British Census Records.

by Val Kennedy- Member of the Launceston Branch
and British Interest Group.

Census records present us with the most generous information ever procured from official documentation. Once the correct household has been detected, it sets out the very structure of our families and one then has the chance to journey through surrounding houses, streets or villages to see if there are any other related families.

Many of us begin our family history research with information acquired from old birth, marriage or death certificates. Should there be an address on any British certificate, the quickest, easiest and cheapest way to fill out the family picture is to obtain the nearest census year for that address.

The first offical Census was taken in 1801 and thereafter every 10 years, but prior to 1841 they were often purely numerical. It wasn't until 1841 that the recorded information gave names, addresses, ages and occupations and also stated if born in that County, or if Scottish (S), Irish (I) or Foreign (F). From 1851 onwards, the place of birth of every person is also shown. The 1881 Census for England, Scotland, Wales, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands has been indexed and is available on microfiche and CD Rom. The 1891 Census for the whole of England is also available on microfiche but is not indexed.

All of the above are available to us here in Launceston - and a visit to the Tasmanian Family History Society at Taylor Street or the Church of the Latter Day Saints at Norwood will provide you with all the information you need to discover just how and where your ancestors lived in the 19th Century.

The Family Records Centre at the Public Records Office in London holds all Census returns and will make the 1901 census available on the first working day of 2002. The good news is that this will be an on-line Internet service.

Other Articles:
Advantages of Joining a Family History Society.
A Goal For Family History Historians.
Computers and Genealogy.
Finding Relatives.
Finding your Ancestors In New Zealand.
Genealogy - The Roots and a Portion of Stem.
Lower Court Records.
Newspaper Research.
What is Genealogy?
Identifying Family Photographs.
Old Launceston Landmarks.

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