2 spouses on same census

[kessy122217]

Hi peeps

first off can I just say what a lovely forum this is everyone is so friendly and helpful.

Now down to business, i,m researching James Chittock and found him on the 1901 census with sophia stated as spouse and an Anne Smith as spouse, and again on the 1891 as married to matilda and a Sarah smith is also down as her spouse as james chittock. This is on the ancestry site  and on the typed version rather than the original document. Is it cos she is down as wife for someone else living with them and they have just put james as spouse as he is the head?

[mofid42]

More than likely.

I've seen that a number of times when a married woman is in the same house as others but her husband has not been included so it looks as if the head of the house has two wives!

I had a similar situation on a census for one of my ancestors where it appeared he had two mothers but with different surnames. I think either the head of the household or the enumerator were trying to show that they were two separate families but messed it up with the result the census record was totally ambiguous

[JeannieR]

Hello There...

There are two families living at the house in 1901

James Chittock / head / age 55 / Travelling Showman / born Essex
Sophia Chittock / wife / age 32 / Born Petersfield Hampshire

2 Chittock Nieces, who are dancers

Albert Smith / Nephew / age 36 / Cinematograph operator / born Glasgow
Anne Smith / wife / age 26 / born Dartford, Kent

They have three daughters, Matilda 4 / Sophia 3 / Nellie 2

Address was Dames Road Fields, Cann Hall Essex

JeannieR

[carol8353]

The same thing happens again in 1891,he is married to Matilda,but living with them is his 26 year old musician nephew Albert Smith,who is married to Sarah.

[JenB]

Hi kessy 

Albert Smith / Nephew / age 36 / Cinematograph operator / born Glasgow
Anne Smith / wife / age 26 / born Dartford, Kent

The confusion has arisen because Anne Smith has been entered on the census form as 'wife'. She should correctly have been entered as 'nephew's wife' (which was her relationship to the head of the household).

This is on the ancestry site  and on the typed version rather than the original document.

You should always check the original image   

[trish1120]

James appears to have Married Matilda MULLETT nee Mc PHERSON in Abergavenny 1873.
1891 they are in Herts and Matilda is age 53
Possible Death Reg
Matilda CHITTOCK March 1895, Islington, 1b 257, age 57

Then James Married Sophia CHIPPERFIELD in Dec 1896, Cambridgeshire
(FreeBMD)

Trish

[kessy122217]

Thanks everyone thought that was the case but wanted to rule out me going mad from staring at old documents for far too long, lol