Don't be deceived - Research isn't always easy!

[Goorikidz]

Haven't tried the BBC FH message board.  I didn't know about it.
For whoever is looking for a census in UK before 1841 - well there isn't one you have to go to parish resisters before that.

At least in Australia we have an 1828 census which is great as country not settled very far outside Botany Bay by then.

Good Luck

Janette

[Uncle Reff]

For whoever is looking for a census in UK before 1841 - well there isn't one you have to go to parish resisters before that.

Not totally true I am afraid, there exist a number of earlier censuses than the 1841 although they are obviously not as useful to the family historian.

For example, i have used the 1821 & 1831 censuses that have survived for Marylebone and the 1831 for Hammersmith. They quote each property with the surnames & occupations of the head of the household and the numbers of others at that address.

I have also used the 1829 Poll of the 'hamlet' of Hammersmith.

There is a booklet called 'Pre-1841 Census & Population Listings in the British Isle' by Colin Chapman,  listing all the surveys in the UK from the middle ages.

http://www.lochinpublishing.org.uk/Pre%201841.htm

John

[meles]

What you learn here! Did not know that there were earlier censuses, so I Googled
"Pre-1841 Census" and found an 1801 Census in Yarmouth, and bingo! a new relation!

Thanks, John!

meles

[kerryb]

Well done Meles!    I've got some 1821 and 1831 for a village in Sussex and that too allowed me to see some of relations a bit earlier!

Kerry

[Gadget]

I've got some of the early ones for parts of London (found OHs ancestors on it)  and, a great prize, one of 1792 for Balmaclellan in Scotland.

Gadget

[BettyofKent]

This looks useful:

Census Schedules & Listings 1801-1831
An introduction & guide.

http://www.essex.ac.uk/history/Staff_Research/working-papers/MW-RW-BM.pdf

It lists what was taken & where, & where copies can be found, for many counties.

Betty

[puterman]

Wow, fantastic reading! I only joined yesterday but this topic has taught me loads, not least of which is that my eleven years of family research makes me a mere beginner lol! I certainly never knew there were earlier censuses. Thanks everyone.

[meles]

Actually - not a new relation.

Why should I think William Brock carpenter b. 1780 Yarmouth was anything to do with William Brock journeyman carpenter b. c 1780 Yarmouth? 

It's like one of those jigsaw puzzles where the picture is baked beans. Damn pieces can go anywhere...!

Rant over. Feel better now. 

meles

[peteseaton]

Over on the BBC Family History message board, we get a number of newbies each time a new series of WDYTYA starts.  Some stay the distance, but most seem to disappear when they realise how much work is involved.

I realise that the programmes can't show every minute of every search, but the way it's done is very misleading, they should make it clear just how time-consuming & frustrating it can sometimes be when you don't have a tame expert on hand!

Betty

well, i logged in and said that ive traced my tree back to 1540 in scotland.

then some smart arse piped up and accused me of getting it all off the internet and thought he was giving me advice, err been there, done that


anyway, not it isn't that easy, i began with one name, and very little info.

the best advice is to take your time, and keep on checking and cross-referencing, and go to the churches and look at their records.