Genealogy Chat

The books and articles on the subject say that these were merely numerical exercises but add rather darkly that in some cases names have survived. As is happens I came across an index of names for several Surrey censuses (Clapham and Croydon) at the Society of Genealogists library today. In fact one of them was even better, an actual transcription with names, ages and occupations. I would like to know how one can gain access to them. Are there copies/microfilms at the FRC or the TNA? In addition where can one find the full list? Clearly they are gold dust if they are where your people were living then

Peter I always understood that these censuses were merely head counts, and even when names etc are listed, it is only the head of the household? I have seen some Church censuses which give lots of detail, but not National Censuses. OC

OC, It is true that all the names I have noted are male, and are therefore probably heads of household, but the 1811 Croydon does give occupations (gardener, carpenter) and approximate addresses. All these censuses were in official years (1801,1811 etc) so I assumed they were national but I may be wrong. Even so, there is some useful stuff here. Peter

Peter According to TNA, none of these pre 1841 censuses have survived, as they were destroyed once the information had been extracted. However, one or two isolated transcriptions may have survived, but the TNA does not list them and I think it is a question of just being lucky with google, as to which ones have survived. OC

OC, Thanks for the research and the suggestion. I will also try the SOG since they hold some of the indexes/transcriptions. Peter

Peter I will be VERY interested should you ever come across any for Cheshire...I would give a gold clock for some sight of my 3 x GGF, during his 48 year absence from all written records! OC

OC, That is a big hole in the record. However, I did google { '1811 census' Cheshire } and clearly some censuses survive for some villages there (and also for West Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Norfolk) so there is a very outside chance you may be lucky. Peter

Although they were supposed to be just head counts it seems some of the enumerators, often local vicars or schoolmasters, were budding genealogists (or just plain nosey) and kept lists of names, occupations etc. Where they have survived they are usually to be found in County Records Offices, but of course usually only cover a parish or two. I wonder how many more such lists are tucked away in attics etc with the owners not knowing what they have?

I have seen a photocopy of the original enumerator's book of the 1831 census for Old Stratford at the Shakespeare Centre Records Office. The head of each household is listed, together with their occupation. The total number of males and females for each household is recorded, with the number of adults (aged over 20) in a separate column. There is also another category of retired, diseased or disabled. With these clues I was able to assemble the likely household of my ancestors ten years before the 1841 census.

There is an example online of a transcribed 1831 census.......... COMBE MARTIN 1831 CENSUS NDRO B181 add/PO 28 Reg

Reggie Yes, that is what I had thought. The earlier ones are not even divided into households as far as I can see. Different officials were in charge of collecting different information - one person went round counting the number of dwellings, another the number of farmers etc, and so on. Unfortunately, even if my missing man was listed by name, I would be no further forward, because I do not know who his first wife was, nor how many children they had, and that is what I am trying to find out. OC