Does head mean husband or could be dad?

[sparklingtechie]

Ok..I used to take it for granted when I saw a family the head was the hubbie or father if male. Yet this family has me a tad baffled. This is the right family except William (the dob for the other and area are exact and the child's own children match up + I have marriage certs for girl Mary. Now her dad is listed as William Haynes Married to Mary Haynes but I have from another census that he was born in 1816. Now Marys (the girl not the wife listed here) her granddad is also a William and I have no dob for him but I cannot find any record of a death for William France who was born in 1816. I have an IGI printout someplace of both Mary (the wife this time) and her hubbie as both being 33 (of hand cannot remember what it was for..bapsitm I think). The info below is from the 1841 census. Any ideas would be welcome as getting birth certs for them both would be out.

France William 62 Head Agricultural Labourer Claverley, Shropshire Common, Chelmarsh, Shropshire
France Mary 39 Wife Bridgnorth, Shropshire Common, Chelmarsh, Shropshire
France Joseph 12 Son Farm Servant Chelmarsh, Shropshire Common, Chelmarsh,
France Thomas 5 Son Chelmarsh, Shropshire Common, Chelmarsh, Shropshire
France Sarah 7 Daughter Chelmarsh, Shropshire Common, Chelmarsh, Shropshire
France Mary 2 Daughter Chelmarsh, Shropshire Common, Chelmarsh, Shropshire

 

[p.risboy]

Hi Sparkie.

Head of house is what it means. Does not have to be a relation at all.

It may even be a father-in-law, brother in-law, etc.etc.

BUT....in general it is.

Steve.

 

[duckweed]

Head doesn't have to be related. It is whose name the house is in whether rented or owned. So could be Landlord living there.

 

[stevegraham85]

The head might also be Mary Frances Father,that is if you don't know her maiden name or it could also be stepfather.

Oz

 

[sparklingtechie]

The head might also be Mary Frances Father,that is if you don't know her maiden name or it could also be stepfather.

Oz

I've put it down on my tree program (with a note) very tentitivly as father in law as I know her maidan name and her parents names. :biggrin: