Forgive me whilst I jump around a bit here.  Stick with me and it will make sense.

First of all in 1861 in the Hamlet of Lodge Green, Gunnerside, Melbecks (and each of these names are used to fill in census forms between 1841 and 1901) we have the following data:

• William Sunter, 37, head, Gunnerside, , 1824, Grocer and Draper

• Hannah Sunter, 36, wife, Blades Yorkshire, abt 1825, Grocer’s wife

• Thomas Sunter, 16, son, Gunnerside, abt 1845, Lead miner

• James Sunter, 14, son, Gunnershide, abt 1847, Lead miner

• Joseph Sunter, 12, son, Gunnerside, abt 1849 lead miner

• William Sunter, 9, son, Gunnerside, abt 1852, scholar

• George Sunter, 7, son, Gunnerside, abt 1854, scholar

• Mally Sunter 2, daughter, Gunnerside, abt 1859, scholar

• Ann Sunter 2months, daugher, Gunnerside

This is important.  Look at the whole family and then look at the next posting…Census 1871

 Rather horrifically it also appears that at 12 years old Joseph was a lead miner!