Other info on the 1931 Census of Canada

 

Finally, we are able to search the 1931 Census of Canada on Ancestry by name, and attach them to profiles. I’d like to remind you that if you come across spelling errors, please correct them while you are there. It only takes a few seconds. Click on “add or update information” on the left at record view. 

At Ancestry on the 1931 census search page scroll down where you can (and should) read the info about the census. I imagine that soon LAC will publish more info, as in other years… district and subdistrict names, street index, and instructions to enumerators. 

In the meantime you can read the instructions to enumerators here… 

Instructions for Northwest Territories, parts of Yukon, Hudson’s Bay here

In case anyone has an ancestor who was an enumerator commissioner for the 1931 census, or you don’t know and would like to check, or you’re just interested… they are listed by province and district in the Report of the Auditor General of Canada 1932-1933 (mark 938). The Commissioner is responsible for each enumerator in his district, who each have a subdistrict. The commissioner is also responsible for giving the enumerators in his district training and handing out supplies they will need to take the census.

Remember that many cities standardized house numbers around this time. If you think your ancestor moved down the street since the last census, it’s more than likely that their house number (and in some cases street name!) was changed. 

Related Posts:

Getting more from a census

Canada Census Takers

Getting more from a census

When I get a census record for an ancestor, first thing I do is read the instructions to the enumerator. They usually give the date the census is to be taken, plus who to count and there may be instructions regarding age. At Ancestry once you've clicked on a result for one of the censuses, while still at the Record part click on the title of the record...  

When the search window opens, scroll down to the About section. 

Or you can go to a site that has free censuses, most will have info about how they were collected and any special instructions. Family Search also has info on the censuses. Also check for schedules of each census, which ones survived, and where to find them, and if there were any issues with that census.

Library and Archives Canada, Censuses

Now I'm ready to record all the information across the line.. age, religion, occupation, etc... whatever was under each heading. 

Next I check that census page plus a page or two on either side to see who their neighbours are. Often family members, or a future spouse lived close to one another.  

I also record the name of the enumerator. Then I check the first and last pages of that enumerator's section to see what notes he wrote.  I could not find my 2x great grandfather on the 1851 census for Frontenac, Ontario. I knew their daughter's future husband was a close neighbour so I checked that family on the census. They and some of their other neighbours were there, just not my ancestor nor his direct neighbours! Why? I then went to the page of that section of the census where the enumerator wrote his notes... 

"I beg most respectfully to state for the consideration of the gentlemen composing the Board of Statistics, that owing to the unprecedented fall of snow, and the ruggedness of this part of the country, coupled with the very limited number of cross roads open, I experienced great difficulty in procuring the required information, twenty four days is the amount of time I spent in completing the census of this district."

Well, if he did procure the information of my ancestor's family and their neighbours in those twenty-four days, he didn't include them on the forms. Luckily I found my 2x ggf in the 1855 directory, though that doesn't tell me who else was living there. 

Relevant links

US Census Enumerator Instructions, per year

Canada Census Enumerator Instructions, per year

Scotland Census Enumerator Instructions, per year

The first Commonwealth of Australia census 1911

Censuses of Great Britain

Canada 150 - St François, Trois Rivières

During our country's 150th anniversary celebration of confederation I will write posts titled Canada 150 with a link to a publication or website I find that may help you tell the story of your Canadian ancestors.
Click on the Canada 150 label on the right or at the bottom to see all the posts.

Today I have for you...

 St. François, 1844

An accounting of each property owner in the Parish of St François, and how much they had to contribute towards the building of a new church. 

DISTRICT OF TROIS-RIVIERES

PARISH OF ST FRANCOIS

"Acte de cotisation de la paroisse de St François district susdit, pour subvenir aux dépenses nécessaire à la contruction d'une Eglise et dépendances, dans la dite paroisse, suivant le dévis et estimation annexés à la suite du présent."

"Act of Contributions for the Parish of St François, abovementioned district, in order to provide for the necessary expenses for the construction of a Church and outbuildings in the said parish, according to the estimate and appendices appended hereto."

I just wish they had scanned the book with the pages that go together opposite, but no, once you find the name you have to turn to the next page for the information that goes with that property owner. At least it was done. 

This one I put together properly

The headings are: 

- name of property owner

- real 

- putative 

- residence 

- land 

- emplacements 

- size of property 

- built properties 

- value of each property 

- contributions for each property 

- contributions for each property owner.


The residences named are mostly in St François, but a few are in Yamaska, Montreal, Sorel, St Aimé, St David, Nicolet, La Baie, Quebec.

At the end there is a list of needed materials and their cost, giving an estimate to build the church of ￡4231 13s 6d.

