Liverpool & South West Lancashire FHS - Forum

I have an 1871 Census Return (Class RG10, Piece 3813, Folio 9, Page 11) for a William MEADOWS, his wife Frances MEADOWS (nee JONES) along with 8 children living at 81 Rose Vale Street.

One of the children (the 15 year old male) has been written down as, what looks like, Jno - and I was wondering what this was short for. Personally, I think it's John, but was wondering whether it was also possibly Joseph as that is the other J.Meadows name I can find for, in the indexes, around the time of his possible birth (approx. 1856)

I did try looking at the 1861 Census to find Jno (who would have been around 5 at the time), but I can't seem to find them at the moment.

The 1871 details are:

William MEADOWS, Head, 46, Miller, Liverpool, Lancashire
Frances MEADOWS, Wife, 44, - , Denbigh, Denbighshire
Thomas MEADOWS, Son, 21, Confectioner, Liverpool, Lancashire
William MEADOWS, Son, 19, Confectioner, Liverpool, Lancashire
Jno MEADOWS, Son, 15, Scholar, Liverpool, Lancashire
Mary Jane MEADOWS, Daughter, 13, Scholar, Liverpool, Lancashire
Sarah Grace MEADOWS, Daughter, 10, Scholar, Liverpool, Lancashire
Rich'd MEADOWS, Son, 7, Scholar, Liverpool, Lancashire
Emma MEADOWS, Daughter, 3, - , Liverpool, Lancashire
Catherine MEADOWS, Daughter, 3m, - , Liverpool, Lancashire

For the crew, the address for the 1871 census is 81 Rose Vale Street, Everton, RG10; Piece: 3813; Folio: 9; Page: 11

Yes Jno is usually the written short form of John. Was trying to find some baptisms to confirm but have only come across Mary Jane and a Frances in 1860.

I suspect there has been a very bad entry in 1851 and the family are in 11 Court Parr Street, (St Georges) HO107; Piece: 2180; Folio: 364; Page: 3
transcribed Massen - looks like it could be Madden/Maddow
William 27 Miller Liverpool
Francis 24 Denbigh
Thomas 2 Liverpool
and Lodgers James Greenall 30 Engineer Prescott and his wife Ann 25 Liverpool

That doesn't help with John, but you may not have it.

I would also read Jno as John on the census summary form which was completed by the enumerator.

There were only 2 registration districts in Liverpool at the time Jno Meadows was born, West Derby and Liverpool. Between 1854 and 1858 there were only two likely births, both in West Derby...
Births Jun 1854: MEADOWS, John - W Derby 8b 338
Births Sep 1857: Meadows, John - W. Derby 8b 381

Dickiesam's method of ordering a birth certificate - online at www.gro.gov.uk and checking NO you don't have the GRO reference should work in this instance, if you give the parents names as William Meadows and Frances (nee Jones? is that right), but just giving a year and Liverpool. They will check a three year span and make sure you get the correct one or refund your money.

MaryA wrote:Dickiesam's method of ordering a birth certificate - online at http://www.gro.gov.uk and checking NO you don't have the GRO reference should work in this instance, if you give the parents names as William Meadows and Frances (nee Jones? is that right), but just giving a year and Liverpool. They will check a three year span and make sure you get the correct one or refund your money.

In this instance I suggest a search based on the 1857 birth and, as MaryA suggests, tick the NO box where the form asks if you have the GRO Reference [District, Qtr, Volume and Page], so don't enter even the District. Then enter the parents' names on the next page that opens.

Thanks for the help guys - very much appreciated.

It does appear that Jno is a Latin variant of John, based on this list http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/conte ... es%203.pdf