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Archiver > NY-TROY-IRISH-GENSOC > 2009-08 > 1250556565


From: Marianne Arnold <>
Subject: Re: [NY-TROY-IRISH-GENSOC] Libby Wren
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 2009 20:49:25 -0400
References: <822065.68611.qm@web63406.mail.re1.yahoo.com>
In-Reply-To: <822065.68611.qm@web63406.mail.re1.yahoo.com>


Hi Ann Ellen,
Chris is absolutely right here on all his points. Let me give you a
few other bits of info on the census. Each census had a "census day",
a date picked to record the census. The information was supposed to
be whatever it was on that given day. However, often the enumerator
didn't get his area covered on census day and took several days to -
especially in sparsely settled areas - several weeks later to finish.
Some were very meticulous about census day, but most just recorded
whoever was there on the day they showed up. For the most part this
was okay. However, I had a great-grandfather who was recorded on the
1910 census on the day the enunerator recorded it. In fact he was
dead by that time, but was alive on the census day. Naturally he
didn't show up on the 1920 census and I couldn't find a death record
for him. It took a pro genealogist to suggest I check between the
census day for that year and enumeration date and sure enough there
he was.

On names - I have a great-grandmother who was named Wenona Sue. She
has been that and Sue Wenona, Suewenona, Susie W. and during her teen
years, so help me, Louisa! The census is a great tool, but you have
to take everything it says with a grain of salt, until you can verify
what it says via other records.

I think there's a good possibility your ancestor was Mary Elizabeth.
Yours, Marianne Arnold


On Aug 17, 2009, at 12:22 PM, Chris Langdon wrote:

> Ho AnnEllen,
>
> It ws very common for ages to change in census and other records.
> There wasn't the focus then on exact age. People didn't need to
> prove age either. They could begin working very young and no one
> generally had copies of their birth certificates because they
> weren't needed for anything.
>
> Also census informtion could be given by others and not the person
> involved and they oftentimes didn't know anyone's exact age.
>
> You should get a copy of Libby's civil birth cert and baptismal
> record. Those may help you with your question. She may have had a
> baptismal name including Mary.
>
> Chris Langdon
>
> On Aug 14, 2009, at 8:59 AM, AnnEllen Barr wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>> I am at my wits end trying to find my
>> grandfather's sister, Elizabeth
>>>> "Libby" WREN (b. 1852) who remained in West Troy
>> area when rest of
>>>> the
>>>> family moved to Wisconsin in 1863.
>>>>
>>>> I understand she was in "househould service" as an
>> 11 year old; then
>>>> In time married and stayed in that area raising
>> her children.
>>>>
>>>> I wrote to Thomas Hanley, IHM Archivist in
>> Watervliet who kindly sent
>>>> Information about a Mary WREN who married a John
>> TAGGART in West Troy
>>>> At St. Patrick's Church in 1878. He even
>> sent info about the
>>>> children
>>>> Of this marriage baptized at St. Patrick's.
>>>>
>>>> I spent hours at our local library and accessed
>> the Census listings
>>>>> From 1880 and 1900 for the couple and also for
>> the witnesses to the
>>>> baptisms.
>>>>
>>>> I am not "comfortable" that this Mary was our
>> Libby since it would
>>>> Appear that this Mary was born (per 1880 Census)
>> in 1856, not the
>>>> 1852
>>>> We Know to be our Elizabeth's date of birth.
>> While I know Census
>>>> records are not always right, the different name
>> and date of birth
>>>> make
>>>> be
>>>> Wary of accepting it.
>>>>
>>>> I hope that someone in your society might have
>> knowledge of their
>>>> Great-grandmother being our Libby WREN and contact
>> me.
>>>>
>>>> AnnEllen Barr
>
>
>
>
>
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