Census research would have been expected to be a matter of routine. Daniel was a Saddler based in Hall Street in Long Melford, Suffolk. The family had been there for many years, some holding public office, others shopkeepers in the small Suffolk town.
In 1841 Daniel is first found as 2 year old child, (born 1839) living with his parents and born in Sudbury, Melford. Then there is nothing until 1881 where Daniel, born 1839, is shown as a Saddler and Harness Maker, employing 1 man. His wife is Sarah Ann, a dressmaker also born in 1839 and both are at the Saddlers Shop, East Hall Street, Long Melford.
I found a picture taken in 1885, showing Daniel in his regalia as a member of the Melford Buffaloes.
Thanks to Suffolk Record Office for this.
In the 1891 census, Daniel and his wife, now just shown as Ann, but both same ages plus 10 years and still living at same address described as "Hall Street East". This probably means the East side of Hall Street as the road runs North - South. This contention is supported by the "Old Ordnance Survey Map" of Long Melford in 1902.
In 1901 all remains the same save with the addition of 10 more years to their ages and Sarah has her first name back again.
So what happened to Daniel in 1851, 1861 and 1871? Where was he, visiting relatives, at boarding school, later on perhaps exploring the world or serving in the forces, in the Navy to see the world?
Well; a wild card search in the 1851 census finds a Dannial Spilling. With a supporting transcription as follows: SPILLING, Dannial Son M(ale) 13(years), (born) 1838 in Melford, Suffolk, a Scholar. His father is the Saddler & Harness maker at Hall Street. The transcription is correct - that is how the first name is spelt by the enumerator on the form.
To 1861; this time the same wildcard search - D* Spilling in Suffolk finds nothing. Extending the wild card search to all UK finds nothing. So try an address search, Hall Street, Long Melford and what turns up at 76 Hall Street?
Here we find:-
SPILLISEY, Charles C, Head, Widower, M, 61, 1800, Woodbridge, Suffolk.
SPILLISEY, Daniel, Son, Unmarried, M, 22, 1839, Melford Suffolk.
The rest of the family are all there as well, complete with their new surname. Look at the original image and there may well have been a transcription error, but think of how the name Spilling might sound if spoken in a thick Suffolk accent. It does seem very unlikely that the family forgot their surname after all these years! Who would have thought Spilling could be mutated to Spillisey - certainly not the computer variation search program.
Finally we go to the last missing year;1871. And here the search with first name variation "on" finds Dannel C Spilling with wife Sarah M. Otherwise all details are as expected. Now "Dannel" is an accurate transcription of the original census record. Again think of how Daniel might have sounded to an enumerator from distant parts travelling to Long Melford as part of his recoding duties The "M" is not. The "M" as I see it, is a mis-transcription of the enumerators "ditto" sign and has been accepted as such and amended.
So another exotic speculation is dashed. Did Daniel go away to make his fortune on the high seas? Did he travel the world as an explorer, visiting strange lands and making exciting discoveries of new plants and animals? No - he just stayed put, got on with his business and had no idea of the mystery that was being created in his name!
