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Deciphering writing in a census
Posted: 12 May 2020 17:07
by Stewpot1944
Hi
Can anyone suggestion how best to get a street name deciphered? I have an 1871 census for an area in Toxteth and can see my forebears in the record but cannot make out the street name.
It looks like Wooly Street but I have searched all over the Net and can only find a Wolfe street and a Wood Street in Liverpool. Wolfe street is in Toxteth but is very short (there are around 130 residences in the census record). Wood street is near Bold street and is very long so could be the correct one but I don't think the area counts as Toxteth.
If it helps, and you can look up the record, search 1871 census for Liverpool for Matthew Doyle, born Ireland in 1853, and that should take you to the record. He is listed as Apprentice Blacksmith.
Many thanks
Re: Deciphering writing in a census
Posted: 12 May 2020 17:29
by JohnnyO
Can't find him in 1871 even. A Matthew Doyle living in Vernon Street, born Ireland 1851 and a boiler maker is the nearest I can see looking at Ancestry and Find My past
Re: Deciphering writing in a census
Posted: 12 May 2020 18:12
by Bertieone
No, can't find.
Page 1 on census may have the roads listed, may be easier to make out.
Or, find a road near on the census you can understand and use map to view around it.
http://justme.org.uk/code/index.html
Street index +
https://www.lswlfhs.org.uk/?q=info_pages
Re: Deciphering writing in a census
Posted: 12 May 2020 20:26
by retiringtype
It must be 1861, not 1871. Matthew Doyle, apprentice blacksmith, at a provision shop enumerated between 138 and 140 Woolf Street, Toxteth Park
Re: Deciphering writing in a census
Posted: 13 May 2020 07:09
by Bertieone
Not that it matters, RT has given the information, still can't find it on Anc.
Re: Deciphering writing in a census
Posted: 13 May 2020 07:21
by MaryA
Stewpot1944 wrote: ↑12 May 2020 17:07
If it helps, and you can look up the record, search
1871 census for Liverpool for Matthew Doyle, born Ireland in
1853, and that should take you to the record. He is listed as Apprentice Blacksmith.
As he is 19 years old in
1861 he was detailed as being born in
1842
Re: Deciphering writing in a census
Posted: 13 May 2020 07:41
by Bertieone

I shall now refrain from hitting my laptop with a branch.
Re: Deciphering writing in a census
Posted: 13 May 2020 08:21
by MaryA
Bertieone wrote: ↑13 May 2020 07:41

I shall now refrain from hitting my laptop with a branch.

Not your fault. One of my biggest suggestions to those requesting help from a census is to quote to us exactly what the transcription says so that we can find it, some give the correct spelling of a name when it's been so messed up that it's no wonder we pull our hair out, but this case was a little different.
Re: Deciphering writing in a census
Posted: 13 May 2020 08:46
by retiringtype
From the
Daily Post, 5 July 1867:

Re: Deciphering writing in a census
Posted: 13 May 2020 09:02
by retiringtype
It must be Wolfe Street. Running north to south in the centre of this 1891 map view:
https://maps.nls.uk/view/126523955#zoom ... &layers=BT
It was in broadly the same area as today's Wolfe Street but much longer and 90 degrees different in direction.
Re: Deciphering writing in a census
Posted: 13 May 2020 09:57
by Stewpot1944
Many thanks for all the comments and apologies for the 1861/1871 typo. Particular thanks for confirmation that it is Wolfe Street and the details about my great great grandmothers nefarious activities

That was a surprise to say the least.
A quick follow up = where do I find newspaper records? Are these something I need to subscribe to or are they freely available?
Re: Deciphering writing in a census
Posted: 13 May 2020 10:01
by Bertieone
Re: Deciphering writing in a census
Posted: 13 May 2020 10:12
by retiringtype
The most comprehensive UK newspaper database is
https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/
Find My Past has the same database but is not quite so easy to search.
Re: Deciphering writing in a census
Posted: 13 May 2020 10:33
by MaryA
Stewpot1944 wrote: ↑13 May 2020 09:57
A quick follow up = where do I find newspaper records? Are these something I need to subscribe to or are they freely available?
Yes some of the newspaper sites are allowing access at present, but don't you have a Lancashire Library Card?
Re: Deciphering writing in a census
Posted: 13 May 2020 10:45
by Stewpot1944
I live on the Wirral so I don't have a Lancashire library card.
Re: Deciphering writing in a census
Posted: 13 May 2020 11:08
by retiringtype
I live on the Wirral so I don't have a Lancashire library card.
I live in Surrey but I have one.
Re: Deciphering writing in a census
Posted: 13 May 2020 15:43
by MaryA
We live in Merseyside but have one. Please go to the Lancashire Library website and request one - note I mean Preston, not the Liverpool library. Then you can log into the digital archives which have newspapers available up to 1900.