Holland family

[bingoliz]

Hello. I know this may be a long shot, but I can not find my Holland family in the 1851 and 1861 census in England,

John Holland was born c1850 in Durham, father's name Francis, born c1824 Ireland, I have John with his wife on the 1871 census and Francis, widow with his daughter Eliza in Durham on the 1871 census.

Maybe they where in Ireland , can anyone help?

[aghadowey]

Unfortunately this will be difficult because 1st complete census for Ireland is 1901 and only small fragments of earlier ones remain. To search for any census fragments you'll really need to know where they lived (parish if not actual townland).
Possibly the Holland family are in 1851 and/or 1861 census with another spelling of the surname which is making it difficult to find them.

[bingoliz]

Thank you for your reply.

I've tried different spellings on the census, even putting just Francis's first name and trailing through all the different surnames.

I have been looking for a few years now, maybe one day I'll get it sorted.

Thank you anyway, it was just a stab in the dark.

[aghadowey]

It's possible that Francis' children moved to England first and he only arrived there in time for 1871 in which case you'll have great bother finding any information. Perhaps start searching in England for son John's marriage if you haven't already done so.

[bingoliz]

Hi
Yes I have a copy of John's marriage certificate, which gives his father as Francis. I have checked for a birth, but it looks like he was not registered, also on the 1871 census, Francis is lodging in a house with his daughter Eliza, born c1859, Newcastle, I have had a look for her birth, but too many to narrow it down.

I have looked for Francis's wifes death, but with no first name, that again is not easy.

Thanks you

[aghadowey]

I take it that you've searched for Eliza aged 2 +/- in Newcastle area in 1861 census?

[bingoliz]

Yes, but no Eliza with a father name Francis, but I see what you mean, maybe Francis was not with them at the time, maybe visiting family in Ireland.

I will have another look, for Eliza with a brother aged 10+/- named John, it may help.

Thanks for the advise, did't think of that one till you said about Francis not being in England.

[aghadowey]

Just trying to think of anything else to try. Perhaps search again for Francis as Fran* (in case he's listed as Frank or Frances).

[bingoliz]

Yes tried that one, I keep going back to them when a idea comes into my head, I did find Francis, lodging on his own in the 1881, but surname was transcribed as Mulholland, so tried that also.
I think maybe the idea of Francis not being in England, is worth trying.