Worcestershire Strays

Transcribed by Maureen Surman © 2000

This page lists those recorded on the census at Worcester Wharf, Birmingham in 1841 as Boatmen, whether born in the county or otherwise, and for 1851-1891 those born in Worcestershire, or for whom birthplaces is unknown. The 1841 and 1851 census does not list Boats by name, so we have included all those for whom an occupation was given as 'Boatman'. Also included are the names of persons who did not know their place of birth or who were absent. Where one member of a family was born in Worcestershire or one member was a Boatman, the whole family is listed.

1841 Census (Fiche 1147 2+)
(Surname, Christian, Age, Occupation, Born in County Y/N)
Wharf Street
BISHOP,William, Aged 25, Boatman,Brn: No
BISHOP, Sarah, Aged 25, Brn: Yes
BISHOP, William, Aged 2, Brn: Yes
BISHOP, Sarah, Aged 3mths, Brn: Yes
GETHING, Lydia, Aged 46, wife of Boatman, Brn: Yes
GETHING, James, Aged 7, Brn: No
HARTLEBURY, Thomas, Aged 20, Boatman, Brn: No
HARTLEBURY, Ann, Aged 20, Brn: No
HARTLEBURY, Sarah, Aged 1mth, Brn: Yes
CLAY, George, Aged 20, Boatman, Brn: No
CLAY, Elizabeth, Aged 20, Brn: No
CLAY, Georgina, Aged 7 mths, Brn: Yes

1851 Census (HO107/2052 Reel 11)
Notes as per 1841 - area covered Worcester Wharf, Bridge Street, Wharf Street.
Worcester Wharf
No. 148
WOLFINDALES?, James, Aged 39, Boatman, Brn: Tardebigg, Worcs
WOLFINDALES, Delia, wife, Aged 44, Brn: Birmingham, Warks
Bridge Street
No. 3
BISHOP, Sarah, Mar., Aged 30, B'man's wife, Brn: Worcester, Worcs
WALL,William, visitor, Aged 5, Brn: Worcester, Worcs
Wharf Street
No. 49
WILLIAMS, Samuel, lodger, Aged 24, Unm., Boatman, Brn: -
No. 175
BEARD, Edward, Lodger, Unm., Aged 26, Boatman, Brn: Stourport, Worcs