Relevant Links

Différents contrats concernant la paroisse de St. François du Lac, 1844

(Various contracts concerning the parish of St. François du Lac, 1844) 

The Doomsday Book

I'm sure most people researching their ancestors in England have heard of the Doomsday Book. The Doomsday Book is a work written in Latin, completed in 1086 by order of King William the Conqueror to make a "great survey" (like a census) of properties and holdings in 31 counties of England tax assessment purposes. You have probably seen references to it in histories of places.

Historic Byways and Highways of Old England 1900, pg 33

Since this ancient book can no longer be consulted by the public it has been made available online and searchable by place at the Open Doomsday site, built by Anna Powell-Smith. They also uploaded the pages to Internet Archive by county.

At Open Doomsday when you do a search your results will give you a translation of the latin text, an image of the original text plus a link to the whole page.

I did a search for the village of Loddiswell, situated on the River Avon in Devon, and where I find my King ancestors in the 1700s. I learn that Lodeswille was a sizable village of 44 households: 20 of villagers, 10 of smallholders, 8 of slaves and 6 of cottagers. There were 12 ploughlands and 10 plough teams, 1 cob (horse), 4 cattle, 6 pigs, 42 sheep and 11 goats. Other resources consisted of 1 lord's land, 13 acres of meadow, half a league of pasture land, 1 league of woodland, and 1 fishery.

Lodeswille, Doomsday Book for Devon, pg xix

It was deemed to be taxed very low for its size at 2 geld units. A unit is described as a hide, which is a measure of land of about 120 acres, thought sufficient to support one household. In 1086 the Lord and tenant-in-chief was Iudhael of Totnes.

When writing about your ancestors, include the history of where they lived.



Relevant Links

Doomsday Book info at Wikipedia

Doomsday Book at National Archive

Open Doomsday

Hull Doomsday Project

Doomsday Book at Internet Archive

Doomsday Book Glossary

The Doomsday Book Online (info)

Canada Census Takers

When it came time to conduct the census in Canada, people were hired to go door to door to take down the information.  They were paid for the time they took from their daily schedule for instruction on how to take the census, as well as for doing the work. Some may have been reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses. The enumerators that were given distant or rural routes were paid travel expenses. Some cities hired interpreters for the duration, while in other cities the enumerator paid for his own interpreter and was reimbursed under the travel allowance section with a * beside the amount.

The Sessional Papers of the Dominion of Canada of 1913 (Volume 1, Part 1) holds reports by the Auditor General, which include payments to 1911 Census takers and other officials under the Agricultural Department Expenditures (Pg C68). They are listed by Province, and it gives the route, enumerators name and payment amounts.  

The Sessional Papers of the Dominion of Canada of 1907 (Volume 1, Part 1) holds the same census reports for the 1906 Provincial Census of Western Canada (Pg D10).

Was your ancestor an enumerator for the 1906 or 1911 Census?

For the 1921 census only the Commissioners were named.


Relevant Links


Sessional Papers of the Dominion of Canada 1911

Sessional Papers of the Dominion of Canada 1906

Sessional Papers of the Dominion of Canada 1921

Indigenous Genealogy

If you are researching Aboriginal roots in North America, there are many books at Internet Archive that can help to add to the stories of your ancestors. 

There are books on language, culture, crafts, wars etc... for different areas and tribes.  What I have tried to find for you are materials that have people's names in them. So listed below are some books of interest, and quite a few that list people by name. Also some websites where you may find more information.

In Canada there were often censuses taken, some only reported how many people in a tribe, but quite a few are with names of people. These are at LAC and the link is below.

I also gave some links to Department of Indian Affairs, where my great-grand uncle was a clerk for 27 years.

To search use keywords: indian, native, aboriginal, eskimo, aleut, indigenous people, etc



Relevant Links

Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (US)

LAC (Library and Archives Canada) Indigenous Heritage

Guide to searching Indigenous records at LAC

Tip* Go to Advanced Research, in the first search box type RG10, in next box type what you are looking for (ie; census, register, etc from list on Guide)

LAC - Native censuses - browse, scroll down, next page - click on MIKAN number or "continue viewing this series of images" to go to that record set.

Indian Census Rolls of North America (US) 1885-1940

Rolls of Certain Indian Tribes in Oregon and Washington - 1906

Records for Indigenous Australians

The administration of Indian Affairs in Canada 1915

Annual Report of the Department of Indian Affairs (Several Years) Employees at back

Sessional Papers of the Dominion of Canada (Indian Affairs - employees and salaries)

List of Cherokee general fund warrants unpaid August 20, 1898

Personal names of Indians of New Jersey; List of Six Hundred and Fifty names 1904

Our Indian Homes at Sault Ste Marie, Ont - 1887 ("homes" for boys and girls)

Descriptions and Plans of Certain Indian Reserves in the Province of Manitoba and the North-West Territories

Document ordering Daniel Claus, agent for Indian Affairs in Canada, to pay for leggings

Grammar and dictionary of the Blackfoot language in the Dominion of Canada 1889

Census of the Indians and Eskimos in Canada 1924 (Agencies and Bands)

C. Hart Merriam papers relating to work with California Indians 1850-1974

Charleston 1860 - Tax on property paid by persons of Indian descent and free persons of colour.

