| For general information see
Introduction to Census Returns |
The Exploring Family History Tutorial
The 1851 & 1861 Census
Midnight Sun/Mon 30/31st March 1851
Midnight Sun/Mon 7/8th April 1861
| Task: From the information we have gathered on Mary Town from the 1871 census (view) and her marriage certificate (view) find any earlier census references. |
In previous Ancestry searches we have looked at single searches. On this occasion we use the opening form to search all the Ancestry Collections
| First Name | Mary |
| Last Name | Town |
| Birth Year | 1841 |
| Country | England |
| County | Middlesex |
The top two entries in a ranked search relate to our Mary Town in the 1861 and 1851 census:
1861 - 52 Fore Street, St Giles without Cripplegate, Middlesex
| George Colliver | Servant | Unmarried | 21 | Shopman | Whitechapel, St Mary, Middlesex |
| Charles Braem | Servant | Unmarried | 16 | Shopman | St Johns, Westminster, Middlesex |
| Mary Town | Servant | Unmarried | 20 | General Servant | St Luke, Middlesex |
It would appear that the head of the household was away at the time of the census, and the two "shopmen" would suggest that the property was also a shop. It may be possible to identity the shop, and Mary's employer, from contemporary London Trade directories.
1851 - 17 Lizard Street, St Luke Old Street, Middlesex
| William Town | Head | Married | 39 | Cellarman & Chandler | Broomfield, Kent |
| Maria Town | Wife | Married | 39 | Edmonton, Middlesex | |
| Maria Town | Daughter | 15 | Aldgate, Middlesex | ||
| Mary Town | Daughter | 10 | Scholar | St Luke, Middlesex | |
| Sarah Town | Daughter | 8 | Scholar | St Luke, Middlesex | |
| Eliza Town | Daughter | 5 | Scholar | St Luke, Middlesex | |
| Susannah Town | Daughter | 2 | Scholar | St Luke, Middlesex |
William Town's occupation suggests he may have worked in a local inn, and was responsible for the supply of provisions and drink. The Elizabeth Town who could not write her own name when she witnessed Mary Town's marriage (view) may have been the Eliza Town in the census.
| Result of
Investigation
The information gathered provides a good basis for further research on the Town family, but this is outside the scope of this tutorial. |
Page created November 2005