather was Joseph Cleator from Braddan, who married Margaret Corkill on August 9, 1857 and emigrated to Liverpool area to produce the direct female line of my ancestors. Joseph's dad was Thomas. From this it's still unclear whether that's Thomas Sr or Jr. but no wife of Thomas Jr. seems present (I was hoping it was Margaret in the 1941 census but if so she left him (or died) with all the children except Joseph!). Either way, it seems that Thomas Sr. was married to Mary, and they are either my great-great-great grandparents or my great-great-great-great grandparents.

Can anyone provide me with any more clues as to the correct answer? Thanks.

[KGarrad]

I assume he is the Joseph Cleator who was a Policeman in Toxteth Park on the 1881 census?
If so, he says he was born c1837?

Christening, 27th March 1836, at Lezayre:
Joseph Cleator, son of Thomas Cleator and Mary Cleator alias Corkill
(Manx baptisms often name the maiden name of the mother)

I would hazard a guess that, as the parents were from Lezayre, then they chose to have their son baptised there, too.

[KGarrad]

There is a baptism entry that may be Thomas?

4th May 1823 at Lezayre
Thomas, illegitimate son of Eleanor Cleator by Thomas Cleator of Lezayre

(FamilySearch)

[Dan Pearson]

That's the one! A policeman.

But how did you get Lezayre? This Joseph Cleator from Braddan would be born at around the right time, too. (age 5 in 1841).

Thanks for your help.

[KGarrad]

From the 1851 census:

Cleator, Thomas  Head  M  60  b Lezayre
Cleator, Mary  Wife  F  56  b Lezayre
Cleator, Thomas  Son  M  30  b Lezayre
Cleator, Hugh  Son  M  25  b Lezayre
Cleator, Joseph  Son  M  13  b Braddan

As I said, all the family were born in Lezayre, except Joseph.

[Dan Pearson]

Ah, ok. Brilliant! I only have access to the index so this information is not available to me. Thanks again.