The Constitution of the Cambridge branch of the Massachusetts Indian Association; and a list of its officers and members - 1886

Bishop Hare's Indian boarding schools in South Dakota 1910

Chilocco Indian Agricultural School yearbooks (Oklahoma) 1931, 1932, 1933

Voyages and travels of an Indian interpreter and trader; also dictionary of Chippeway, Iroquois, Mohegan, Shawnee and Esquimeaux tongues. 1791

Genealogy on FaceBook list, containing groups for Native American researchers. April 2014




See also the article on Métis

My ancestor was just a farmer... Early Censuses

Tithe Apportionments - Devon, UK

I have heard many people say - "My ancestor was not very interesting, he was just a farmer. So there was nothing written about him." Well, without the farmers the soldiers, merchants and the Sieurs would not eat. So big Yaaaay for the farmers!

Actually, if your ancestor was a farmer, you may be in luck! Some of the early Censuses had an Agricultural schedule B, the most complete being the Canada Census of 1851 (1852). (Sorry, not every farmer's schedule B is available). This is what information I found for one of my husband's ancestors:



According to the Census of 1851 the family lived in a 1 story log house, and owned a "moulin a battre" valued at 15 livres.
They had 160 arpents of land, 100 of which were cultivated. 62 arpents was crops, 37 arpents was pasture, 1 arpent was gardens and orchards, and 60 arpents was woods. In 1851 they produced 40 bushels of wheat, 10 bushels of rye, 2 bushels of peas, 430 bushels of oats and 40 bushels of potatoes, as well as 3300 bales of hay. They had 1 bull, 11 dairy cows, 2 calves, 4 goats, 17 sheep, and 6 pigs. From these they got 600 pounds of butter, 300 pounds of beef and 600 pounds of lard. They produced 12 pounds of wool and lanolin, 15 yards of cloth, 40 yards of canvas and 26 yards of flannel.

Now I can picture these ancestors with their 10 kids in their log house on their farm, and how much work it must have been, but all the kids helping out.
If you do not subscribe to Ancestry, your local library probably does, or your local Family Search Center. In your search filters, in the Keyword space write Agricultural. This schedule B to the 1851 Canada Census is 4 pages, so don't miss any.

You can also get the 1851 agricultural census free at LAC. You go to the 1851 Census page and scroll down to Agricultural Census. Then choose East or West and open the pdf. From there you scroll down to the County, then find the township. In this sample you sill see in the Page column, 1d, 2a (3) then 2b, 2c (4) 2d, 3a (5)... etc.. That means that the starting page with the names is on 2a (right hand of page 3 ), then go to next page 4.. the pages with crops and product is a two page spread, 2b and 2c, then go to next page 5 and the last page of the form, 2d has animals. The next right hand page is the next batch of people, starting with 3a.

 

If you had ancestors in 1762 Quebec, their Census gives similar information, though not quite as detailed. Same for the 1765 Census of Montreal and Trois-Rivières. Both are searchable on Our Roots.

If you are in Great Britain and Ireland you can look for the Tithe Apportionment or Valuation Rolls for your area of interest.


Note:  At LAC you can find images of census for 1666 and 1667, but they are not searchable.  If you find them first on Ancestry or Archive.org, then you can guess how far to go to find the image you are looking for.  It is tedious browsing, but worth it when you get the image of the original census.



Relevant links

Census 1666 (on Internet Archives)

Census 1666 (Originals at LAC)

Census 1667 (On Internet Archives)

Census 1667 (Originals at LAC)

Census 1671 - Acadia

Census 1681

Census of Acadia (Port Royal etc) 1686

Quebec - 1716

Quebec -1744

Recensement des habitants de la ville et gouvernement des Trois-Rivières 1760

Québecen 1762 – Le Recensement du Gouvernement de Quebec

Montréal et des Trois-Rivières: Census 1765

Census 1825

Census 1831

Cadastre abrege de la Seigneurie de I'isle de Montreal (and Vicinity) 1854

Cadastre ancien (terrier) de la seigneurie de Vaudreuil

Heads of Families - US 1790 Census

USA Censuses

Return of owners of land, 1873 England

Ireland Griffiths Valuation

Devon Tithe Maps and Apportionments

See also article on Cadastres