This article was originally published in the April 2002 edition of Soul Search, the journal of The Sole Society.

The comments concerning Victorian "S" & "L" confusion are exemplified in the 1881 census in respect of one of our correspondents Essex Sewell families.

Specifically, Ken Hermon could not find his ancestor, Decimus Sewell, [1861 - 1902] in the census, even though he & I have a photograph of his gravestone in Halstead. However, the problem was eventually solved by Ken when looking at RG11, piece 1801, folio 25, page 11, finds a whole family of Lewels, including Decimus, living in Halstead. There are many other Lewells listed in the 1881 census for Essex; I wonder if any more are really Sewells.

Confusion in the 1881 census also exists between "T" & "F". Another branch of my family has the name Touchard. A distant relative of mine could not find her direct Touchard ancestors in the Bethnal Green area until she eventually found them under Fouchard.