1901 census

[KN]

Dear Rootschatters

I'm getting myself thoroughly confused trying to use the 1901 census using the Library & Archives of Canada website.  I don't know who I'm looking for, which certainly doesn't make it any easier!

I would really like to know who is listed in Blackfalds, Alberta at the time of the census, but can't figure out how to find it in the census without a name to search with.  It's tricky to know which district/sub-district the place is in!

I was kindly guided to the right place in the 1906 census by an obliging Rootschatter - could someone help me with 1901 please?


KN

[eileenwilson]

I would start with Red Deer or Lacombe as Blackfalds lies between the two.  You may find it easier to search here:

www.automatedgenealogy.com

It is an index created by volunteers with links to the images at Library & Archives Canada.

[sami]

Just to add to this - Blackfalds was only incorporated as a village in 1904 and Alberta only became a province in 1905. So your best starting point might be Lacombe.

http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/census/1901/Pages/results.aspx?k=Lacombe

Still, this link leads to about 2,800 results. A lot to look through, it would help if you could narrow it down somehow.

sami

[KN]

Dear Eileen and Sami

thank you very much for your very helpful responses.  Automatedgenealogy.com is wonderful!  I think that I could download all the details and put them into a spreadsheet and sort it into possible candidates by age/sex etc. 

Another thought - I have come across the name of a school district - Blindman - do you happen to know if this district included the area of Blackfalds?

many thanks

KN

[DonM]

Yes it was named after the Blind Valley which is Blackfalds.  These districts were quite fluid so they merged with others and/or disappeared all together.  There are historic maps you can find online.

Don

[sami]

The reference to Blindman helps to narrow it down. If you search the 1901 Census and enter the word Blindman in the Keyword box you will get 490 results. Have you any other clues that may help in your search?

http://www.rootschat.com/links/01lvg/

sami

[KN]

Hello again Sami, Eileen and Don

Yes, have found the 1901 for Blindman.  I have copied and pasted all the lines from each page into a spreadsheet and done some sorting.

I think that I'm looking for a young, single man.  So have narrowed it down a bit.

I am next going to compare those names with some Boer War records - I'm wondering if my immigrant is meeting up with someone in Blackfalds/Blindman that he might have met during service in South Africa. 

Bit of a long shot but you never know!  Will report back!

KN

[eileenwilson]

The service records of Canadians who served in the Boer War are also available on the Library & Archives Canada site:

https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/south-african-war-1899-1902/Pages/search.aspx

[sami]

........Bit of a long shot but you never know!  Will report back!

KN

Please do       I'll be interested to hear if you have had some luck.

sami