Roman Catholic on Census?

[allie island]

The other day I came across a family related by marriage to one of my rellies listed on the census with "Roman Catholic" written next to their occupations.

I was surprised by this as it's the first time I've had this with any of my lot

Was this usual?

[KiteRunner]

I've never come across it, Alison. I could understand it if it was a priest or something, but as you say it's a family, I can't think why. Was it England / Wales census?

[allie island]

Hi Kate

It was the English census, Essex I think, but I've been trying to find the entry but seem to have mislaid it!

[KiteRunner]

I'm mystified, then. I thought if you had been lucky enough to find them on a foreign census then maybe there would be an explanation, but no, I don't know.

[Heather Positive Thinker]

How unusual - can you give us their names so we can all have a nosey? I wonder if it was down to the enumerator being a strict C of E or something or may be your lot were the only Catholics in the Village and proud of it :D

[keldon]

Just guessing but could it have referred to a Catholic school or similar institution and the enumerator was trying to indicate that?

[Phoenix]

Which census was this? In 1851 there was a religious census, but it was merely stats that were gathered, rather than actually names. I wonder if the info was an aide memoire for the compiler?

I have seen a totally illegal copy of the 1861 census purloined by the vicar to use as his visiting book, with useful comments like "dead" or "gone away" by some of the names.

[Heather Positive Thinker]

Ive seen much earlier head counts with denominations shown but only giving the surname of head of family. Brilliant if you happen to have family in those places though.

[allie island]

I'll see if I can find the entry - unfortunately I was just idly perusing rather than on a real search, and it was only afterwards I realised that this was unusual!

[allie island]

Just found a note I made saying that the family was PATTERSON and the census was 1881.
Sorry not much help, but I've trawled my recent searches on Ancestry and am beginning to wonder if I dreamt it!

[Heather Positive Thinker]

Well blow me Allie, I saw a census yesterday - sent by someone - it was Welsh seamen on a boat and their religion had been added next to each name and it was 1901 I believe, not an early one???

[allie island]

Oooer!

Just been having a trawl on Ancestry but it keeps telling me there are NO Pattersons in England in 1881!
Think something has gone wrong somewhere.......