COMPLETED: Mystery of missing great-grandmother - any detectives?

[oddyca]

Hi all
I know the 1881 census is free to view and all that, but it's the one census where I cannot find my great-grandmother Harriet Simm (b 1861 Thurstonland, Huddersfield - or sometimes Stocksmoor).  The rest of the family was by then living in Halifax but she is not with them.  By the time of the 1891 census she has been married, had three children, been widowed and is once more living with her mother - but where was she in 1881?  I have tried all obvious spellings and name variants but without any luck.  I even tried her under her married name (Fairclough) though she didn't actually marry until 4th quarter 1882.  Any detectives out there fancy trying to track her down?!

[genjen]

There is a Harriet Simms, born in Halifax, aged 21, working as a servant in the household of Wm. S Broadbent, in Bury, Lancashire.

Could that be her, do you think?

Jen

[Richard Knott]

Possible?

RG11/3864
Harriet Simms, 21, domestic servant, b Halifax

(servant with Wm Broadbent in Bury).

It's not Huddersfield, but I wonder whether there was a muddle over Halifax, given that her family were there).

Richard

[oddyca]

Ooh thank you both - yes, it does seem a distinct possibility that "Halifax" could have been given as a place of birth, especially if the information was given to the enumerator by the head of the household (who would know only that her family was in Halifax).  I shall now look at the previous census to establish whether there is a Harriet Simm(s) living (and born) in Halifax!