Family split on the 1851 census

[Retriever]

On the 1841 census the family I am interested in is all together. On the 1851 census they are split into two families.

The father is listed as married and head of the family and has the sons of the marriage with him. The wife is listed as head and has the daughters of the family with her. I think she is given as widow but the entry is obscured.

The wife's entry immediately precedes the husband's although on the previous page.

Apparently the husband is in receipt of parish relief and I am wondering if that has any bearing or has the enumerator just got confused.

Any thoughts? Also has anyone heard of a gimp maker (that's what it looks like anyway). One of the daughter's occupation.

Many thanks.

[BumbleB]

Gimp maker - manufacturer of a kind of twisted silk used to edge clothing etc. - A dictionary ofold trades, titles and occupations.

[Retriever]

Thank you for that BumbleB, I've learned something today!

[BumbleB]

Any chance we can have a surname for the 1851 census, so that we can see the entries for ourselves?

[Retriever]

Certainly. David Howard, 63, born Burnham, Bucks. Living Beggars Hill  Wooburn, Bucks.

Now Woburn, Bedfordshire.

[StevenG]

Wooburn is a village in South Buckinghamshire and shouldn't be confused with Woburn, Bedfordshire.

[Retriever]

Many thanks, something else learned.

[Retriever]

That means this is on the wrong board, do I need it moved?

[BumbleB]

Ermm!  It would be very interesting to know why there is a large X within Charlotte's household record    Just noticed that it is also within David's household.  Only a thought BUT was it an acknowledgement that this was, in fact, one household but split into male and female?    Another of life's mysteries.