This is just a general question really.
I've found my paternal Grandfathers family in the 1901 census, living in Belfast. My Grandfather isn't listed but that's OK because I've found him shown in a census taken in an army camp.
His mother is shown on the census as 'Head of family' and Married but her husband, my Great Grandfather, who would have been around the same age as her at 50 years, is not listed.
He was definitely alive then because he appears as a Labourer in my Grandfathers marriage certificate the next year, 1902.
There are probably many reasons why a 50 year old wouldn't appear in a census and why his wife would appear as Head and Married (rather than Widow).
Could anyone suggest the reasons? I've done a general all-Ireland search for his name and all of the results show other large families.
The only think I can imagine is if we was in the services - eg Merchant Navy, so that like my Grandfather, he would be listed in some other Census. If so, is there any way of tracing him?
Thanks.
Edit: I've just realised that 'Next of Kin' on my Grandfathers Boer War Attestation quotes his Mother. Wouldn't that normally be his Father - the one who's missing in the families 1901 census return?
