Universities and the 1901 Census -- COMPLETE

[indigobloke]

Hi

I have a question about the 1901 census.

My GG uncle, Godfrey Harold Alfred Wilson, was a Fellow of Clare College, Cambridge, from 1897 till 1929 but his name doesn't come up on any searches in that census. I am not certain he actually lived there but he probably wouldn't have lived very far from the university. I suppose he may have been out of the country at the time but is there another explanation?

Thanks
Peter

[stanmapstone]

The 1901 Census was held on 31st March which was Palm Sunday, so the University would be on the Easter Holiday. He was probably away possibly abroad.

Stan

[stanmapstone]

From the Statutes and Ordinances of the University of Cambridge

    * The Michaelmas Term shall begin on 1 October and shall consist of eighty days, ending on 19 December. The Lent Term shall begin on 5 January and shall consist of eighty days, ending on 25 March or in any leap year on 24 March. The Easter Term shall begin on 10 April and shall consist of seventy days ending on 18 June, provided that in any year in which full Easter Term begins on or after 22 April the Easter Term shall begin on 17 April and end on 25 June.
    * Full Term shall consist of three-fourths of the whole term reckoned from the first day of Full Term as hereinafter determined.

http://www.cam.ac.uk/univ/termdates.html


Stan

[indigobloke]

Thanks, Stan ... helps to know the calendar!
Seems like an odd time to have a Census but I guess there were good reasons.
Peter

[stanmapstone]

Seems like an odd time to have a Census but I guess there were good reasons.
Peter

The months of March and April were generally chosen because this was considered to be the cross-over point between maximum daylight and minimal residential mobility. Any earlier in the year and there would not have been enough daylight for the enumerator to carry out his rounds; any later in the year and many people would have been absent from their homes for various reasons, including harvesting and holidaying.

Stan