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Archiver > DEVON > 2001-08 > 0998442672


From: "Hugh Wallis" <>
Subject: RE: Devon / Cornwall Census on CDROM
Date: Tue, 21 Aug 2001 21:11:12 -0400
In-Reply-To: <002101c12aa2$24ed8920$05191f3f@planetb>


In addition to which (and this is another educated guess) once computer
databases became feasible for 'the masses' in the 1980s the latest census
available would have been the 1881. 1851 is approx one generation earlier
whereas 1841 is more than a usual generation, so doing 1851 next gives you
the best 'coverage' genealogically speaking. Just a theory - go ahead and
shoot it out of the water someone....

Cheers

Hugh Wallis

-----Original Message-----
From: Deborah O'Brien [mailto:]
Sent: August 21, 2001 20:34
To:
Subject: Re: Devon / Cornwall Census on CDROM


The most obvious reason - and this is my opinion, not based on fact, is that
the 1841 had somewhat limited information. Ages were rounded down to the
nearest 5 years (for those over 15); place of birth was only given as 'In
county' or not; plus, the instructions to enumerators were to record
everything in PENCIL!!!! which, (and those who have examined films of
surviving 1841 censuses will confirm,) means that many districts are
partially or totally illegible.

<snip>

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