Pile Family History Folkingham

1881 Census mystery
The presence of Edmond Pile at Folkingham introduces a genealogical mystery.
The transcript of the 1881 census made by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints appears to list two Edward Piles, one living at Folkingham and one in Stamford, both born within a year of each other, one born in Grantham the other Spittlegate and, coincidentally, both gardeners.

A check of the original census returns showed a common error in the Mormon's version; the Folkingham Pile was Edmund (sic) and the Stamford Pile was Edward.
As they were both born at Grantham and, as far as was known, there was only one family of Piles in Grantham at the time it might be assumed that they were brothers, but who was Edward and what happened to him?

To further complicate things, L. R. Cryer, in his book A History of Folkingham with Laughton and Stow Green, refers to Mr Edward Pile living at Orchard House opposite The Elms in Folkingham in (and after) 1920. Many records actually refer to Ed. Pile and it is easy to imagine how Cryer may have assumed this to be Edward.

The Family Records Centre has in its indexes the birth of Edmond Pile on 30 December 1859 at Inner street, Spittlegate to David and Mary Pile but has no record of an Edward Pile who would have been born in or around 1858. There is also no record in any census earlier than 1881 of an Edward, even as a child. It seems likely therefore, that there is no Edward Pile.

There is, however, the problem of the 1881 census apparently reporting two people. Edward Pile was a visitor at 62 High Street, Stamford, the household of William Barton who was the publisher of the local newspaper the Lincoln Rutland and Stamford Mercury. Edward's occupation is recorded as gardener, it is possible that, as the Pile family operated a market gardening business in Folkingham, William Barton could have been a client and "Edward" there on business.

His inclusion in the census implies that he was staying at the Barton residence on the 3 April 1881 when the census was taken. Barton may have been confused over his name (remember "Edwin" in David's Will), he may also have known approximately how old he was and where he was born; he would have entered him on his own census return together with his family, domestic staff and two visitors, (the other being George Chambers a miller also from Folkingham!)

Back in Folkingham Mary Pile would have been responsible for filling in her census return as head of the family. This was the first return she would have completed as her late husband would have done the previous two and she may not have been fully aware of the requirements. She may have assumed that, as Edmond normally lived at the family home, he should be included on her census. She of course got the name, age, place of birth and occupation correct.

The obvious conclusion of this is that David and Mary Pile had a son Edmond, but not one called Edward. The fact that there are apparently both in 1881 is a error of the census system.

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		Copyright © 2005 Andrew Pile