Author Topic: What kind of household is this? (Wolverhampton, 1851 census)  (Read 1483 times)

Offline M_ONeill

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What kind of household is this? (Wolverhampton, 1851 census)
« on: Thursday 18 October 18 12:53 BST (UK) »
So I think I've found a reference to one of my first cousins thrice removed, Mary Ann Monckton, in the 1851 census for Wolverhampton. She seems to be doing housemaid service in a house in Darlington Street (although she is also apparently listed as a 'visitor' - as is everyone in the house apart from the Head of Household. Housemaids in other households on the same page are listed as 'servant', by the same hand).

In my research, I've mostly come across houses of related persons with maybe the odd friend or servant tacked on. This is the first time I've come across a household where seemingly nobody is related to anybody, and I was wondering if anyone had any insight here.

The inhabitants are as follows (many thanks to the rootschatters on the handwriting forum for helping decode this!).

Robert Crockett | Head | Widower | 77 | Rector of Nailstone-cum-Normanton, Leicestershire
Mary Davis | Visitor | Un | 54 | (Can't read occupation, looks like 'no' or 'mo' or possibly 'md')
Joseph Grinsell | Visitor| Un | 21 | Solicitor's Gen. Clerk
Mary Ann Monckton | Do. | Un | 18 | Housemaid Servant
Abiathar Hawkes | Do. | Un | 64 | Retired Officer - Army*

*Thanks to another rootschatter, I've learnt that this is Major Abiathar Hawkes, formally of the 39th Regiment.

So what's going on here? It seems like a very motley crew to have in one house. My first thought was maybe some kind of a boarding house, but Robert Crockett seems somewhat old and important to be running one of those. Any ideas?

Offline Willow 4873

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Re: What kind of household is this? (Wolverhampton, 1851 census)
« Reply #1 on: Thursday 18 October 18 13:00 BST (UK) »
Maybe it was a bible class the night the census was taken

Willow x
Any census information included in this post is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk and is for academic and non-commercial research purposes only<br /><br />Researching: Hilton (Wolverhampton & Tamworth) , Simkiss & Mears (Wolverhampton & ?) Bowkett & Nash (Ledbury & Wolverhampton) Knight & Beard (Gloucestershire), Colley (Tibberton) Hoggins (Willenhall) Jones (Bilston), Harris & Bourne (Droitwich) Matthews (Wolverhampton & High Offley) Partridge (Monmouthshire)<br /><br /

Offline M_ONeill

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Re: What kind of household is this? (Wolverhampton, 1851 census)
« Reply #2 on: Thursday 18 October 18 13:03 BST (UK) »
Oh that's a good idea, I hadn't thought of that as a possibility!

I mean, the census was on a Sunday...

Offline groom

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Re: What kind of household is this? (Wolverhampton, 1851 census)
« Reply #3 on: Thursday 18 October 18 13:16 BST (UK) »
I would guess that the residence is the Rectory as that is where the Rev Robert Crockett died the following year. The census showed who was residing there that night, not those who had just popped in, so we know that for that night,, at least they were sleeping there. The fact that they are listed as visitor rather than lodger or boarder makes it look as if it was temporarily, although I'm always a bit suspicious when it has been dittoed rather than written. I wonder if Mary Ann could be his servant, as a man of that status would have one.

The Rev Robert Crockett's will is in full on Ancestry, it might be worth reading that to see if any of those people are mentioned.
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Offline keyboard86

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Re: What kind of household is this? (Wolverhampton, 1851 census)
« Reply #4 on: Thursday 18 October 18 13:17 BST (UK) »
Hi in 1841 Nailstone he is aged 60 and has a Mary Davis and Mary Bostock in household.
Census ref H0107/602/ 10/8 / 10
Keyboard86
Pelly/Pelley/Kingsbury/Challis/Nalder/Rochester/Raydenbow

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Offline groom

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Re: What kind of household is this? (Wolverhampton, 1851 census)
« Reply #5 on: Thursday 18 October 18 13:20 BST (UK) »
He leaves £500 (I think)  to Mary Davis, his faithful servant. 
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Offline M_ONeill

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Re: What kind of household is this? (Wolverhampton, 1851 census)
« Reply #6 on: Thursday 18 October 18 14:24 BST (UK) »
My first assumption was that Mary Ann Monckton was a servant - but I was somewhat thrown by the 'visitor' description. This was clearly a very inconsistent ennumerator!

Online BumbleB

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Re: What kind of household is this? (Wolverhampton, 1851 census)
« Reply #7 on: Thursday 18 October 18 16:11 BST (UK) »
Perhaps Mary Ann Monkton is actually a servant to one of his visitors - my guess would be Mary Davies.  :-\
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Offline M_ONeill

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Re: What kind of household is this? (Wolverhampton, 1851 census)
« Reply #8 on: Thursday 18 October 18 16:14 BST (UK) »
A servant to a servant? *Inception voice* 'We have to go deeper'.  ;D

Maybe the retired major? I don't know if a Solicitor's clerk would have a servant.