I have a John Rutherford in the 1871 census for Scotland staying with his children (Peter and Jane) at his brother's place in Coldstream and John is marked as a widower (his wife's name was Mabel Renwick).

Now there is a John Rutherford also (if I have this right as it is too much of a coincidence otherwise) marked for 1871 census in Berwick-upon-Tweed staying at his father-in-laws place, a John Renwick, and with his 2 kids Peter and Jane. The names all match, the dates of birth as well as the places they were born and also the occupation for John Rutherford. However now John is marked as being married.

Would you say both these entries have the same John and kids in them? How can John be marked as a widower on one census and married on another- I thought the censuses were carried out all on the one date in 1871? Mabel died in the first quarter of 1871 but could she have died just before the census and John has been recorded twice and then by accident written as married in one and widowed in another?

Hope some fresh thinking can shed some light on this please as I am a bit stuck.

Thank you in advance for any help or thoughts