1851 Census - The Continuing Saga .....

[Lizzie]

When may we expect Ross & Cromarty Ellen?

Lizzie

[AndrewP]

For whatever reason, the new numbering system was only ever used in 1851....

The numbering systems that you quote are only two of the three used for the 1851 census. In terms of the 1851 census, the "new" numbering system that you refer to is older than the other system you quote.

System 1 was the one that the census was conducted by as far as I can tell. All of the counties were given a number (in a rough south to north order), and some of them were divided into numbered districts; and within them the parishes were given a number. I have read that this numbering system came down from the Court of Teinds. To use one of your enuration districts above as an example, Govan (Renfrewshire portion) was 6/2/11. Renfrewshire = 6, Renfrewshire Upper Ward = District 2, and Govan parish was number 11 within that. These numbers can be found handwritten on the front cover of each enumeration district number 1 book (also on the microfilms).

Then at some stage the enumeration districts were arranged into books and these were numbered 1 to 878 (roughly north to south by county). To use the same example, Govan (Renfrewshire portion) became 624. These numbers are also on the front of each enumeration district number 1 book.

Then the GROS Registration District numbers 1 to 901 were applied to them at some later date, probably when they were first microfilmed (in the 1950s?) by the GSU (Genealogical Society of Utah). These numbers are the ones most commonly used in referring to the censuses, and are regularly used for the censuses of 1841 and 1851 which were both taken before the existence of GROS (from 1855) and hence that series of numbers. These numbers seem to have been retro-applied as a best fit, and in some cases (in my opinion) are a poor fit.

All three of these systems have their anomalies, so I am intrigued to find which system is being used to index them on ScotlandsPeople.

All the best,

Andrew Paterson

[tommytoronto]

Well- I have anxiously been awaiting this release since I heard of it in December. My partner's father turns 70 on Saturday - and we're throwing a surprise party. I'm going to give him his family tree at the event, and I've been stuck on his paternal line. The place they were from in Scotland has been indexed and his family is not there. I'm hoping it's released before Saturday so I can break the wall down and find them...... It could open up up to 3 generations on that side UGH

Everyone say a prayer.........

Tom

[sporran]

Hello Andrew,


I doubt that these arrangements will change, since they came from GROS, but it is best to say that they are current. Glasgow appears to be numbered mainly 646/xx, where xx is the subdistrict, but there are some 622/xx districts.

My testing was going really well and I thought that it was the best implementation yet, but then I failed to find people in Barony (one of the 622 districts), who had been found on census films. I had found several in 646 districts. This appears to be why the release has been delayed.

SOL have stated that GROS "made up" some districts for the 1851 census, e.g. Springburn, which did not exist until 1855. As long as you find people, I do not suppose that it matters.


Regards,

John

[ellenavon]

Hi Lizzie

Re Ross & Cromarty on Freecen.

Go to Freecen Home page, click on County Projects and follow the Ross & Cromarty links and you can check the status of each parish. Looks like they are all well on the way.

23% of parishes have already been uploaded, and all of the others are in either the transcribing, checking or validating stages - so yours might yet make it to Freecen before SP!

Kind Regards

Ellen.