Are these both the same person?

[Gardengirl]

I have a family group where I have a daughter called Eliza in the 1841 census and a daughter called Elizabeth in the 1851 census. I suspect that they are the same child but I can't find any proof for or against this theory. I haven't found any record with both on the same record and I haven't found a baptism for either of them although the older children in the family had births registered in Non conformist registers.

If anyone with better skills than me would like to see if they can find them to prove or disprove whether they are the same, I would be very grateful.

This is the family concerned..

edward and caroline treelet.jpg

I have not updated this Ancestry tree for a while but I know that the mother Caroline Southerden died in 1835

This is the 1841 census on Ancestry https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageview...68?pId=3120729

And this is the 1851 https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageview...66?pId=3031638

[garstonite]

Just to let you know - 2 records of Edward and Carolines marriage in Woodnesborough ,Kent have Caroline Deborah Southerden and Caroline Deborah was born in High Halden ,Kent
Caroline Deborah Southerden

• Born March 30, 1788 - High Halden, Kent, England.
• Deceased in 1851, aged 63 years old

Parents

• Stephen Southerden 1761-1803
• Caroline Barton 1761-1858

Siblings

• Caroline Deborah Southerden 1788-1851
• Samuel Southerden 1789-1836
• Mary Southerden 1792-
• Edward Barton Southerden 1793-
• Elizabeth Southerden 1797-
• William Southerden 1799-1800
• William Southerden 1803-1872

BUT - this tree says she died in 1851 - not 1835 - not all trees are correct - so I will let you decide if this is genuine
Family Tree Preview

Ancestry Chart Printable Family Tree

Edward Barton 1713-1788 Mary Bolden 1715-1788 | | | Stephen Southerden 1761-1803 Caroline Barton 1761-1858 | | | Caroline Deborah Southerden 1788-1851

best of luck

[Gardengirl]

Thanks, Allan, but I don't think that can be right because Caroline is not present on either the 1841 or 1851 census that I have for the family and I have a burial record for her in Northgate, Canterbury where they lived.

[queenbee]

I would say that Eliza and Elizabeth are the same. Unless you can find a death for Eliza before 1851. 1841 ages are a bit wonky at times so always best viewed with a pinch of salt.

If the birth location for the children are the same and you've got their baptisms (not just single transcriptions) can you go back through the record to find Eliza/Elizabeth? I've found missing children this way.

[Gardengirl]

If the birth location for the children are the same and you've got their baptisms (not just single transcriptions) can you go back through the record to find Eliza/Elizabeth? I've found missing children this way.

That's a good idea. They are non conformist birth registrations at the Dr Williams Library and I haven't looked in depth at them.
I also wondered if Caroline, the mother, was unwell after the birth in 1829, maybe she was too poorly and never really recovered so they didn't get around to registering the later birth(s)

[Anne in Carlisle]

Eliza and Elizabeth can often occur in families as two separate children. In this case, because of the way the dates lie and their individual appearance on the 1841 and 1851 censuses, I think they are probably the same person.

Anne

[Gardengirl]

Thanks, Ann. I do think all the available evidence is pointing that way at the moment. I think I will merge them on my tree. I can always change it again later if any more evidence comes to light.