1861 Census (Reel 13) Boats lying at Worcester Wharf
(Surname, Christian, Status, Age, Occupation, Place of Birth)
The Mary of Birmingham 25 tons canal boat - timber
DUNN, James, Mar., Aged 34, Master, Brn: Gloucester, Glocs.
HINNETT, Thomas, Unm., Aged 23, Mate, Brn: Worcester, Worcs.
The Ann of Worcestershire 25 tons canalboat - timber
SEYMOUR, John, Mar., Aged 30, Master, Brn: Worcester, Worcs.
SEYMOUR, Susan, Mar., Aged 25, wife, Brn: Worcester, Worcs.
WEAVER, Elizabeth, Aged 13, Servant, Brn: Worcester, Worcs.
The Anne of Eckington 30 tons canal boat - general carrying
BARTLETT, John, Mar., Aged 44, Master, Brn: Eckington, Worcs.
ROBERTS, Robert, Unm., Aged 19, Mate, Brn: Eckington, Worcs.
The Prince of Wales, Glos. 30 tons canal boat - general carrier
BROOKS, John, Unm., Aged 55, Mate, Brn: Stourport, Worcs
The Ellen of Twining 30 tons, canal boat - general carrier
WOOD, William, Mar., Aged 25, Mate, Brn: unknown
The Ann of Worcestershire 30 tons canal boat - general carrier
WEAVER, John, above 20, Master, Brn. Not known
SMITH, Henry, Unm., Aged 16, Mate, Brn: Worcester, Worcs.
LEE, William, Unm.,under 20, Mate , Brn: Worcester, Worcs.
The Rover of Birmingham 30 tons - canal boat - general carrier
DOVEY, William, Unm., Aged 20, Master, Brn: not known
The Eliza of Chafford 30 tons canal boat - timber
DEAN, William, over 20, Master, Brn: Absent when visited
DEAN, ? ,under 20, Mate, Brn: Absent when visited
The Mary Ann of Worcestershire 30 ton canal boat - general carrier
WILLIAMS, James, Unm., Aged 19, Master, Brn: Worcester, Worcs
PRICE, William, Mar., Aged 30, Mate, Brn: Worcester, Worcs
The Ocean Queen of Upton on Severn 30 ton canal boat, general carrier
ELT, Benjamin, Mar., Aged 49, Master, Brn: Upton on Severn, Worcs
ELT, Henry, Aged 15, Mate, Brn: Upton on Severn, Worcs
The Elizabeth of Worcestershire 30 ton canal boat, general carrier
ANDREWS, Charles, Mar., Aged 27, Master, Brn: Reditch, Worcs
ANDREWS, Mary, Mar., Aged 23, wife, Brn: Worcester, Worcs
ANDREWS, Charle, son, Aged 1, Brn: Worcester, Worcs
PHILLIPS, Samuel, Unm., Aged 18, Mate, Brn: Worcester, Worcs
The Gabriel of Upton on Severn 30 ton canal boat, general carrier
POWELL, James, Mar., Aged 52, Master, Brn: Upton on 7, Worcs
POWELL, Mary, Mar., Aged 50, wife, Brn: Upton on 7, Worcs
POWELL, Edward, son, Aged 12, Brn: Upton on 7, Worcs
POWELL, Sarah, dau., Aged 11, Brn: Upton on 7, Worcs
The Sarah of Gloucestershire
HOOPER, Charles, Aged 25, Absent
+ a boy, Aged 10 Absent
The Selina of Oldbury Canal boat
BUCKINGHAM,William , Aged 30, Master, Brn: not known
CHATWIN, George, Unm., Aged 20, Mate, Brn: not known
The Clara of Worcestershire
COLLIS, George, Mar., Aged 21, Master, Brn: Worcester, Worcs.
COLLIS, Mary Ann, Mar., Aged 21, wife, Brn: Worcester, Worcs
COLLIS, Clara, dau., Aged 3, Brn: Worcester, Worcs
HEMMING, George, Aged 11, Assistant, Brn: Worcester, Worcs
The Anne of Severn Stoke
HEMMING, Thomas, Unm., Aged 27, Master, Brn: Worcester, Worcs
HEMMING, Joseph, Unm ., Aged 36, Mate, Brn: Worcester, Worcs
The Fannie of Worcestershire
DAVIES, Benjamin, Mar., Aged 61, Master, Brn: Stroud, Glocs.
DAVIES, Mary, Mar., Aged 58, wife , Brn: Pike, Worcs.
The Thomas of Worcestershire
2male + 1f No details
The Mary of Worcestershire
2male +1f No details

