* Census - Servant issue

[bonalymac]

I have found an ancestor in the 1851 census. She appears as the only Bannerman as a 17 year old House Servant in a household where the surname is not the same as hers.

This is in rural Aberdeenshire, although unfortunately I cannot read the premises address, it is in her birth parish. The head of the household (a Smyth) is a "Farmer 130 acres". There are 2 servants and 3 farm labourers listed as non-family members. This would appear to be step above the normal tenanted farmer.

My guess is that this is not a family member she is servanting (?) for, but a local landowner. Of course at this stage I have no evidence whatsoever to either back this hunch up or not.

What I am wondering is how people would treat this info. Do I simply capture the data on my Bannerman lady only? Or do I capture all the data on the off-chance that at a later stage I identify them as linked in some way? Or do I create a note?

I have a printed copy of the census sheet from the ScotlandsPeople Centre, so I have all the data on this family (or premises), I just want some advice on how to use it (if at all).

Thanks


Colin

[tatewise]

I assume you are using Ancestral Sources and Method 1 splitter Source Citations.

I would capture the entire household transcript in the Source record Text From Source and attach the Census image to Media tab, then should you need them, all the details are saved.
(You can either edit the transcript in the AS Auto-Text box or afterwards in the FH Source record.)

But I would only enter a Citation against the Bannerman ancestor for the Census Event and her Occupation as Servant.
(i.e. In AS she is the only Individual you <<Select into the Grid.)
You could add a Note about the farmer and his farm.

Is the address of the farm not provided in the online transcript?

[AdrianBruce]

For what it's worth, I'd also do pretty much what Mike suggests. (NB For reasons now lost in the mists of time I don't use Ancestral Sources, so don't ask me how I use that to record this data).

I wouldn't create any individuals for the farmer, his family or any other servant - only for Miss Bannerman. I'd record the census, occupation and residence for her, along with birth, etc, deduced from the census. Occupation and residence tend to end up looking pretty similar in a case like that ("Occupation: Farm Servant, Pear Tree Farm, working for W Gabriel", and "Residence: Pear Tree Farm, which was owned by W Gabriel", that sort of thing) but I don't like omitting either.

It's not unknown for 2 farm servants to end up in a relationship later on, so you might find yourself going back and adding in another individual from the farm, but I'd still only add that one in.

[themoudie]

Aye Colin,

I would proceed as per Mike's (Tatewise) reply.

See attached below the entry for Ellen Anderson, in entry Number 40 of the Schedule. The Scottish Census form for the 1851 Census is similar to, but not the same as the attached one from the 1871 Census. Note that the 'Relationship' column lists Ellen as a "2nd Cousin", rather than a "Servant" as for the three residents of the farmhouse below Ellen and that the entry for your relative "Bannerman lady" will appear similar to these latter three. From that entry I would assume, as you do that your "Bannerman lady" is not a relation to the "Head" of the household.

The pronounciation of the surname Smyth, is the same as Smith in the area of Perthshire where I reside.

Also, as Mike suggests you should have address information about the farm, albeit sketchy, as you can see on my attached image. If you have problems deciphering this information, then place an image of your document on the 'Research' forum area of this 'Board' and "many eyes" may help identify the farm and it's location!

My regards, Bill

[bonalymac]

Thanks to all for the input

I assume you are using Ancestral Sources and Method 1 splitter Source Citations.

Yes I should have made that clear. Method 1 is my choice.

(i.e. In AS she is the only Individual you <<Select into the Grid.)

Thats the critical bit of help for me. Thanks.

I would capture the entire household transcript in the Source record Text From Source and attach the Census image to Media tab

Will do.

Is the address of the farm not provided in the online transcript?

Yes it is supplied, but at the moment, I cannot read it. I haven't yet had time to look at maps to try and identify the location however. I'm fairly sure the name starts Auchen..... The only other entry on the same page has the same location. I will be able to look on previous/following pages to get a hint.

Update, now decided it is Auchininna. I found that location a GenUki. It is 2.7m by road from where I found my lady in the 1861 census living with her widowed mother. So that makes sense.

