16
votes
Lunacy diagnosis plus a number - what does it mean?
According to www.1911census.org.uk, the information recorded for individuals included:
Infirmity, one of deaf, dumb, blind, lunatic, imbecile or feeble minded. The age at which the "infirmity ...
- 4,427
9
votes
Can 19th century US Census records be reliably used to identify a family of origin?
Questions of this kind are a sign that the researcher needs to consider making the transition from person-based to source-based genealogy.
In a post dated Tuesday, March 22, 2011 titled The Chasm, ...
- 25.8k
9
votes
Explaining unknown person found in family listing in 1940 Federal Census of Iowa?
Here are the questions that I would investigate, that might help determine who this extra household member was:
Have you looked at the census page image to verify it was indexed correctly? This is ...
- 8,000
9
votes
Missing Enumeration District/Families in the 1920 U.S. Census
This answer is an overview of the 1920 Census microfilms and aids for using the census, using your missing ED as a case study. It will cover some of the resources you've already consulted for your ...
- 25.8k
9
votes
What is the house number on this 1891 Census record?
The UK and Ireland censuses are available from multiple places: Ancestry, FindMyPast, and MyHeritage to name a few. FamilySearch has transcripts, but it links to FindMyPast for the images.
I can ...
- 2,290
9
votes
Finding people in the 1950 Census without using the index
Disclaimer: Getting ready for the 1950 Census is a popular topic right now, and I have watched several different presentations and read many articles on the subject while preparing for my own research....
- 25.8k
8
votes
Accepted
Where was Robert Brown at the time of this 1911 Military Census?
Take a look at the image and scroll back a few pages, to the start of that enumeration book. You will see it shows the location of the regiment at the time of enumeration:
Pietermaritzburg, Natal, ...
- 18.9k
7
votes
Accepted
What was the career of Patrick Golden on the 1870 census?
I think the occupation written is:
Painter (House)
Although not capitalized, there are two entries for
Keeps house
in the following few rows that you can use to compare the "ouse" ending to ...
- 11.2k
7
votes
Where to find 1911 sub-districts in order?
The report you want is available on Histpop.org.
Specifically, go to page 286 of the report titled: Areas, families or separate occupiers, and population, England and Wales, Vol. II. Registration ...
- 18.9k
7
votes
Why would a family misspell their surname?
One possibility is that whoever completed the census return adjusted the surname to, as they saw it, fit in. This is certainly known to happen in Scotland as this link https://www.scotlandspeople.gov....
- 11.7k
7
votes
Was this common usage of "mother-in-law" in late 19th century in US census?
Consider that the "mother-in-law" could actually be a stepmother. It would not be unusual for those two terms to be used interchangeably.
Also consider that mistakes happen, and it may not ...
- 18.9k
6
votes
Recording census as event or source in GRAMPS?
Part of the reason for confusion here may be that genealogy software tends to be very person-centered, and it's easy to fall into a person-centered workflow. We tend to think of gathering information ...
- 25.8k
6
votes
What happened to the 1896 London census records?
In a presentation at USCIS, historian Marian Smith answered a similar question by going through the correspondence for the agencies involved in order to trace what happened to the records.
Just as ...
- 25.8k
6
votes
Dealing with different birthplace and names of parents in England?
To expand on @JanMurphy's first method, there's a set of rules that genealogists use when they get stuck:
If you can't go backwards, go forwards
If you can't go forwards, go sideways
If you can'...
- 4,427
6
votes
What does un mean in the column for immigration year on the 1920 US census?
The "Instructions to Enumerators" for the 1920 census include the following instruction in the second paragraph, titled Definite answers:
Definite answers - Try to get a definite answer to each ...
- 5,229
6
votes
Where was Robert Brown at the time of this 1911 Military Census?
Findmypast haven't omitted the header pages, there is a direct link from the page image. Go to 'Related images' in the bottom right corner and you will see it under 'Address'. As this is an ...
- 551
6
votes
United Kingdom 1921 census example forms and guidance
The census forms and instructions for the 1921 census of England, Wales, and the islands can be found at Online Historical Population Reports (www.histpop.org).
Navigate to TNA Census - Other > ...
- 18.9k
5
votes
Accepted
How likely are 1915 Missouri neighbors with same last name to be related?
One possible line of inquiry (the one I would do next) is to investigate the properties themselves. What kind of properties were in that section of Main Street at that time? Can you find property ...
- 25.8k
5
votes
Recording census as event or source in GRAMPS?
There are several ways you can approach this. You can consider a census as an event, even though it was not an important life event. Since it was not an important event, you would also not be wrong to ...
- 18.9k
5
votes
Deciphering word related to Farrier occupation in 1881 Census?
I think the words, and thus the recorded occupation of your ancestor, are:
Farrier & General Smith
- 11.2k
5
votes
Accepted
What month was the 1864 Census for Re-Organizing the Georgia Militia taken?
Unlike many Ancestry databases, there is only minimal explanation on the search page of the 1864 Census for Re-Organizing the Georgia Militia. However, it does say that the names were extracted from a ...
- 8,000
5
votes
What Exactly are the "Jewish Records" on Ancestry.com?
The JewishGen collection search page has a banner at the top which describes the special collection:
See the Ancestry blog's post, New Jewish Family History Collection on Ancestry.com (Posted by ...
- 25.8k
5
votes
Is there a way to search for 1935 inferred residence from the 1940 census?
Yes, you can search the 1940 census for residence in 1935. Searching only for those who were in different places in 1935 and 1940 is not directly possible (unless you know the 1940 location), although ...
- 8,000
5
votes
How can I distinguish between name changes and missing records?
You've done a really good job with the documents you have. Going through what you posted I came to the same conclusions. The most logical answer is that David and Jane only had one son. But all of ...
- 2,446
5
votes
Finding person missed in 1920 census?
Sometimes people were just missed in a census.
If the enumerator talked to a neighbor instead of the actual family, it's possible that the family or the neighbor were new to the neighborhood and didn'...
- 981
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