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two place names mysteries

In the 1901 Scotland Census, a relative claims to have been born in "Rothway, Berfa"

Now, this could be Rossway... but the only Berfa I found is a small village in Germany. In 1871 she claimed to be born in Govan, Lanark.

I also have an entry in the 1871 Scotland Census with a birthplace shown as Jennetts, Renfrewshire, but I cannot find a town with that name. Any ideas?

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Permalink Reply by Mina Patricia Grant on October 7, 2009 at 9:31pm

Try Rothiemay, Banffshire. Not all census takers could spell!
Pat, in Michigan

Permalink Reply by Kirsty F Wilkinson on October 8, 2009 at 4:12pm

Are you using the Scottish Census transcripts available on the Ancestry website? If so, I would advise you to look at a copy of the original census page as some of the transcription of Scottish censuses on Ancestry is pretty awful, even of common names, places and occupations.

I would think a good possibility for the first place you mention is Rothesay, Bute.

I am not sure of the second place but often birthplaces on censuses are given in the form 'Parish, County'. There is a list of the parishes in Renfrewshire given at http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/sct/RFW/ and if you look at the original image you may be able to identify the placename as one of these.

two place names mysteries

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