Help identifying relationship to head of household in UK 1851 Census

[toby_ax]

Here is what I am able to read and not read.

First column - name
James Hardey
Susan (illegible)
Charles Mills (My person of interest)

The second column is for relationship to head of household.
Head
Wife
(illegible) I am struggling to work out the relationship of Charles Mills to the head of household, as the surnames do not match. At first I read My Lover's Son but surely this can not be right? Any help would be massively appreciated to knock down the brick wall of this individual! Thank you.

[toby_ax]

I have found a marriage certificate from 1847 between James Harden (b1798) and Susannah Mills (b1809) where Susan is regarded as a spinster and James a widower. Would this suggest Susannah Mills had a child out of wedlock? with either James or another individual.

[Flouncylicious]

I think it says "my wife's son"

[arthurk]

Hi, and welcome! Taking it bit by bit:

First column - name
James Hardey
Susan (illegible)
Charles Mills (My person of interest)

Susan's surname is given as 'do', ie Ditto - very commonly found in censuses.

The second column is for relationship to head of household.
Head
Wife
(illegible) I am struggling to work out the relationship of Charles Mills to the head of household, as the surnames do not match. At first I read My Lover's Son but surely this can not be right?

.
Close! It's 'my wife's son' (as Flouncylicious said)

I have found a marriage certificate from 1847 between James Harden (b1798) and Susannah Mills (b1809) where Susan is regarded as a spinster and James a widower. Would this suggest Susannah Mills had a child out of wedlock? with either James or another individual.

It may well indicate that Charles was illegitimate, but it's something to look into. Can you find Susan(nah) and Charles in the 1841 census, and is there any hint of his father there?

Since Charles would have been born around 1836, that's a long time to wait till a marriage in 1847, so the father is probably more likely to be someone else - unless James was already married and not able to marry until then. See what you can find about James in 1841, and his first/earlier wife and when she died.

[Mabel Bagshawe]

1841 - Lyme Regis?
Piece 294, folio 7, p 10

Susan Mills    30 washerwoman
Edward Mills    6
Charles Mills   4

[osprey]

was just looking at same census entry 

Baptism in Lyme Regis 22 June 1834 for Edward son of Susanna Mills, spinster. Also burial in Lyme 7 Jan 1843 Edward Mills aged 8.

Haven't spotted one for Charles as yet.

[Mabel Bagshawe]

There's a James Hardy of Lyme b c 1797 who gets 14 days in 1845 for leaving his wife chargeable to the parish. Can't decide which is him in 1841 though

[osprey]

possible first marriage in Lyme 31 Aug 1822 for James to Mary Farrant, widow.

[toby_ax]

Thanks all appreciate this massively, have James Hardey's birth listed as 1796-1797