William Keams in the 1841 St Blazey, Cornwall Census
Research note by Wesley Johnston, last updated 13 Jun 2013
There are several William Keams of somewhat similar ages and locations in the 1841 census of Cornwall. This note examines each one and seeks to determine their origins. It must be kept in mind that in the 1841 census, ages recorded for adults and often for anyone older than 10 were rounded to the nearest 5 years and were not exact ages. (Illiteracy at that time meant that many people really did not know their own age.)
William Keam, age 50, Shoemaker in Saint Blazey Village
Ancestry shows multiple Keam family members on the same page of St Blazey Village residents:
search.ancestry.com/Browse/BookView.aspx?dbid=8978&iid=CONHO107_146_146-0228
Lines 19-23 (not numbered) show the residents of the home, all of them born in Cornwall, with approximate birth years in square brackets (keeping the 1841 age rounding in mind):
- William Keam, age 50, shoemaker [1791]
- William Keam, age 15, shoemaker [1826]
- Benedic Edwards, age 60, agricultural labourer [1781]
- Mary Edwards, age 60 [1781]
- Catherine Edwards, age 30 [1711]
Benedict Edwards married Mary Keam 21 Sep 1799 at Luxulyan (familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-11664-14849-86).
Mary Keam and the older William Keam above were siblings, both children of Robert and Mary (Phillips) Keam. Both were baptized at Luxulyan:
-Mary, baptized 28 Dec 1777: familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-11664-9153-99
-William, baptized 29 Jan 1786: familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-11664-14388-90
The 15-year-old William Keam: son of Humphry Keam
The 15-year-old (rounded) William Keam is a puzzle at this time. If the rounding was done correctly, his age would have been 13-17, which would put his birth from 1823 to 1828.
The Cornwall Family History Society research database has only one William Keam baptism in that range. That is the 4 Jan 1826 baptism at St Blazey of the son of Matthew and Elizabeth (Stephens) Keam. However, this is almost certainly the 3-year-old child buried 2 Aug 1828, and the family then had another son in 1830 who they named William Henry -- who appears with his parents in the 1841 census of St Blazey (search.ancestry.com/Browse/BookView.aspx?dbid=8978&iid=CONHO107_146_146-0230).
So neither of Matthew's sons could be the 15-year-old William, unless he was counted twice in the census and is the 1830 son of Matthew.
The next best candidate is the 17 Nov 1822 William Keam bpatized at St Blazey, son of Humphry and Mary (Clemo) Keam. If the rounding was not precise, this 19 year old William may be the one who was rounded to 15 in the 1841 census. And this does seem to be the right one. He does not appear with his family in the 1841 census of Biscovey Downs in St Blazey parish (search.ancestry.com/Browse/BookView.aspx?dbid=8978&iid=CONHO107_146_146-0219). And in the 1881 census, he is a boot and shoemaker (search.ancestry.com/Browse/BookView.aspx?dbid=7572&iid=CONRG11_2299_2303-0279).
Other Relatives on the Census Page
The census page has more relatives. Mary and William's brother Nicholas Keam's household is on lines 5-11.
William Keam, age 70, Agricultural Labourer at East Crinnis Moor
Ancestry shows this William's family at:
search.ancestry.com/Browse/BookView.aspx?dbid=8978&iid=CONHO107_146_146-0154
Lines 3-6 (not numbered) show the residents of the home, all of them born in Cornwall, with approximate birth years in square brackets (keeping the 1841 age rounding in mind):
- William Keam, age 70, agricultural labourer [1771]
- Blanch Keam, age 60 [1781]
- Susan Keam, age 25, F[emale?] Servant [1816]
This was the William Keam who first married Frances Pollard, mother of Susanna/Susan. He then married Blanch Thomas, mother of his son William Keam (1816-1822).
According to the CFHS daatabes, there was only one William Keam baptized in Cornwall in the 1770's: 10 Jun 1770 at Luxulyan, son of Humphrey and Jane (Pascoe) Keam. There were two in 1768 at Luxulyan, both to William and Sarah (Woolcock) Keam: 16 Apr and 26 Dec. There was also a William Keam baptized at St. Mewan 10 Apr 1768, son of Thomas and Grace (Colmer) Keam.
Until I find conflicting evidence, I am carrying this William Keam as the son of Humphrey and Jane (Pasoce) Keam.
Later records of Each
William (1786), the shoemaker, apparently never married. He appears in the 1851 and 1861 censuses living with his nephew Benedict Edwards. The 4 May 1866 William buried at St Blazey at age 89 must be him, since the other William (1770) had already died.
The older William (1770), the agricultural labourer, was buried 12 Nov 1843. His wife Blanch followed him in 1844.