1871 Census (Reel 11 RG10/3100) Boats lying at Worcester Wharf
No. 337
COLLINS, Samuel, Mar., Aged 27, Master, Brn. Droitwich
COLLINS, Mary Ann, Mar., Aged 22, wife, Brn. Glos.
COLLINS, Eliza, dau., Aged 5, Brn. Preston Brookk, Lancs
COLLINS, Thomas, son, Aged 2, Brn. Potteries
COLLINS, Ellen, dau., Aged 1, Brn. Tarbick, Worcs
No. 339
SIMMONS, John, Mar., Aged 43, Boatmaster, Brn. Glos
SIMMONS, Elizabeth, Mar., Aged 45, Brn. Stoke Works, Worcs
SIMMONS, John, son, Aged 7, Brn. Stoke Works, Worcs
No. 340
BIDDLE, Richard, Mar., Aged 54, Master, Brn. Worcs
BIDDLE, Lisa A, Mar., Aged 48, wife, Brn. Worcs
BIDDLE, Sarah, dau., Aged 15, Brn. Worcs
BIDDLE, Louisa, dau., Aged 9, Brn. Worcs
No. 341
TUBB, William, Unm., Aged 19, Master, Brn. ?
No. 343
FARMER, William, Unm., Aged 33, Master, Brn. Worcs
No. 345
BALL, Christopher, Mar., Aged 22, Master, Brn. Chaceley, Worcs.
No. 346
BIDDLE, William, Mar., Aged 30, Master, Brn. Worcs
BIDDLE, Mary Ann, Mar., Aged 22, wife, Brn. Worcs.
BIDDLE, Emelia, dau., Aged 5, Brn. Burslem, Staffs
BIDDLE, James, son, Aged 9, Brn. Worcs
BIDDLE, Lilly, dau., Aged 2, Brn. Worcs
No. 349
ELT, Benjamin, Mar., Aged 58, Master, Brn. Upton on 7, Worcs
No. 351
WILLIAMS, John, Mar., Aged 40, Master, Brn. Worcs
No. 353
SHEPHERD, William, Mar., Aged 40, Master, Brn. Upton on 7, Worcs
SHEPHERD, William, son, Aged 19, B'man, Brn. Upton on 7, Worcs
SHEPHERD, Thomas, son, Aged 12, B'man, Brn. Upton on 7, Worcs
No. 355
SPARES, Herbert, Mar., Aged 36, Master, Brn. Worc
SPARES, Mary Ann, Mar ., aged 36, wife, Brn. Worc
SPARES, Susan, dau., Aged 14, Brn. Worc
SPARES, Samuel, son, Aged 6, Brn. Worcs
SPARES, Albert, son, Aged 3, Brn. Birmingham, Wark
SPARES, John Henry, son, Aged 6 wks, Brn. Bilston, Staffs
No. 358
DAYUS, Noah, Mar., Aged 38, Master, Brn. Worcs
DAYUS, Elizabeth, Mar., Aged 34, Brn. Worcs
DAYUS, William, Aged 14, Brn. Dudley, Worcs
DAYUS, Richard, Aged 4, Brn. Birmingham, Warks.
DAYUS, Sarah Ann, Aged 6 mths, Brn. Birmingham, Warks
No. 359
SANKEY, Samuel, Mar., Aged 70, Master, Brn. Ludlow, Shropshire
SANKEY, Elizabeth, Mar ., Aged 70, Brn. Worcs
CASHMORE, Solomon, Aged 8, B'man, Brn. Kings Norton, Worcs
No. 360
BOURNE, Thomas, Mar., Aged 45, Master, Brn. Worcs
BOURNE, Catherine, Mar., Aged 40, Brn. Worcs
SELWOOD, Henry, Aged 16, B'man, Brn. Worcs
No. 361
HIGGS, Zeptimiah, Mar., Aged 29, Master, Brn. Bloomfield, Staffs
HIGGS, Isabella, Mar., Aged 28, Brn. Kidderminster, Worcs
HIGGS, Thomas, Aged 5, Brn. Newtown, Staffs
HIGGS, James, Aged 1, Brn. Ryders Green, Staffs
HUNT, William, Aged 17, B'man, Brn. Droitwich, Worcs
No. 363
HERRITAGE, William, Mar., Aged 23, Master, Brn. Stratford on Avon, WAR
HERRITAGE, Mary, Mar., Aged 22, Brn. Oldbury, Worcs
HERRITAGE, Emily, dau., Aged 7 mths, Brn. Stratford on Avon, WAR
No. 364
LONGFORD, William, Mar., Aged 27, Master, Brn. Worcs
LONGFORD, Sophia , Mar., Aged 25, Brn. Worcs
LONGFORD, Sophia , dau., Aged 10, Brn. Worcs
LONGFORD, William, son, Aged 5, Brn. Worcs
BRACE, David, Unm., Aged 20, B'man, Brn. Worcs
No. 365
LEE, Benjamin, Mar., Aged 50, Master, Brn. Worcs
LEE, Benjamin, Aged 16, B'man, Brn. Worcs
No. 366
REYNOLDS, John, Mar., Aged 50, Master, Brn. Worcs
REYNOLDS, Francis, Aged 14, B'man, Brn. Worcs
HUGHES, Arthur, Unm., Aged 18, B'man, Brn. Worcs
No. 367
HUGHES, Henry, Unm., Aged 23, Master, Brn. Worcs
MALE, John, Mar., Aged 30, B'man, Brn. Upton on 7, Worcs
JENNINGS, Joseph, Mar., Aged 32, B'man, Brn. Upton on 7, Worcs
No. 369
SMITH, Henry, Mar., Aged 23, Master, Brn. Worcs
SMITH, Jane , Mar., Aged 23, Brn. Worcs
SMITH, John, son, Aged 6, Brn. Worcs
SMITH, Henry, son, Aged 3, Brn. Worcs
LAUGHTONE, Joseph, Unm., Aged 18, B'man, Brn. Worcs
No. 370
PALMER, John, Unm., Aged 25, Master, Brn. Worcs
No. 371
WITHEY, Francis, Mar., Aged 32, Master, Brn. Worcs
WITHEY, Susannah, Mar., Aged 26, Brn. Tipton, Staffs
WITHEY, Charles, son, Aged 7, Brn. Tipton, Staffs
WITHEY, Frank, son, Aged 5, Brn. Worcs
WITHEY, Eliza Harriet, dau., Aged 4, Brn. Worcs
WITHEY, William M, son, Aged 1, Brn. Hopwood, Worcs
No. 374
JENKINS, George, Wdw., Aged 50, Master, Brn. Alvechurch, Worcs
JEFF, Edward, Unm., Aged 20, B'man,Brn. Tardebigg, Warks

