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Mistake on 1911 Irish census?

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ProfilePosted byOptionsPost Date

ErikaH

ErikaH Report 2 Mar 2026 16:52

Deleted the info regarding JFW born Devon.................there is (allegedly) another one of the name born in Ireland 1907

Name James Ferris Wright
Birth Quarter Apr-May-Jun
Birth Date 1907
Birth Place Banbridge, Ireland
Birth Registration Date Jun 1907
Birth Registration Place Ireland
Volume 1
Page 131
FHL Film Number 101071


Not that it helps, TBH. There is no online record of a marriage for either man

BTW - can't see the above on 1911 census, nor can I see his birth on the Irish Genealogy site

These are the 1907 births in Banbridge for James Wright
Birth of JAMES WRIGHT on 03 March 1907 ? Civil record
Group registration ID: 95189SR District/Reg Area: BanbridgeChild's Sex: MaleMother's Birth Surname: MC KNIGHT
Birth of JAMES WRIGHT on 05 February 1907 ? Civil record
Group registration ID: 95171SR District/Reg Area: BanbridgeChild's Sex: MaleMother's Birth Surname: LOGAN
Birth of JAMES WRIGHT on 07 April 1907 ? Civil record
Group registration ID: 633855SR District/Reg Area: BanbridgeChild's Sex: MaleMother's Birth Surname: NEILL

HeyJudeB4Beatles

HeyJudeB4Beatles Report 2 Mar 2026 16:50

Just looking at birth records on the Irish site.....the main tree has four girls and two boys; the one boy, William, being the main ancestor for the tree. Only there is no Newell/Devers birth that corresponds (just like Sarah). So, may be that it should be taken with a large dose of salt!

Jude

HeyJudeB4Beatles

HeyJudeB4Beatles Report 2 Mar 2026 16:36

Yes ErikaH...saw that.

As ArgyllGran says, there is nothing in the way of sources or records in any of the trees. And if you drill down though them, they have all copied from the one tree (well two actually both owned by the same person). But while there are no records, there is a lot of info in terms of dates and places (and some photos). Possibly (probably???) made up but it's a lot of info to make up.

ArgyllGran, nothing to be lost by contacting the owner. As you say there is no record of a birth for Sarah.....

Jude

ArgyllGran

ArgyllGran Report 2 Mar 2026 16:25

None of the trees provide proof of Sarah's birth, so at least one of the "owners" has assumed that the birth cert for Samuel is hers.

None of the trees provide proof of Sarah's marriage, either.
I would like to see the marriage cert for her father's details.

If the mistake is not in 1911, then it must be a bad mistake by the registrar at the child's birth.

I'll try contacting one of the tree owners - without much hope.

HeyJudeB4Beatles

HeyJudeB4Beatles Report 2 Mar 2026 16:18

From Sarah's profile on that master tree...

Birth
25 DEC 1910 • 27 Shannon Street, Belfast..........

ErikaH

ErikaH Report 2 Mar 2026 16:17

Absolutely no ambiguity on the census record.
The father said he was literate (occupation Engraver) ..................he also said his wife was literate, so she must have learned quickly

The birth cert is also very clear

ArgyllGran

ArgyllGran Report 2 Mar 2026 16:08

Birth cert viewable on irishgenealogy.ie.

It says :

Born: 1910 25th December, 27 Shannon Street.
Name: Samuel [ clearly written ]
Sex: M [clearly written ]
Father: Robert Newell, 27 Shannon Street
Father's occupation: Car driver [ was an engraver at marriage and at Agnes and Jeanie/Jennie's births]
Mother: Margaret Newell, formerly Devers.
Informant: Margaret Newell, mother, 27 Shannon Street [made her mark]

The census record was filled out and signed by Robert Newell - so it's not an enumerator's mistake.

HeyJudeB4Beatles

HeyJudeB4Beatles Report 2 Mar 2026 16:07

There are several trees on A which have Sarah born 1910 marrying to James Ferris Wright

The census definitely shows a daughter (as you say) and it could be Sarah or Saml

However, not one tree has any records pertaining to the birth of Sarah (or Samuel) or indeed, the supposed death of Sarah Wright in 1984. There are lots of full dates and places though so it seems the "master" tree (that everyone else has copied from) has quite some knowledge. And some photos. Seems to be descended from another son William born 1924.

Why don't you message and ask the question?

Jude

nameslessone

nameslessone Report 2 Mar 2026 15:58

I think I would want to see the birth certificate.

We all know enumerators can get their notes muddled but I usually feel the 1911 is correct - apart from some marriage years ;-)

ArgyllGran

ArgyllGran Report 2 Mar 2026 14:59

I think this is a mistake on the 1911 census in Belfast.
What do you think?

On 31/10/1904, Margaret (Maggie) Devers married Robert Newell in Belfast.

Here they are in 1911:

Robert Newell
in the Web: Ireland, Census, 1911
Name Robert Newell
Gender Male
Age 35
Birth Year abt 1876 [abt 1876]
Birth Place Belfast City
Residence Date 2 Apr 1911
House Number 14
Townland/Street Shannon Street
District Clifton
County Antrim
Country Ireland
Electoral District Clifton
Literacy Read and wright
Language Spoken English
Marital Status Married
Number of Children Born 3
Number of Children Living 3
Occupation Engineer
Religion Church of Ireland
Relationship Head
URL
Household Members (Name) Age Relationship
Robert Newell 35 Head
Maggie Newell 25 Wife
Agnes Newell 6 Daughter
Jennie Newell 3 Daughter
Sarah Newell Daughter [ Age 3 months, on image, not transcribed]


I have the records of the births of daughters Agnes and Jennie/Jeanie , with parents Robert and Margaret, nee Devers.

I can find no record of a daughter Sarah.
However, there is this birth:

Birth record for Samuel Newell
25 December 1910 / Belfast
Name: Samuel Newell
Date of Birth: 25 December 1910
Group Registration ID: 1039849
SR District/Reg Area: Belfast
Sex: Male
Mother's Birth Surname: Devers

Parents: Robert and Margaret, nee Devers, at 27 Shannon Street.

The census image clearly shows Sarah (although the name isn't well written and could be "Saml") listed as a daughter.

Although it seems a strange mistake to make, do you agree with me that somehow Robert has listed his son Samuel as a daughter ??