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From: "Louise Croyden" <>
Subject: Re: 1841 Census
Date: Sun, 13 Aug 2000 09:25:27 -0400
References: <001201c004fa$4619b980$29d2223f@Gordon>


Hi Everyone,

Don't discount the 1841 census too readily. I have found it very useful in
my own research, although, Anne is correct about some of its drawbacks. You
are not going to get an exact place of birth, or relationship to head of
household, etc., spelled out for you but you can learn a great deal about
the families from the references. Actually, exact places of birth are not
always correct so the other census years can be problematic as well, sending
one off on tangents.

In the column "Born in this County?", they use "Yes", "No" and if it is No,
they do indicate if the place of birth was Ireland, Scotland or elsewhere.

The 1841 census does give occupations which can be very useful and Servants
will be designated as F.S. or M.S. for Female Servant and Male Servant so
you shouldn't get them mixed up with the family members.

Most I have looked at have not been too difficult to read -- no more than
some of the other years. It is the luck of the game.

I have solved several problems using the 1841 census and have located
several g-g-g- or g-g-grandparents, with or without their spouse, which has
helped me to narrow down death years for some of them; have been able to
link people to the correct parents and have solved a couple of 'where were
they living?'; 'who were they with?' and second marriage problems.

I do take down all references to the family name I'm researching in the area
to use with my later research.

It is important to keep and open mind when using the 1841 census, as with
any other, and you may find some valuable information you would otherwise
have missed if you ignored it.

Regards.

Louise Croyden
Burlington, Ontario, Canada


----- Original Message -----
From: "Anne Major" <>
To: <>
Sent: Sunday, August 13, 2000 3:44 AM
Subject: Re: 1841 Census


> Hi Judy,
> The first national census in the UK was the 1841, and the least helpful in
> some ways!
<snip>

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