1881 Census (Reel 13 RG2977 33 60) Boats lying at Worcester Wharf
Hearts of Oak
GRANWELL, John, Mar., Aged 25, Cap. B'man, Brn. -, Worcs
GRANWELL, Alice, Mar., Aged 20, wife, Brn. -, Worcs
GRANWELL, Mary Ann, Aged 1, dau., Brn. - Worcs
Zebrina
HODGETT, Edwin, Mar., Aged 33, Cap. B'tman, Brn. - Worcs
HODGETT, Fanny, Mar., Aged 31, wife, Brn. - Worcs
HODGETT, Edwin, Aged 5, son , Brn. Upton on 7, Worcs
Samuel & Emma
SMITH, William, Mar., Aged 37, Cap. B'man, Brn. -, Worcs
SMITH, Elizabeth, Mar., Aged 31, wife, Brn. Cirencester, GLS
SMITH, William, Aged 13, son, Brn. -, Worcs
SMITH, John, Aged 7, son , Brn. -, Worcs
SMITH, Elizabeth, Aged 3, dau., Brn. - Worcs
Evern
COLE, John, Mar., Aged 42, Capt. B'man, Brn. Upton, Worcs
COLE, James, son, Aged 17, Mate B'man, Brn. Upton, Worcs
Erucst?
BRICE, George, Aged 14, Mate B'man, Brn. - Worcs
Joseph & Richard
DAYERS, Richard, Mar., Aged 49, Capt. B'man, Brn. - Worcs
DAYERS, Emma, Mar., Aged 47, wife, Brn. - Worcs
DAYERS, John, Aged 12, Mate B'man, Brn. - Worcs
James
BROWN, Aaron, Mar., Aged 38, Capt. b'man, Brn. - Worcs
BROWN, Lizzie, Mar., Aged 33, wife, Brn. - Worcs
BROWN, Mynall, dau., Aged 3 mths, Brn. - Worcs
WITH, Thomas, Unm., Aged 25, Mate B'man, Brn. - Worcs
Catherine
BUNN, George, Mar., Aged 63, Capt B'man, Brn. ....wick, Worcs
BUNN, Sarah, Mar., Aged 41, wife, Brn. ...nck, Worcs
BUNN, Frederick, Unm., Aged 24, son, Brn. ...nck, Worcs
Fanny
ELT, Henry, Mar, Aged 44, Capt. B'man, Brn. Upton, Worcs
ELT, Eliza, Mar., Aged 33, wife, Brn. Upton, Worcs
ELT, William, Aged 9, son, Brn. Upton, Worcs

