census 1841- FreeCen .....

[katye]

Hi,

Can anyone tell me how accurate the census of 1841 is? Who recorded the information given that a large proportion of the population were illiterate at the time.

The reason I ask is that on the 1841 census for Campbeltown, I cannot find any of my family, the Scallys. The only 2 people on the census are not related to me and at the time there should have been 2 dozen or more. We have found all the bmd records for the families- I was just curious as to why they don't appear on the census.

Thanks, Katye.

[DavidWW]

Katye

The enumerators were often the local minister or session clerk or teacher. As you say, they had to be literate, and from the many hands that I've seen over the years the enumerators were fully literate with well formed flowing handwriting.

By that time the system of education for all in Scotland was well established so that you would expect a majority of people to be able to write to some extent, - supported by the relatively small proportion of "his/her mark" signatures on statutory registers from 1855 onwards, - 14 years later I know, but not that crititcal I'd argue.

The bigger problem was that people just weren't accustomed to filling in forms such as the census household schedule in the way that we are familiar with such forms on a day-to-day basis, so that there may have been many misunderstandings.

In rural districts this probably didn't matter too much as the enumerator, if the minister etc., would probably have some knowledge of the family, and be in a position to assist. In the cities, however, this might not be possible.

So how can we judge the accuracy of the census?

With difficulty!

A few years ago Barney Tyrwitt-Drake found a situation in 1901 in London where two separate enumerators had overlapped and each enumerated the same street (how they both persuaded householders to fill in the same form is not clear!) but the outcome was a situation where a comparison could be made, there being a significant rate of major differences, i.e. people on one and not the other, different given names, ages, etc. Barney had an article in the SoG magazine Computers in Genealogy.

In the great majority of situations involving "missing" people in the censuses, my experience is that they are there, but "hiding" behind a curious spelling, or mistranscription or later misindexing, - remember that each enumerator transcribed all the household schedules into the enumeration book, and he only had a few days in which to do this, and didn't get paid anything until this was complete!

That's not to say that some people weren't missed.............. or even deliberately evaded enumeration

David

[Andy]

Hi there, the census was conducted by an upstanding member of the community, teacher. minister etc. Who plodded round a set district, house by house asking folk their names, ages etc.

A few folk would have been missed but the overall returns are fairly accurate.

With a name like Scally I strongly suspect Irish links, probably Antrim. A great deal of coming and going happened between Antrim and the Campbeltown area at that time, mainly to do with the massive trade in Kelp which was boiled down for a number of uses including iodine and by-products sought in the extensive linen trade around the Campbeltown/Southend area. Peaty Antrim grain was also well sought after in the Cambeltown area where, at that time, there were literally hundreds of distilleries.

With very few exceptions in the IGI, all the few Scally events (64 of them some double-ups) in the area were during the Autumn and Spring months. This may suggest that they commuted between Ireland and Scotland farming and fishing in the Summer and taking extended working breaks in Scotland some Autumn to Spring times.

They may not have been in Scotland for the 1841 census.

The free Census has more than two Scallys if you nurse it:

SCALLY Neil M 25 Labourer Ireland Campbeltown

SCALLY Jean F 30 Argyllshire Campbeltown

SCALLY John M 25 Labourer Ireland Campbeltown

SCALLIE Henrey M 45 Quarrier Ireland Campbeltown

SCALLIE James M 15 Argyllshire Campbeltown

SCALLIE John M 13 Argyllshire Campbeltown

There were also a few in Greenock, another well known haunt of the Antrim commuters.

[Andy]

David pips me to the post once more!

[DavidWW]

Identical posting times !!! I like it

I can only have been seconds earlier

But complementary answers........

David

Goes off singing "Campbeltown Loch I wish ye were whisky, Campbeltown Loch, och aye.............." doing his Andy Stewart impression

[katye]

Thanks guys, As usual very interesting and helpful. My mother had an idea that there might have been a bit if to-ing and fro-ing to Ireland though apart from my gt-gt-gt-gt granparents who are at the top of my tree,everyone was born in Campbeltown. They were born in Ireland(we don't know where) and came over about 1800. Again my mother has an inkling it might have been Antrim.

Thanks again for your imput, Katye.

[Jean Jeanie]

Hi Katye

I have just finished transcribing the 1841 census for Cromdale Moray for Freecen. You may find the following of interest. The enumerator's comments at the end of the census are as follows:-

"It is believed that the above account comes very near the polulation of the parish for although several individuals from other places were lodged in the parish in consequence of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper being dispensed in Grantown on Sabbath the 6th at least an equal number of the labouring classes were absent who are in the habit of removing to the southern counties during the one half of the year in quest of employment. The number that have immigrants within the last 6 months is eleven."

Jean

[DavidWW]

Wow ...... I like it and will be using that quote in my lectures

David