Genealogy Chat

see below.

On the 1851 census my ancestor lived clearly at number 70 Cold Harbour, but on the 1861 census lived at a different number (81). I imagine it was most likely an enumerator error, (but the numbers are not consecutive) but could there be a reason? There were no extra children so bigger house isn't the answer! Claire xx (curious)

Hi Claire, Re-numbering of houses. I've come across this a few times. Where new houses were built, the houses were all often re-numbered. So they were likely in the same house. Check the neighbours. Often you'll find the same people living in the next few houses, also helps prove re-numbering. They couldn't all have moved a few houses down the road! lol Debbie

I don't know that answer but I have the same in my tree, my family moved up and down the street numerous times, living at different numbers each time! Sam x

The same reasons as today. Inheratence, to help out a relative, may be was renting but have bought house down the road

Aha! Thanks for the ideas. I will start by checking the neighbours. Claire xx

If they were renting, maybe the landlord was selling the property but they wanted to remain in the same area

I have found that lots of my relatives (and even more so, husband's lot in Wales) moved up and down streets from census to census. Often other family members were living in the same road too. I assume people moved because they could afford a bigger place/couldn/t afford a bigger place. Virtually all of them would have been renting - maybe a relative's landlord got them a better deal, etc. nell

Well done Debora! The neighbours were the same families both sides, so it must be renumbering of houses. Lucky for me that all three families stayed put for 10 years! I will think more logically next time. :o) Claire xx

Thanks everyone for your replies. I will bear them all in mind next time I come across this. :o) Claire xx

Another possibility might be, that these are workers' houses and owned by an employer. Perhaps people changed house when they changed employer? nell

A wonderful person, with clearly more time to spare than I have, has looked at the major London roads, noted those fixed items like pubs, side turnings etc, and shown how numbering changes over time. This approach doesn't always work. A couple of families lived very close to the Rectory. But the sequence on different censuses is: ABR ARB RAB. I assume that this reflects the whim of the enumerator. After all, the Rectory didn't move. Either that, or the houses were so ramshackle that they were rebuilt every few years in a different place!

Helen Not sure that's right - I've found lots of shared houses, the address number (where it is given!) stays the same, only a thick line shows where the next head of household is. nell

Hi Claire, Just popped back for an update. Glad you got it sorted, Debbie

I don't think this sort of thing was that uncommon, certainly when property was rented, If you had to move, due to the landlords whim, if you wanted to live in the same area you were likely to know who else had rooms to let. There was no protection of rights for tennants or controlled rents! My Nan moved allong the balcony in her block of flats, there was an issue over transfer of tennency after her Husband died. So just moved along 4 flats! Suex

Ok, so now I am more inclined to believe Linda's theory as in 1871 they are number 86, so three different numbers over 30 years.........and actually, the column with the number in doesn't say 'house number' it just says 'schedule' although the house number or name was supposed to be recorded.....Perhaps I haven't got it sorted after all. Claire xx

The number in the first column isn't the house number but the enumerators sch,number, sometimes in small villages there were no numbers until the postal system was fully established.There was less need for the numbering systems we have today. Older census will sometimes have addresses that sound very vague to us nowadays such as Cottage, Back lane, but remember there was a lot less housing then. Kim

I did! Noisy neighbours at one house, so I moved down street lol to a quieter house that was also in better condition.

Both my lines in Bermondsey moved up and down the same roads which is really handy for at least 50 years. When they werent moving up and down they were living next door to inlaws. My own dear dad lived in a road where nearly every house was a relative and they just moved in with each other or took over bigger houses when kids had left home.