Genealogy Chat

Hi I have a 'Step' child on 1891 census. Could someone please remind me what a step child used to be as I'm sure it's not the same as a step-child now. Many thanks Joanne

not sure what it could be if it was different to the interpretation that we have now. ie child of former marriage (are you getting confused with in-law which used to mean something different?)

Jess I possibly am. I think the child was the illegitimate child of the wife before the marriage. She has a different surname to the rest of the family. I've now found on a later census a brother in law staying with them who has the same surname as this child. So I'm thinking wife must have been single mother to this child. Hope this makes sense!! BTW, what did in-law used to mean? Joanne

sometimes you found a 7 year old boy as a son-in-law, obviously far too young to be married to the couples daughter . in this case interpreted as ''son in terms of the law'' ie legally our son but not born to us. yes/no/maybe.....!! jess

If you believe the child was the mother's illegitimate son then he was indeed her husband's step child. (remember the relationship listed was supposed to be to the head of the household Often in the past the term son/daughter in law was used as an alternative term for step child

thanks jess :)

Jess - I would be interested how you would interpret this one- I was looking for my maternal grandmother - Lily Knight and found her (or so I think) on 1901 census living with a family transcribed as 'Silone' and after much searching and sending for the B. certificate anyway, now believe it should be Silver. The entry on the 1901 census was as follows :- Thomas Silver Head age 53 Elizabeth Ann Silver Wife age 55 Ernest Silver son age 12 May Silver dau age 6 Charles Knight brother - in -law age 36 Diana Knight sister - in -law age 30 Charles Knight son-in-law age 1 Lilly Knight dau-in-law age 6months I have a marraige cert for Diana Silver and Charles Knight 1899 - on which she states her father as being Thomas Silver and when Lilly was born EA Silver registered her birth (was also present at the time). I have assumed that all this in-law business was incorrect - and that Diana was infact their daughter, but now I am wondering - especially as I never sent for Diana Knight 's (nee Silver) birth cert. Sorry this is abit long winded but I would appreciate your opinion.

It appears that Charles junior and Lilly Knight are children of Charles senior and Diana. Both Charles senior and Diana are a generation younger than Thomas and Elizabeth Ann. It's unlikely that they are siblings, but strange that the relationships are recorded in such a confusing way. nell

This appears to be the Silver family in 1881: Thomas SILVER Head M Male 33 Dorton, Buckingham, England Agricultural Laborer Elizabeth A. SILVER Wife M Female 34 Hardwick, Buckingham, England Jane SILVER Daur Female 12 Dorton, Buckingham, England Scholar Diana SILVER Daur Female 10 Dorton, Buckingham, England Scholar John SILVER Son Male 8 Dorton, Buckingham, England Scholar Amelia SILVER Daur Female 4 Leicester, Leicester, England Scholar Dwelling 46 Catherine St Leicester St Margaret, Leicester, Family History Library Film 1341755 RG11 Piece / Folio 3166 / 131 Page 5 Diana is clearly listed as daughter. I can't find this family in 1891 yet. nell

Thanks Little Nell- This is as I thought - actually put this one to bed months ago - but as it was something I came across when I first started my research and after reading this thread I started to wonder. I think someone must have been having a laugh on the 1901 census. (not funny to us researchers tearing our hair out though!) Cheers