1891 Census (RG12/2378 1+) Boats lying at Worcester Wharf
224 Luilisie?
SPRAGG, Charles, Mar., Aged 50, Master, Brn. Worcester
SPRAGG, Henry, son, Aged 12, Brn. Worcester
225 Emma
BALL, Arthur , Mar., Aged 49, Master, Brn. Gloucester
BALL, Thomas, Mar., Aged 30, son, Crew, Brn. Worcester
226 Alfred
COOPER. Thomas, Mar., Aged 67, Master, Brn. Eckington, Worcs
JAMES, Samuel, Mar., Aged 47, Crew, Brn. Bush.. Worcs
227 Richard
DAYUS, John, Unm., Aged 17, Crew, Brn. Droitwich, Worcs

[Contributed by Maureen Surman, on 28th December 2000. ]

Abstract of Population 1821 - Census Statistical Returns 1822.
"Items of Interest in the Notes"

A compilation of the significant increases, or decreases in population since 1811,
transcribed by Alan Longbottom. © 2000

Note: Most Census returns between 1801 and 1831 amounted to little more than 'head counts'. This account (compiled in 1822) simply suggests reasons for local population changes, based on a comparison of those counts. Names of individuals were not recorded.

Halfshire Hundred Lower Division - Dudley Parish

Dudley is locally situate in Offlow Hundred Staffordshire. Additional coal-mines and iron-stone mines have been opened, and a correspondent number of iron-works erected since the year 1811 which accounts for the increase of Population, although other trades are in a depressed state at Dudley.

Oswaldslow Hundred Lower Division - Claines Parish and Whistons Tything.

The Entire Parish of Claines contains 3,853 inhabitants. A Branch of the Birmingham and Worcester Canal has greaatly increased the Population of this Parish. A new gaol at Whistons has a similar tendency.

Oswaldslow Hundred Lower Division - Wolverley Parish

Wolverley Parish extends into Upper Halfshire Hundred, and forms a detached portion of Lower Oswaldslow Hundred near Bewdley. The iron and tin manufactures have increased there.

Pershore Hundred Lower Division - Hanley Castle Parish

The resort of invalids and others to Malvern Wells, has greatly increased the Population of the Parish of Hanley Castle, in which these Wells are situate.

[Transcribed by Alan Longbottom in February 2000 from returns at the PRO, and made available with permission]

[From Public Record Office document RG13/4825, Folio 42 Page ii]

The examples page referred to in the following directions is also available here, but please note that the image file is of 217 Kb and may take a while to download.

GENERAL DIRECTIONS TO THE ENUMERATOR AS TO THE USE OF THIS BOOK.

Immediately after the completion of the Enumeration-

(l.) Arrange and number the Occupiers' Schedules, Shipping, Insitution and other Scedules in such Order that all those relating to One Civil Parish, one Ecclesiastical Parish, one Municipal Borough, or other local subdivision, follow each other.

(2.) COPY THE SCHEDULES VERY LEGIBLY IN INK into this Enumeration Book, in accordance with the following directions:-
 

1. Insert first, in the spaces at the top of the page, the name of the Civil Parish; Ecclesiastical Parish; County Borough, Municipal Borough or Urban District; Ward of Municipal Borough or of Urban District; Rural District; Parliamentary Borough or Division; and Town, Village or Hamlet, in which the houses referred to on that page are situated, drawing' your pen through such of the headings as are inapplicable; see Example. No Schedule is to be entered on a page unless it belong to each of the local sub-divisions named in the Heading. See also Instruction No. 6.
    
2. In the first column, write the No. of the Schedule you are about to copy, commencing with No. 1; in the second column the name of the Road, Street; Square, &c., in which the. house is situated, and the No. of the house, .or any distinctive name by which it is known; then insert in the third column the figure 1 for an Inhabited House. As regards an Uninhabited House, i.e., a House in which no person abode on the Census night, its number or name should be entered in column 2, and a figure 1 inserted opposite in column 4 if the house be in occupation for business or other purpose, but in column 5 if not in occupation for any purpose. For a house in course of building a figure 1 should be inserted in column 6.
    
3. Under the last entry for each house draw a strong DOUBLE line, as in the example on the opposite page, to separate such entries from those for the house next following; and where there are two or more occupiers in the same house, draw a single line to distinguish the separate families, as in the example, [NOTE-- The occupier of a separate tenement, even if living alone without wife or family, must be treated as a separate family.]
   