It's not unknown for 2 farm servants to end up in a relationship later on

That is a good point

The pronunciation of the surname Smyth, is the same as Smith in the area of Perthshire where I reside.

Yes I would agree with that. I'm not even sure that it is Smyth yet. I just entered that for the post purposes. It could actually be Smith or Smyth, the writing is not clear.

The description of "Ellen Anderson" as you say, ties in with my thoughts as to the non-relationship of my "Helen Bannerman" to the head.

Thanks to all. I will add the details of all people in the Text From Source but only select the one individual in AS.

Colin

[themoudie]

Aye Colin,

I find this site invaluable for maps and being able to view earlier editions over current aerial/satellite imagery and this link takes you to the OS Six Inch 1843-1882 series map, with North and South Auchininna and Auchininna Croft all shown. On the current aerial image North Auchininna and Auchininna Croft no longer exist!

Auchininna_1843-1882_Six_Inch_map

My regards, Bill

[tatewise]

From your description of the address being unreadable, it sounds like you are still looking at the image, rather than the textual online transcript. Which online product are you using, e.g. Ancestry, FMP, ScotlandsPeople?

[bonalymac]

Aye Bill

Obviously another Scotsman!

Thanks for that. I have looked at that site, but not in great detail. I have played with the different overlays however and as you say it is brilliant. I'm very fortunate to live in Edinburgh, so I can easily visit the ScotlandPeople Centre, and the National Library of Scotland. I've actually got a tour of the main site booked in approx. 10 days. I've approached the Maps collection to see if they do a similar tour.

Thanks for the link.

My "Bannerman" Census page does not identify anything beyond "Auchininna". But on my next visit to the Centre, I will look to see if the previous/next pages give any help in narrowing that down.

Colin

[bonalymac]

From your description of the address being unreadable, it sounds like you are still looking at the image, rather than the textual online transcript.

I hadn't appreciated exactly what you meant earlier. Yes I am looking at the printout. I'm using ScotlandsPeople. But I'm using the Centre, rather than the on-line search - it works out cheaper (I hope) 30p for a print Plus a £15 vist fee. If you get a reasonable hit list, this works out better than the £1.50 online charge. That is one big plus of living in Edinburgh.

I do have an on-line account though and I'll have a look now and see how it is transcribed.

[bonalymac]

Never thought to check that.

It's definitely transcribed the name as "Smith". My head of household is number 2 here.

I haven't spent the £1.50 to discover if there is more info on the address though.

smith.jpg (37.27 KiB) Viewed 8996 times

.

Also spotted that its is Banffshire, not Aberdeenshire.

Colin

[themoudie]

Aye Colin,

"BANNERMAN, HELEN, 1851, F, 17, 158/ 2/ 7, Inverkeithny, Banff" is the result from searching using "BANNERMAN HELEN 1851" in the Scotlands People, Census, 'Search'.

If you use this transcribed data from ScotlandsPlaces, I think the entry at the bottom of this linked page, explains more about Mr Smith!

North_Auchininna_OS_name_books_1867-1869_entry

Again, this is another site that I use regularly, when trying to locate habitation and places frequented by mid to early Victorian and earlier generations. I am not sure if the England & Wales researchers have access to the same information.

My regards, Bill

[bonalymac]

Bill

I've heard of this site, but never looked at it. I will now though. I'd no idea this level of data was available.

I see that my Alexander Smith is shown as a Tenant in this report marked as 1867-69.

This varies a bit from his description (which I do understand is not verified) in the 1851 census as Farmer (of 130 Acres).

I'll browse some of these pages later in the week.

Thanks

Colin

[themoudie]

Aye Colin,

The majority of "Farmers" are "Tenant Farmers".

Also have a look at the online "Valuation Rolls" on the ScotlandsPeople website. No information for your Helen Bannerman, but the fortunes of your farmer Smyth are available in at least 5 yearly intervals and maybe annualy depending upon the year being searched. Have fun!

My regards, Bill

[bonalymac]

Will do

Ta