Time for a Local Census (1801-1831) subscription service

[stanmapstone]

If it was feasable I would have expected existing Family History Societies to have already transcribed these censuses.
Stan

Quite a few have been transcribed. I have the 1776 Wetherby census and early returns for Spofforth and Thirsk. It would be a matter of combining returns to create a useful index.

Then there's other local inhabitant lists, that is census returns taken before 1801.

The book "Pre-1841 Censuses & Population Listings, in the British Isles" by Colin R. Chapman, has details of those lists that exist from before 1801.

Stan

[coombs]

I know only head counts were given for the 1831 census so the surname of the head of the house should be listed. If this was in London with about 3 or 4 families in one house, would the head of every tenement be recorded or just the chief householder, ie the landlord or something if he lived there?

[stanmapstone]

There are a number of 1831 census returns that have all persons named, often with ages. The lists which survive are essentially notes, and are not official documents like the enumerators books from 1841 on.

Stan

[coombs]

Thanks for the info Stan.

I know the 1821 and 1831 Marylebone censuses are indexed. I also saw that the 1801 census for the Great Marlborough area of Westminster survives.

[Valda]

Hi

Quite a few have been transcribed. I have the 1776 Wetherby census and early returns for Spofforth and Thirsk. It would be a matter of combining returns to create a useful index.

This would of course be breaking the copyright of the family history societies if these 'censuses' have been indexed/transcribed by them. Family History Societies are largely the organisations who have done this sort of work. They publish and sell the indexes/transcriptions using the money generated to finance further indexing and publishing of further records.

In the case of the early Spofforth censuses they seem to be the copyright of the Harrogate and District Family History Society

http://www.hadfhs.co.uk/publicationspage.html


You can of course transcribe and create your own indexes or instead full transciptions of the actual records themselves as FreeCen does for the censuses 1841-1891

http://www.freecen.org.uk/

FreeCen comes under the FreeUKGEN which supports such projects

'FreeUKGen isn't going to rest on it's laurels. If you have a genealogical project in mind, and want to benefit from the facilities that FreeUKGen can offer, Get in touch!'

http://freeukgen.rootsweb.com/


Regards

Valda

[Sloe Gin]

There are a number of 1831 census returns that have all persons named, often with ages. The lists which survive are essentially notes, and are not official documents

Most certainly not an official document, but an interesting survival is notes made by the outgoing curate of East Ilsley in Berkshire for the new Rector in 1831.  It amounts to a census of the village (complete with a keyed map showing all dwellings) and names over 150 people .... with comments on their characters, often derogatory!

This has recently been transcribed and edited by the Local History Society with added notes from the parish registers, and will shortly be available to buy as a booklet.  I'll post more details soon.

Samples:

“Very much given to Drink but a good workman, never at Church.”

“8 or 9 children. Hard working but not saving. Wife slovenly. Seldom at Church”

“7 children, rent paid by Parish. Sly fellow, wife been twice in gaol for pilfering”

[coombs]

Also not just the decadely censuses but other censuses for a village or town made. Terling in Essex had a census compiled in 1778.

[LizzieW]

You can of course transcribe and create your own indexes or instead full transciptions of the actual records themselves as FreeCen does for the censuses 1841-1891

http://www.freecen.org.uk/

FreeCen comes under the FreeUKGEN which supports such projects

'FreeUKGen isn't going to rest on it's laurels. If you have a genealogical project in mind, and want to benefit from the facilities that FreeUKGen can offer, Get in touch!'

http://freeukgen.rootsweb.com/

Perhaps that's where to take your idea Dr Hewitt.  I'd love to see what was on earlier census, especially in Middlesex and Lincolnshire.

[drhewitt]

Lizzie,

I think I shall probably go this route, thanks everyone for the suggestions.