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FAO Malyon

Dear Malyon

Sorry to bring up this subject again but you sent me an 1871 census of where Tryphena New was -spelt Tryfena on the form. I was aware of this and the section is headed "canal boats" which may mean she was on a boat at the time of the census. What I had not seen before is that on the very next line of the census-schedule number 47 (RG10/2929/F)-Tryphena appears at number 46-there is a reference to Thomas Davis-unmarried-aged 17. This must be the ancestor of mine whom Tryphena subsequently married. The age, name,occupation fit perfectly. Do you know if these different reference numbers under the heading "canal boats" mean that he was on a different-possibly adjoining boat-at the time of the census?

Kind regards

Howard Stubbings

Yes, that's correct.

Thomas Davis and the Cowens family are one "house"hold, the News are a different "house"hold, so presumably a different boat .

The different "house"holds do all seem to be a community, with possibly members of one family being split between different boats.
For instance, James Bellanger (14) is in a different "house"hold from James Bellanger (51), who may (or may not) be his father, and Thomas Bellanger (18).

There's also a Samuel Davis (25) in the same "house"hold as young James Bellanger - might possibly be some relative of Thomas Davis, although born in Worcestershire.

I believe that canal boats often worked in tandem (one boat towing another) - so the families may have been living and working together, but just not physically on the same boat on census night.

Lots of interesting stuff about canal boats online - just Google.

For instance:
http://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/10946/1/281065_vol1.pdf

Many thanks for the info ArgyllGran

Kind regards

Howard Stubbings