Plea for advice 1871 Census Macclesfield

[Sandra Massey]

I am still a novice and would greatly appreciate any advice anyone has to offer on the following:
I am researching the STANWAY family from Macclesfield. 

 My current line has taken me to NOAH and MARY Stanway.  I have their marriage cert.  In the 1871 census their name is transcribed as HANWAY. Also Mary was born in Ireland but is given as being born in Macclesfield. Are these types of transcription differences common? 
They were resident at 16 Wardle Street in Macclesfield, and I have found them there in 1881 (transcribed as STENWAY) and 1891.
I was expecting to find a son John Thomas listed who was born in 1861 however the only male child listed is Phenus(?) who is given as 10 years old, but no trace of him on BMD, but I do have a marriage cert for John Thomas - has anyone any ideas?

Thanks in anticipation
Sandra

[peterbennett]

Hi Sandra

                It is comman to see the types of errors you have described, normally we blame the transcribers, but in this case having looked at the census page it seems mistakes were made in the transcription from original census forms as filed by the enumerator, and the person who transcribed into the books that we now rely on to do our research, it seems as if you have a whole barrow load of errors.
Thomas described as Phenos is a good example.
Hope this answers some of your doubts, and when doing a family although we have to be as acurate as possible,there is a great deal of detactive work and reading between the lines to be done.

Hope this helps

peterbennett

[paulalou]

If Mary had a strong Irish accent and was the person relating the information to the enumerator (which often happened if the person was unable to write) it could be possible that the enumerator had trouble understanding what she was saying. This could be a possible cause for errors.

Regards

Paula

[Sandra Massey]

Hi Peter,

Thanks for the advice.  I feel a bit more confident now about applying my own interpretation and dismissing some of the 'red herrings'.

Many thanks
Sandra

[Sandra Massey]

Hi Paula,

Thanks for the reply.   I believe Mary would have a strong Irish accent being born there and moving to Macclesfield, and more to the point on her marriage certificate she signs with 'her mark' which indicates she could not read or write, so I think you are correct in that what I am seeing is the enumerators interpretation of Mary's verbal account.
My conclusion is that Phenas is really John Thomas and that Mary possibly called him by another name than the one he was registered with.

Thanks for the help, much appreciated
Sandra