Meaning of missing district numbers? COMPLETED THANKS!

[Josephine]

Hi!

I'm looking at the district information for Gillingham, Kent in the 1841 census.

The districts are listed as follows:  2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, Brompton Barracks, Gunners Barracks and Ordnance Hospital.

What happened to districts 1 and 8?

Does this mean they are missing?

Thank you!

Regards,
Josephine

[stanmapstone]

It does not mean they are missing. The enumerators' districts were sub-divisions of the registrars' sub-districts. These were in turn parts of the superintendent registrars' districts set up for the civil registration of births marriages and deaths. These enumeration districts were originally established in 1841, and descriptions of them were retained by registrars in their plans of division. The enumeration districts were supposed to be of a standard size. Where there were great changes in population registrars were advised to amalgamate or sub-divided the enumeration districts in order to prevent any becoming too large or too small.
Gillingham is a sub-district of Medway Registration District. and the numbering of the districts does vary from census to census.
According to Ancestry in 1851 the enumerators' districts are referenced 1b, 2a to 2l and 2m/4. In 1861 they were numbered 1 to 14 with a 2b and 2d.
In 1871 there were 23 districts 1 to 22 with no number 13 and a 46 and 47. In 1881 there were also 23 districts numbered 2 to 21, and 46 and 47 with an 8a and 8b. I have not included the districts that have a description and no number.


Stan

[Josephine]

Stan,

Thank you for your reply.  I have a better understanding of it now, thanks to you!

Regards,
Josephine