Some women described themselves as ‘widows’ on censuses in order that they did not have to explain that their husbands had been imprisoned or transported. James Tissot, A Widow (1868), Via Wikipedia Commons.
Why did my ancestor lie? (Quick tip: 5)
Weddings That Went Wrong
Delighted to announce the publication of my article on Marriage Mishaps in November 2025’s Discover Your Ancestors online periodical (by subscription). http://www.discoveryourancestors.com No-shows at the altar, mixups with the marriage vows and umpteen weddings that were stalled at the eleventh hour !
Why Did My Ancestor Lie (Quick tip: 4)?
On censuses, many young Victorian girls pretended that they had already reached the age of 15 in order to have a better chance of obtaining work as domestic servants and to command better wages when they did so. Sidney Paget, the Boscombe Valley Mystery, Illustration of 'The Boscombe Valley Mystery', in The Adventures of Sherlock... Continue Reading →
