Hi David Its not that unusual and happens on occasion I have found its more often found with mariners wives who enter them although they are at sea but have found examples on most census years After years of searching for my g.g.grandfather, George ANDERSON in 1841, I finally found him on his own in London using an address on a letter found at the National Archives dated 1843, I then found him with his family in Worthing enumerated as HENDERSON, theres no doubt its the same person due to the other information known about the family I found one definition of dispensary as follows :- A public institution that dispenses medicines or medical aid. Best wishes Nivard Ovington, in Cornwall (UK) >I came across a James TOMLINSON who appears on the 1881 census twice at two > separate addresses! > > He married a Mary Sophia LORD, who was born in Sunderland abt. 1839, but > on > the 1881 census, James appears as a 'patient' at 2 Thurnham St Dispensary, > Lancaster, while on the same census he appears to be residing at an > address > in Main Street, Skerton, Lancashire. > > 1) Is this unusual to have an individual appear to be at two different > locations on the same census (it's definately the same person)? > > 2) What is a 'dispensary'... is it another name for a hospital? > > Kind regards... David Allan.