something odd 2 familys? in census

[brendaannc@ntlworld.com]

I have
HENRY MELVIN b1810 Norwich ???
and
JAMES MELVIN b1812 Norwich my ggg grandfather

They seem to have the same children in different census

in 1851 10 ARCHER ST, PANCRAS
HENRY MELVIN b1810 Norwich plasterer
FRANCES b1807 Norwich wife
HENRY b1835 St Pancras
JAMES b1837 St Pancras
MARY ANN b1840 St pancras
ISAAC (ISAIAH) b1842 St Pancras
JOHN b1847 St Pancras
SARAH b1849 St Pancras

1861 3 Wellsley terrace St pancras Marylebone
JAMES MELVIN b1812 Norwich Plasterer
ELIZABETH wife
FRANCES ELIZABETH 1831 Norwich
HENRY b1834 Norwich
JAMES b1836 Norwich
ISAIAH (ISAAC) b1842 St Pancras
JOHN b1847 St Pancras
SARAH b1849 St Pancras
MARGARET b1851 Stepney
SUSAN b1853 14 Taylors pl Limehouse

At no other time can I find Isaac but Isaiah marrys and census records can be found.
Henry & James birth place changes, but other than that it seems a too much of a coincidence.
I have been unable to find them so far in opposing census.
Can not find a marriage for Henry & Francis.
So I wonder if they are actually Henry or James children, if james they are my Uncles/Aunts, if Henry,s ????
SUSAN being my GG Grandmother whos parentage i do know, and Margaret,s also.

Can you help sort this out, as they are Baptist records are hard to find.

regards Brenda

[jeremyf]

So aprat from the names of the wifes all the details are the same. Is it possible that James and Henry are actually the same person? That would explain everything exept the names of the wives. this could be explained by James/Henry remarrying between 1851 and 1861. Can you find either in the 1871, 1881 or 1891 census?

[Genevieve]

I have
HENRY MELVIN b1810 Norwich ???
and
JAMES MELVIN b1812 Norwich my ggg grandfather

They seem to have the same children in different census

Can you help sort this out, as they are Baptist records are hard to find.

regards Brenda
Brenda

Hi - I agree with the earlier post. Consider the possibility that Henry and James are the same person. I have found examples where individuals or whole families have used middle names in one census but not in those a decade earlier or later. Also, the birth places or ages given do not always match from census to census. Sometimes I have had to rely on the general pattern to match the family rather than all of the details fitting.

This theory is supported by the fact that you have not found both Henry and James in the same census.

Also, consider the possibility that the 'wives' Frances and Elizabeth are actually the same person given that the eldest daughter in the 1861 census is named Frances Elizabeth.

Gen

[brendaannc@ntlworld.com]

I have Elizabeths death 1872, and James remarried 1873
I only have James 7 family in 1861, and Henry & Family in 1851.
So far no luck finding them visa versa.
No christening for either, no marriage for Henry.
But I do have the birth reg for a Henry & Frances, both baptist registrations of birth.

7.3.1831 Frances Elizabeth d James Melvin and Elizabeth Hemment birth
witness Ann Melvin,Sarah Hemment.
Ann Melvin,Sarah Hemment.White Lyon Yard St Pauls.

21.1.1834 Henry s of James Melvin and Elizabeth Hamment
White Friars Bridge St Martin at Palace.birth witnesses
Ann Melvin,Sarah Hemment.

Brenda