Referencing

[Mimble]

Sorry to be dim, but where are the Piece, folio and page numbers on the census page? I have seen this somewhere but cannot find it again.

[Little Nell]

Hi Mimble,

At either the right-hand side of the page or underneath it is the census reference number (eg: HO107 or RG11) and the piece number (up to four numbers e.g. 2431).  So for 1861 it might read RG9/1732

The folio number appears in the top right hand corner on every ALTERNATE page - it is stamped on.  They appear next in the full reference sequence.

The page number is printed on to every page of the enumerator's book at the top - in the centre in 1841 and 1851, in the outside corner for 1861 onwards.  This is the last but one element in the reference.

Put all these elements together and coupled with the schedule number for the household, you get a unique census reference which will only apply to one person/family.

RG9/635/6 page 8 schedule 61 refers to the 1861 census entry for John Green and his family of wife and two daughters living in Portsea at 46 Kingston Road.

Does that help?

Nell

[Mimble]

Thank you very much
Mary