| HOME page | PARISH index | 1841 CENSUS index |
Notes & hints on using these Web pages.
GENERAL..
1. Any definition of the boundaries of the South Hams district has always varied according to the period in history one is referring to
The modern district has been defined by Local Government having regard to the administration of its population, industries, etc.
The definition I favour is that of the noted historian Anne BORN - that area bounded by Dartmoor and the rivers Erme and Dart
My reason for so doing is based purely on the probability that one's lost ancestors are most likely to be found together within the area, rather than outside it. Most individuals did not move far because they had neither the need nor the means to do so
Some people did move elsewhere, but there are likely to have been special or unusual reasons for this..
2. The parishes in the district shared common interests in the areas of farming, textiles, quarrying, shipbuilding, seafaring, fishing, etc., that were, in some cases, unique.
So there were reasons why, in the 19th century and before, the people in the district tended to stay in a parish or move only within the area, to find work, better working conditions or even spouses - often by using the opportunities afforded by Market towns and their hiring fairs - such as Kingsbridge, Totnes, etc..
3. It's obvious that residents never took much notice of parish boundaries as there were no fences, unless their livelihood ( parish relief? ) depended on it - neither do I....
So, if you have any material that relates to a parish just outside the defined area, local family group, etc., please feel free to submit it for inclusion..
CENSUSES..
1. The 1841 census transcripts are verbatim and complete, but only for those parts accessed via the Parish pages
The composite Index omits some information and is divided alphabetically in order to reduce the time needed to display.
2. The 1841 census did not include relationships or place of birth and in many cases the occupation was omitted too.
3. In 1841, ages above that of children(definition varied with the enumerator but was supposed to be under 18 yrs), were approximated, but whether to the nearest 5 below or above is problematical!.
4. I have allocated a Ref No as a way of linking the members of a household group. Later censuses used a Schedule No for the same purpose.
5. If you find an individual in the 1841 Index, select the Parish and you will be taken to the full transcript on the Parish page
Your browser, Firefox, IE Explorer, Mozilla, etc., is able to search by name within any page that is displayed on screen.
6. The 1841, 1851, 1861, 1871, 1881 & 1891 census copies that I have are all indexed by personal name, so you may ask me for single individuals and/or their families..
PARISH REGISTERS..
1. The copies I have(and those held by others) are of original registers and have been purchased in microfiche form from the Devon Record Office.
2. The original registers were sometimes in appalling condition but some of the reproductions are also not very good. This is one reason why it is quite out of the question to do global searches by surname over lengthy periods of time.
3. Another reason for restricting searches is the disorganised manner of entry in the older registers. Largely "free-form", it is extremely difficult to scan any page for a specific name when the entries are not uniformly tabulated
All entries are in date order only and "General" registers have births, burials and marriages mixed together!.
4. Registers after 1812 are a different matter as most events were tabulated and it is much easier to search by surname - or even forename(s).
NOTE..
The resources listed on this website and which are available for searching have all been purchased by me or, in a few cases, donated.
Whilst I do not, and never will, charge for my services any offers of help to extend this collection would be gratefully accepted.
Should you feel inclined to make a donation of any kind, please email Ray
Old databases, microfiche, etc., that you no longer require could also prove useful.
END
Notes & hints on using these Web pages.
| GENERAL.. |
| 1. Any definition of the boundaries of the South Hams district has always varied according to the period in history one is referring to |
| The modern district has been defined by Local Government having regard to the administration of its population, industries, etc. |
| The definition I favour is that of the noted historian Anne BORN - that area bounded by Dartmoor and the rivers Erme and Dart |
| My reason for so doing is based purely on the probability that one's lost ancestors are most likely to be found together within the area, rather than outside it. Most individuals did not move far because they had neither the need nor the means to do so |
| Some people did move elsewhere, but there are likely to have been special or unusual reasons for this.. |
| 2. The parishes in the district shared common interests in the areas of farming, textiles, quarrying, shipbuilding, seafaring, fishing, etc., that were, in some cases, unique. |
| So there were reasons why, in the 19th century and before, the people in the district tended to stay in a parish or move only within the area, to find work, better working conditions or even spouses - often by using the opportunities afforded by Market towns and their hiring fairs - such as Kingsbridge, Totnes, etc.. |
| 3. It's obvious that residents never took much notice of parish boundaries as there were no fences, unless their livelihood ( parish relief? ) depended on it - neither do I.... |
| So, if you have any material that relates to a parish just outside the defined area, local family group, etc., please feel free to submit it for inclusion.. |
| CENSUSES.. |
| 1. The 1841 census transcripts are verbatim and complete, but only for those parts accessed via the Parish pages |
| The composite Index omits some information and is divided alphabetically in order to reduce the time needed to display. |
| 2. The 1841 census did not include relationships or place of birth and in many cases the occupation was omitted too. |
| 3. In 1841, ages above that of children(definition varied with the enumerator but was supposed to be under 18 yrs), were approximated, but whether to the nearest 5 below or above is problematical!. |
| 4. I have allocated a Ref No as a way of linking the members of a household group. Later censuses used a Schedule No for the same purpose. |
| 5. If you find an individual in the 1841 Index, select the Parish and you will be taken to the full transcript on the Parish page |
| Your browser, Firefox, IE Explorer, Mozilla, etc., is able to search by name within any page that is displayed on screen. |
| 6. The 1841, 1851, 1861, 1871, 1881 & 1891 census copies that I have are all indexed by personal name, so you may ask me for single individuals and/or their families.. |
| PARISH REGISTERS.. |
| 1. The copies I have(and those held by others) are of original registers and have been purchased in microfiche form from the Devon Record Office. |
| 2. The original registers were sometimes in appalling condition but some of the reproductions are also not very good. This is one reason why it is quite out of the question to do global searches by surname over lengthy periods of time. |
| 3. Another reason for restricting searches is the disorganised manner of entry in the older registers. Largely "free-form", it is extremely difficult to scan any page for a specific name when the entries are not uniformly tabulated |
| All entries are in date order only and "General" registers have births, burials and marriages mixed together!. |
| 4. Registers after 1812 are a different matter as most events were tabulated and it is much easier to search by surname - or even forename(s). |
| NOTE.. |
| The resources listed on this website and which are available for searching have all been purchased by me or, in a few cases, donated. |
| Whilst I do not, and never will, charge for my services any offers of help to extend this collection would be gratefully accepted. |
| Should you feel inclined to make a donation of any kind, please email Ray |
| Old databases, microfiche, etc., that you no longer require could also prove useful. |
|
END |