20
votes
No trace of grandfather in 1891 or 1901 census?
I note that Charles Thomas Gigg was baptised on 13 Feb 1887 at St James Norlands, Kensington. His mother is given as Hannah Sarah Gigg, of 5 Mary's Place, single:
Source: Ancestry.co.uk, London, ...
- 18.9k
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, ...
- 25.6k
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 ...
- 8,001
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 ...
- 25.6k
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 ...
- 2,291
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....
- 25.6k
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....
- 11.6k
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
Meaning of "Map" as birthplace on NY 1855 Census?
Historically, the letter "s" was often written more like a tall, looped "f", and a double "s" could look like "fs", or "p" if close together. So I'd guess this is "Mass", i.e. Massachusetts.
It's ...
- 4,427
6
votes
Resources for researching family from Greene County, Tennessee?
Try to look on this problem as an opportunity for learning something new instead of a roadblock to overcome. You can't find your person in the 1840 Census because it doesn't list him by name. What ...
- 25.6k
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 ...
- 25.6k
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 ...
- 25.6k
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 ...
- 5,230
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 ...
- 25.6k
5
votes
Accepted
Deciphering place name in 1841 Census for Tavistock, Devon, England?
I think this place name is written "Old Duda", however I am confident it is referring to a place called "Old Wooda" in Tavistock parish. If spoken out loud there is a very minimal audible difference ...
- 18.9k
5
votes
Naturalized in 1896, but cannot be found anywhere in the US 1900 or 1910 censuses?
1910 Census
A search of Williamson County, Illinois 1900-1910 for all men named William born in Russia between 1860-1876 gave six results. This one appears to match your grandfather. Index spelled ...
- 3,614
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