Edward Bailey - home alone in 1841

[MiniHistory]

Sorry. How do I delete a post? Ignore this. Result of brainfade, I suspect.

While looking for my Baileys in the 1841 census (and finding John & Patience and three of their adult children in Halse), I noted that in the household next door there was a 3yo boy called Edward Bailey, all alone. Perhaps not surprisingly, he failed to give any details beyond his age.
(Piece: HO107/965/0 Place: Williton/Freemanners-Somerset Enumeration District: 8
Civil Parish: Halse Ecclesiastical Parish: Halse
Folio: 11 Page: 15)

I assume he is the Edward Bailey b. 4.10.1837 and christened at St James, Halse, base born son of the unmarried Jane PARSONS (according to the Halse Transcripts online).* Jane, in turn, may be the "15yo" housemaid working in Old Cleeve. I can't find Edward on the following census.

What's the likelihood he's the illegitimate son of one of my Bailey? (Quite high.) Would they have been taking care of him while his mother worked? (Also a reasonable supposition.) Why would he be listed as all by himself? (Who knows?) What happened to him and his mother? (More work to be done.) Where should I look next?

And is a 3yo child home by himself particularly unusual?

* But wait! There's more! I just found the same christening on familysearch.org with his name given as Edward Parsons Bailey and his mother as Jane Bailey. Which should I believe?

[BumbleB]

It would appear that there are two sources for this record.  FindMyPast have the Somerset Birth Index, and two entries:

Edward Bailey - from Archive Reference:  D/D/RR 124 B - Bishop's Transcripts
Edward Parsons Bailey - from Archive Reference:  D/P HAL 2/1/6 - Parish Records

The image of the parish record is for Edward Parsons Bailey - natural son of Jane Bailey of this Parish.

[BumbleB]

Looking at other entries on the same page, I wonder whether the Enumerator has indicated that Edward is not a child of John and Patience, but that he is living in the same household.

[hanes teulu]

Looking at other entries on the same page, I wonder whether the Enumerator has indicated that Edward is not a child of John and Patience, but that he is living in the same household.

That's how I read it given presence of "/"
https://www.rootsuk.com/researchguide/census_page.htm  ("Other marks"))

[rosie99]

Sorry. How do I delete a post? Ignore this. Result of brainfade, I suspect.

[MiniHistory]

It would appear that there are two sources for this record.  FindMyPast have the Somerset Birth Index, and two entries:

Edward Bailey - from Archive Reference:  D/D/RR 124 B - Bishop's Transcripts
Edward Parsons Bailey - from Archive Reference:  D/P HAL 2/1/6 - Parish Records

The image of the parish record is for Edward Parsons Bailey - natural son of Jane Bailey of this Parish.

Ah! Thank you! So the Baileys' daughter Jane (b. 1814) is most likely the mother, and a certain Mr Parsons could be the father.

[MiniHistory]

Looking at other entries on the same page, I wonder whether the Enumerator has indicated that Edward is not a child of John and Patience, but that he is living in the same household.

That's how I read it given presence of "/"
https://www.rootsuk.com/researchguide/census_page.htm  ("Other marks"))

Thank you. I was working off the FreeCEN entry.

[MiniHistory]

Sorry. How do I delete a post? Ignore this. Result of brainfade, I suspect.

This will teach me to turn to family history research at a time of upheaval in my contemporary family history. Still, I seem to have been guided in the right direction.