Stonesfield 1801, 1811, 1821 and 1831 Census

jane · Senior Member

Stonesfield 1801, 1811, 1821 and 1831 Census

Linda · Senior Member

Thanks Jane. I didn't realise it was whole villages missing. I thought it was just odd pages. I'm not sure where Mary Oliver would have been living in 1861. One of her daughters was in Ramsden with Mary's sister. In 1851 Mary was in Finstock but the next time she appears is in 1881 in Stonesfield.

With regard to the 1871, that's a good idea about working through the villages. I used to do this with the Familysearch 1881 but that was quite easy as it has a 'next household' facility. My original searches on the census were on the microfiche copies in the Library and perhaps it might be easier to work through these. I have found several people by accident with the most bizarre transcriptions on Findmypast. They have a facility to send in corrections so at least as soon as they are found they can be put right.

Do you know if each company does their own transcribing or whether it is a universal transcription and everyone is the same?

Linda

jane · Senior Member

Linda, according to FindMyPast the 1861 census returns for the following parts of the Woodstock registration district have been lost:

Begbroke, Bladon, Blenheim, Cassington, Combe, Gosford, Hampton Gay, Hampton Poyle, Hensington, Kidlington, Shipton on Cherwell, Stonesfield, Thrupp, Water Eaton, Wolvercote, Woodstock, Wootton, Worton and Yarnton.

On the same site there is no mention of anything missing from Oxfordshire in 1871, so your folk will probably be there somewhere - probably just garbled by the census enumerator or later transcribers. Have you tried working through the villages page-by-page to look for those elusive Olivers? (The old fashioned, pre-internet way! Very tedious for big towns, but quite manageable for villages.)

Jane

Linda · Senior Member

Is it known exactly what areas ( ie - street names)are missing of the 1861 census? I've been unable to trace Mary Oliver and William Augustus on the 1861 and have always assumed they are on the missing pages. I can't trace them on the 1871 either - are there also missing pages on the 1871?

(Sorry Jane - you are probably thinking I should buy the Gibson Guide and sorry Shane I've changed the subject a bit as your original post was about the pre-1841 census)

Thank you both again for you guidance - Linda

jane · Senior Member

Hi Shane and Linda

It is rare indeed for personal details to survive from any of the pre-1841 censuses, so those with Stonesfield ancestors are fortunate in that respect. It goes some way to making up for the lack of the 1861 census for the Stonesfield area.

For a list of what other fragments of the official 1801-1831 censuses and other local listings have survived, it is well worth buying the book Local Census Listings 1522-1930, published by the Family History Partnership. This is just one of their invaluable "Gibson Guides" telling you where to find all sorts of genealogical records.

As Shane has already said, the Stonesfield 1801-1831 censuses have been published in booklet form by the prolific Eureka Partnership. See the Oxon Miscellaneous section of their website for details, or if you're within reach of Witney Library you may be interested to know that there's a reference copy there.

Jane

Linda · Senior Member

How do you find these things Shane? Have you been locked in the stores at St. Luke's over Christmas?

Envious of your skills - Linda

Shane Bywaters · Guru

Hi All,

Most of us will be familiar with the 1841 to 1901 census records, access to the 1911 information is also becoming more and more widespread everyday, however, those with ancestors that were living in Stonesfield in 1801, 1811, 1821 and 1831 may also be interested to know that information from census returns taken in these years have survived and are also available for access.

On 19th November 1800 a bill was brought before parliment which, which when passed and brought into effect the following year, enabled a census or survey to be taken every 10 years.

Stonesfield is unusual in that, although not in its original form, the information from the 1801, 1811, 1821 and 1831 returns have survived by way of each return having been copied into a volume of the vestry minutes.

This document can be accessed at the Oxfordshore Records Office.

In 1801, very simple information such as the name of the head of household, occupation/employment and household numbers were recorded, see examples below:

In 1801 the Oliver's listed are:

Oliver David
Labourer
6(t) 4(m) 2(f)

Oliver John
Labourer
7(t) 5(m) 2(f)

Oliver James
Labourer
7(t) 4(m) 3(f)

In 1811 the Oliver's listed are:

Oliver Jessy
Employed in Trade or Handicraft
4(t) 3(m) 1(f)

Oliver David
Employed in Trade or Handicraft
4(t) 3(m) 1(f)

Oliver John
Employed in Trade or Handicraft
6(t) 5(m) 1(f)

Oliver Widw
All other employment
3(t) 1(m) 2(f)

Oliver James
Employed in Trade or Handicraft
9(t) 5(m) 4(f)

1821 contain a similar level of information however 1831 contains a full list of names per household and a greater level of detail on age and employment type

The information has been turned into a booklet by the Eureka Partnership which can be purchased however I have a copy so if anyone would like anything checking or looking up just let me know and I'll be happy to do so.

Thanks,
Shane