   Enter in the same manner the contents of all the other Schedules, in strict numerical order.
    
4. Insert in- col.7 against the name of each occupier the number of rooms occupied if less than five.
    
5. Copy from the Schedule into the other columns. all the particulars concerning the persons returned therein, without any omission, or any abbreviation except those authorised in the Instruction at the foot of this page, taking especial care to enter the ages of MALES and of FEMALES in their PROPER COLUMNS, and to copy front columns 6, 7 and 8 of the Schedules without any omission, alteration or abbreviation, into Columns 13, 14 and 15.
    
6. When the particulars of all the Schedules belonging to the Civil Parish; Ecclesiastical Parish; County Borough, Municipal Borough or Urban District; Ward of Municipal Borough or of Urban District; Rural District; Parliamentary Borough or Division; and Town, Village or Hamlet named in the Heading have been entered, write across the page, "End of the Civil Parish of ----," End of the Municipal Borough of ----," or end of any other local sub-division which happens to he included on that page. See the printed Example. on page iii. The rest of the page must then be left blank, and the following Schedule must be entered on the first line of the next page.
    
7. At the foot of each page, on the line for the purpose, enter (a) the total number of Schedules; (b) of Houses in the respective columns 3, 4, 5 and 6; (c) of Tenements of less than 5 rooms; (d) of Males in column 11; and (e) of Females in column 12, as in the example.
    
8. If you have enumerated any persons in Canal Boats or Barges; enter the particulars from the Schedules for Vessels in the same manner as from the Occupiers' Schedules, stating in col.2 the locality in which the boats, &c., were enumerated.
    
9. If you have obtained information and noted it in your Memorandum Book, respecting persons not dwelling in houses but in Barns; Sheds, Caravans, &c., the particulars, whether complete or not, should be entered under the proper Road, Lane, or other locality; in making up the totals at the foot of that page, however, the Barns, Sheds &c., must not be counted as Houses.
    
10. Before proceeding to make up the Abstract on page v., satisfy yourself (1) that all your Schedules have been correctly copied into this Book, (2) that the ages have been correctly entered in columns 11 and 12 for Males and Females respectively, and (3) that the additions at the foot of each page are accurate; then enter the totals in the Abstract and cast such figures to an aggregate for the whole Enumeration District. Finally, fill up Summary Table 1 on page iv and sign the first Declaration on page vi.
     

ABBREVIATIONS TO BE USED BY THE ENUMERATOR.

ROAD, STREET, &c. - Write "Rd." for Road; "St." for Street; "Pl." for Place; "Sq." for Square; "Ter." for Terrace.

NAMES - Write the First Christian Name in full; adding the initials, or the first letters of the other Christian Names of a person who has more than one.

When the same surname occurs several times in succession, write "Do" for all such surnames except the first; which must be written in full.

Where the name or any other particular, is not known and cannot be ascertained, "n.k." should be entered in its place.

In the column "RELATION TO HEAD OF FAMILY" write "Head" for Head of family; "Daur." for Daughter; "F.-in-law" and "M.-in-law" for Father-in-law and Mother-in-law respectively; "Serv." for Servant.

In the column "CONDITION AS TO MARRIAGE" write "M." for married; "S." for unmarried; "Wid." for widow; or "Widr." for widower.

In the columns for "age" write the number of years in figures very distinctly in the proper column for "Males" or "Females" as the case may be; in the case of children under One Year of age, as the age must be expressed in months, write "Mo." distinctly after the figures.

In the lists below PTV (Pay To View) is used generally to indicate sites that charge (either per view or by subscription) for images of the original documents or for full transcripts. These sites may provide basic details via free indexes.

There has been a census every ten years since 1801, excluding 1941. However, only those that date from 1841 are of real value to the family historian. The administration of the early census returns 1801-1831 was the responsibility of the Overseers of the Poor and the clergy.

Most of these early returns were unfortunately destroyed, although in some isolated instances they have been preserved. Note though that the surviving (pre-1841) lists are often little more than head counts. The census returns for 1841 were the first to be gathered under the aupices of the newly formed General Register Office and the first to be kept for posterity. In general, the information is released to the public after a hundred years. For example, the public will get access to the 1921 census returns in January 2022.

