Daughter-In-Law Question Please

[foxgrapes]

I have a Thomas Russell 26 married to a Mary Russell 20. There are 2 children listed Elizabeth Burr aged 1 and Hannah Burr 10. The children are stated on the census as his daughters-in-law. What does this mean please, as they are obviously not his daughters-in-law as we know it these days. Thanks.

[stepives]

I have come across the same, with my rellies. They have either turned out to be step daughters or actual nieces.

Maybe there are other suggestions.

Steve.

[foxgrapes]

Hi, Yes at first I thought they were Mary's children until I saw her age as 20, so she couldnt be the mother of the 10yr old.

[Waitabit]

There was a marriage between a Thomas Russell & (Mary Burr on same page) 1864 maidstone.
A Mary Burr born 1840 Maidstone
Hanna Burr b. 1850 Maidstone
Elizabeth Burr b. 1860 maidstone.
Could this be your folk?
1861
RG 9; Piece: 498; Folio: 85; Page: 5;

Hannah 10. Sis-in-law
Elizabeth 1. Dtr -in=Law

1841
HO107; Piece: 1616; Folio: 305; Page: 8;
(Copywrite held atTNA)

[Nicolina]

the 1851 Census for Maplehurst Cottage, Staplehurst (HO107 piece 1616 folio 305 page 8) has:
William BURR, a widower aged 45, born Staplehurst, Kent. occ: Ag Lab
Mary BURR, daughter aged 10, born Staplehurst, Kent
Maria BURR daughter aged 8, born Staplehurst, Kent
Hannah BURR daughter aged 4 months, born Staplehurst, Kent
John BUSS, son in law aged 24, born Burwash, Sussex
Caroline BUSS, daughter aged 21, born Staplehurst, Kent

[Nicolina]

given the rounding up of ages, there is a possible family on the 1841 Census for Key Street, Bobbing, Kent (HO107 piece 471 folio 8/8 page 11)
William BURR aged 40
Elizabeth BURR aged 35
Thomas BURR aged 13
William BURR aged 11
Richard BURR aged 9
Amy BURR aged 7
James BURR aged 4
Elizabeth BURR aged 1

all born in County.

there are 2 possible deaths for Elizabeth:
Sept 1850 Maidstone 5 228
Dec 1850 Malling 5 238

[Waitabit]

the 1851 Census for Maplehurst Cottage, Staplehurst (HO107 piece 1616 folio 305 page 8) has:

1851
Thanks Nicolina, for the correction.

[foxgrapes]

All very confusing. Elizabeth Russell is my great grandmother, supposedly born at Staplehurst 1860 and she died about 1920. So Nicolina it couldnt be her in the 1841 Census aged 1.

Waitabit, that is the census (definitely 1861) that I have been looking at. Thomas Russell and Mary are already married in 1861. So what relationship exactly do you think Hannah and Elizabeth are to Thomas Russell?

[Nicolina]

I think that the Elizabeth born about 1840 is one generation earlier - possibly an Aunt.