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Archiver > CHESHIRE > 2002-09 > 1030917682


From: "anne.cole" <>
Subject: Re: [CHS] Census in England
Date: Sun, 1 Sep 2002 23:01:46 +0100
References: <11e.15d763ff.2aa39226@aol.com> <002001c251d3$e81d9f80$89ecff3e@MicroAge>


The first official English census was taken in 1801 but until 1841 names
were rarely given, the earlier ones just being head counts.

In 1841 the age of everyone over 15 was rounded down to the nearest five,
therefore someone aged "20" could be any age from 20 to 24. There were
exceptions however where actual ages were given. Many occupations were
abbreviated e.g. M.S or F.S. for male or female servant, J. for Journeyman,
Ag Lab for Agricultural labourer etc. A "Y" in the first "where born" column
means that that person was born in the county where the census was taken, a
"N" that he/she was born elsewhere. The second "where born" column gives "I"
for Irish, "S" for Scottish or "F" for Foreign.

There were other, earlier, local census lists - a detailed list can be found
in the Federation guide "Local Census Listings" by Jeremy Gibson & Mervyn
Medlycott. This gives details of, for instance, a census of Alderley for
1811, 1821 and 1831 where all the inhabitants were named with ages.

Anne

Duncalf(e)/Duncuff/Duncuft One Name Study (GOONS #513)
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/anne.cole

Lincolnshire FHS # A0002, FHS of Cheshire #153 and North Cheshire FHS #2259

Newman Name Society http://mpw.com.au/newman

----- Original Message -----
From: "andrea.m.cole" <>
To: <>
Sent: Sunday, September 01, 2002 5:23 PM
Subject: Re: [CHS] Census in England


> Interesting reply Judy, but for relative beginners, could you possibly
> elaborate on the '5 year rule' bit please.
>
> Andrea
> Leicestershire
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <>
> To: <>
> Sent: Sunday, September 01, 2002 4:54 PM
> Subject: Re: [CHS] Census in England
>
>
> > HI Shirley
> >
> > The first census was taken I believe in 1821 followed by one in 1831.
> > However they were purely population counts and of no use to researchers.
> >
> > In 1841 you will find a census which names everybody but only says 'were
> you
> > born in county or not'. It is useful for lists and rough ages of
> families,
> > but the first useful one for genealogists is 1851 and from then on every
> 10
> > years, You may read these up to 1901 as there is a 100 year rule on
> > privacy.
> >
> > These are the dates they were taken which is useful if you have someone
> born
> > around the census date.
> >
> > Census return dates - Population
> >
> > 1841 June 6th..................... 15,914,000
> > 1851 March 30th................ 17,928,000
> > 1861 April 7th.................... 20,066,000
> > 1871 April 2nd.................... 22,723,000
> > 1881 April 3rd.................... 25,974,000
> > 1891 April 5th..................... 28,999,725
> > 1901 March 31st
> >
> > Writethe age of every person under 15 years of age as it is stated to
you.
> > For persons aged 15 years and upwards, write the lowest of the term of 5
> > years within which the age is.
> > Thus -for persons aged 15 years and under 20 write 15;
> > 20 years and under 25 write 20;
> > 25 years and under 30 write 25;
> > 30 years and under 35 write 30;
> > 35 years and under 40 write 35;
> > 40 years and under 45 write 40;
> > 45 years and under 50 write 45;
> > 50 years and under 55 write 50;
> > 55 years and under 60 write 55;
> > 60 years and under 65 write 60;
> > 65 years and under 70 write 65;
> > 70 years and under 75 write 70;
> >
> > If no more can be ascertained respecting the age of any person than that
> the
> > person is a child or is grown up write under 20 or above20 as the case
> > may be.
> >
> > Hope this helps
> >
> > Regards
> >
> > Judy in Derbyshire
> > Researching STUBBS of Hampshire
> > ELKINGTON Suffolk, Warwicks, Oxon, Glam,
> Carmarthen
> > PARRY Bethesda and Sheffield, Yorks
> > WHITWORTH Sheffield, Yorks and Nottingham
> > WATKINSON of India and Sheffield
> > SYKES Yorkshire and Sheffield
> > JOHNSON Belton-in-Axholme, Lincs
> >
> >
> > ==== CHESHIRE Mailing List ====
> > The Family History Society of Cheshire:
> > http://www.fhsc.org.uk/
> >
> >
>
>
>
> ==== CHESHIRE Mailing List ====
> Cheshire online BMD records
> http://www.cheshirebmd.org.uk/
>

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