The 1841 census was different from the previous censuses in two important respects. Firstly, the administration passed into the hands of the Registrar General and the Superintendant Registrars, who were responsible for the registration of births, marriages and deaths. Many recent reforms, including the 1836 General Registration Act, which had culminated in the introduction of civil registration had resulted in a new layer of central and local government.

When the 1841 census was being prepared, it was seen as a logical step that it should also supervise the census. Consequently, civil registration and census taking became inter-related; any change in local boundaries or districts affected them both.

Secondly, the emphasis changed from questions concerned with population size, and the numbers engaged in certain occupations and the condition of the housing stock, to a much more detailed analysis of individuals and families, and the communities in which they lived.

The information recorded on individuals has tended to increase with each census. The information collected in each census is detailed on (internet archive copy) this GenDocs page.

Guy Etchells has assembled a collection of the official instructions given to enumerators for each census.

In 1851, in addition to the census of population a census was taken of places of worship. Although this was purely voluntary, most places of Worship made returns. This Ecclesiastical Census of 1851 is described by The National Archives in Discovery and the returns have been made available (free online) as part of the Digital Microfilm Project.

The census was taken on the following dates:

10 Mar		1801		No longer exists, with a few exceptions
27 May		1811		No longer exists, with a few exceptions
28 May		1821		No longer exists, with a few exceptions
30 May		1831		No longer exists, with a few exceptions
6 June		1841		Now available to the public, details below
30 March		1851		Now available to the public, details below
7 April		1861		Now available to the public, details below
2 April		1871		Now available to the public, details below
3 April		1881		Now available to the public, details below
5 April		1891		Now available to the public, details below
31 March		1901		Now available to the public, details below
2 April		1911		Now available to the public, details below
19 June		1921		Expected to be released by TNA in January 2022, see link below
26 April		1931		Destroyed during WW2
29 September		1939		(WW2 National Registration) Now available to the public, details below
8 April		1951
23 April		1961
25 April		1971
5 April		1981
21 April		1991
29 April		2001

Census returns are held at:

• The National Archives
  • For England and Wales only
• District Libraries, County Record Offices and FHS research rooms
  • normally have copies of the returns for their own area
• LDS
  • have copies of the census microfilms. These usually need to be ordered unless you are visiting a branch of the LDS in the same area as the returns in which you are interested.

It is advisable before making a trip to a library or record office, to check the exact whereabouts of specific census returns in order to avoid a wasted visit. Also some libraries may have a limited number of viewers and a booking may be necessary.

1801-1831

A few of these returns, in various level of detail, still exist.

• Do look at this Family Search page.
• And the "Other Censuses for England and Wales" tab on the 1911 census site.
• To see a detailed list what exists, look at this PDF on the University of Essex's server.
• There is a (work in progress) database of names in these returns online under the title Early British Census.
• See the GENUKI page for Devon for transcripts of surviving Devon returns

1841 (6 June)

• Some local indexes exist - see GENUKI county pages or those of the appropriate FHS
• Note that a number of pieces of the 1841 census have been lost.
  The missing pieces and their coverage are detailed on this FindMyPast page.
• PTV: national index & page images are available via this page from The National Archives (links to Ancestry)
• PTV: national index & page images are available from findmypast.co.uk
• PTV: indexes, transcripts, images for some counties are available from TheGenealogist
• PTV: indexes & images for some counties are available from BritishOrigins

1851 (30 March)

