Hi Anne, It sounds possible. I would have thought that a boy sent away to cathedral school would therefore be highly educated by the standards of the day, and so would end up as a cleric, clerk or schoolmaster? I'll check the 1861 when I get home and see what James Brindle's occupation was in 1861. If he's a mill hand then I think that mitigates against this being the same person? Cheers, Pete -----Original Message----- From: pneanne [mailto:pne.anne@ntlworld.com] Sent: 30 May 2006 14:24 To: ENG-LAN-BOLTON-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [ENG-LAN-BOLTON] JAMES BRINDLE 1851 CENSUS Hi Pete, I have gone through the 1851 Census Index looking at all the James Brindles born about 1840 in Bolton and I couldn't see any who were not the 'son' of the household. I spotted a James Bindle (that is how it was transcribed). When I looked at the census he was James Brindle, 11 Scholar at Manchester Collegiate Cathedral, born Bolton. I wonder if this is the son of George Brindle and Mary, who is not at home on the 1851 Census?