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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: Suziewoozy22 on Thursday 01 June 23 16:23 BST (UK)

Title: Has Anyone Every Come Across This Symbol on the 1891 Census?
Post by: Suziewoozy22 on Thursday 01 June 23 16:23 BST (UK)
Hi,

Has anyone ever seen this square with four dots symbol on a census return before? This is for Turk's Row in Chelsea, and is a common lodging house. The way the inhabitants are listed is strange too, but not sure if that has anything to do with it.

Many thanks
Title: Re: Has Anyone Every Come Across This Symbol on the 1891 Census?
Post by: AlgarvePete on Thursday 01 June 23 16:27 BST (UK)
I think it's to point out that head and wife are entered in wrong order.
Title: Re: Has Anyone Every Come Across This Symbol on the 1891 Census?
Post by: Andy J2022 on Thursday 01 June 23 17:05 BST (UK)
It's an asterisk * so the previous explanation by AlgarvePete makes complete sense.
Title: Re: Has Anyone Every Come Across This Symbol on the 1891 Census?
Post by: Suziewoozy22 on Thursday 01 June 23 18:01 BST (UK)
Thanks guys, I didn't read it as an asterix, but a square and 4 dots which I know is symbol for certain things (vinegar!) but if it is an asterix it makes perfect sense as you say.
Title: Re: Has Anyone Every Come Across This Symbol on the 1891 Census?
Post by: KGarrad on Thursday 01 June 23 20:18 BST (UK)
It's not an asterix, it's a Reference Mark (※, Unicode 203B), generally used preceding an additional comment or supplemental information.
Title: Re: Has Anyone Every Come Across This Symbol on the 1891 Census?
Post by: Andy J2022 on Thursday 01 June 23 20:48 BST (UK)
Thanks, KG. Here's Wikipedia's take on the subject:
"The [reference mark] symbol was used historically to call attention to an important sentence or idea, such as a prologue or footnote. As an indicator of a note, the mark serves the exact same purpose as the asterisk in English."
Title: Re: Has Anyone Every Come Across This Symbol on the 1891 Census?
Post by: tellx on Friday 02 June 23 04:50 BST (UK)
Do the marks signify the second house within schedule number 158 ?
Title: Re: Has Anyone Every Come Across This Symbol on the 1891 Census?
Post by: KGarrad on Friday 02 June 23 06:17 BST (UK)
Quote from: tellx on Friday 02 June 23 04:50 BST (UK)
Do the marks signify the second house within schedule number 158 ?

That's indicated by a single slash (/) between households, and a double slash (//) between dwellings.
Title: Re: Has Anyone Every Come Across This Symbol on the 1891 Census?
Post by: tellx on Friday 02 June 23 15:09 BST (UK)
Quote from: KGarrad on Friday 02 June 23 06:17 BST (UK)
Quote from: tellx on Friday 02 June 23 04:50 BST (UK)
Do the marks signify the second house within schedule number 158 ?

That's indicated by a single slash (/) between households, and a double slash (//) between dwellings.

I can't see any separation between the two houses on that schedule number. In most (maybe all) of the 1881 census pages I have, anywhere there is a single slash to denote a new household there is a new schedule number.
Title: Re: Has Anyone Every Come Across This Symbol on the 1891 Census?
Post by: KGarrad on Friday 02 June 23 16:27 BST (UK)
Quote from: tellx on Friday 02 June 23 15:09 BST (UK)
Quote from: KGarrad on Friday 02 June 23 06:17 BST (UK)
Quote from: tellx on Friday 02 June 23 04:50 BST (UK)
Do the marks signify the second house within schedule number 158 ?

That's indicated by a single slash (/) between households, and a double slash (//) between dwellings.

I can't see any separation between the two houses on that schedule number. In most (maybe all) of the 1881 census pages I have, anywhere there is a single slash to denote a new household there is a new schedule number.

Got my slashes the wrong way around!

There is a double slash (\\) before Joseph B Finch and another after Maria Moore.
Looks to me like a Lodging House?