• Many local indexes exist - see GENUKI county pages or those of the appropriate FHS
• Note that a number of parishes are misssing from the 1851 census - see this FindMyPast page.
• There is a web site dedicated to theunfilmed Manchester census - http://www.1851-unfilmed.org.uk
• A case study on (internet archive copy) The Incompleteness of the 1851 Census Returns is available from GenDocs.
• PTV: national index & page images are available via this page from The National Archives (links to Ancestry)
• PTV: indexes, transcripts, images for some counties are available from TheGenealogist
• 1851 Census - 2% Sample. An ESRC-sponsored research project led by Professor Michael Anderson at Edinburgh University transcribed a 2% sample of English and Welsh census records some years ago. Through a misunderstanding, they were placed on GENUKI for a short while in 1995, but immediately withdrawn when we were informed that Professor Anderson and the ESRC had not given, and would not give, permission for the results of his project to be made freely available. The fact that the original census records can now be freely copied, thanks to the changed TNA rules does not alter the fact that Professor Anderson and the ESRC have a right to refuse to allow their transcriptions to be copied. Unfortunately there are still web-site owners who disregard the owner's wishes and continue to make copies of the original 2% sample files available on-line. We strongly recommend the alternative legal copies of these files that can now be purchased on CD-ROM, for example from S&N Genealogy Supplies. These have been augmented from other sources and more fully validated, and are accompanied by some excellent search facilities.

1861 (7 April)

• Some local indexes exist - see GENUKI county pages or those of the appropriate FHS
• Note that a number of pieces of the 1861 census have been lost.
  The missing pieces and their coverage are detailed on this FindMyPast page.
• PTV: national index & page images are available via this page from The National Archives (links to Ancestry)
• PTV: national index & page images are available from findmypast.co.uk
• PTV: indexes, transcripts, images for some counties are available from TheGenealogist

1871 (2 April)

• Some local indexes exist - see GENUKI county pages or those of the appropriate FHS
• Note that there are problems with a number of parishes in the 1871 census - see this FindMyPast page.
• PTV: national index & page images are available via this page from The National Archives (links to Ancestry)
• PTV: national index & page images are available from findmypast.co.uk
• PTV: indexes, transcripts, images for some counties are available from TheGenealogist
• PTV: indexes & images for some counties are available from BritishOrigins

UK and Ireland: Census

In general information about the availability of census records is to be found in GENUKI at the level of the separate countries making up the UK and Ireland - i.e. for England and Wales, for Scotland, and for Ireland. Here we just provide more general information related to the census.

Lumas, Susan. Making Use of the Census, The National Archives (2002) 128 pp. [ISBN 190336535x]
["This is a revised edition of this bestselling guide to census records at The National Archives. Census records are some of the most valuable and frequently used by family historians and the release of a new census every ten years is an eagerly anticipated event. Published to coincide with the opening of 1901 Census in January 2002, this new edition incorporates all the essential details for researchers wishing to exploit this new and important resource. It also offers practical advice to historians to find their way into the nineteenth century returns. It provides help in tracking down individuals as part of a family tree, and is equally helpful to social or economic historians. . ."]

• A helpful tutorial on using census information, including advice regarding possible sources of errors, is provided on the British Genealogy website.
• The 1901 Census of England and Wales is available online at FindMyPast, with a free index search facility. To accompany this resource, the Public Record Office have produced a fascinating set of pages entitled 1901: Living at the Time of the Census (archived copy).
• Barry Ruck's Mini FAQ (archived copy) deals primarily with matters involving the census (last updated 2005).
• 1901 Census - Royal Navy Ships (archived copy) - Jeffery Knaggs has compiled an index to Royal Navy ships that were at sea or in ports abroad on 31st March 1901.
• 1901 Census - Institutions (archived copy) - Jeffery Knaggs is compiling an index to Institutions on the 1901 Census of England and Wales.
• British Census Indexes, Transcripts, and Images Available Online or on CD - a useful summary from Daniel Morgan.
• Statistics from the 2001 census provided by 'National Statistics' (formerly the Office of National Statistics).
• A Vision of Britain Through Time. Information from the 1801 to 2001 censuses arranged by local-authority area.
• The Online Historical Population Reports project at AHDS History have a project to provide searchable online access all the census reports for Great Britain (1801-1931) and reports of the registrars-general (1836-1920) for England, Wales and Scotland. The current version is a demo version, but release version will be launched on 9th January 2007. Note that this site contains only statistical reports, and does not include information about individuals.
• The British Surname Atlas CD allows exploration of the distribution of forenames and surnames in the 1881 census returns.
• Census substitutes: For the years for which census returns are not available, consider Voting Registers, Directories, Manorial Records.