1911 census

[Simon Wood]

Hi Robert,

A triumph of taking your money before delivering the promised goods.

The modern way.

Regards,

Simon

[Robert]

It wouldn't matter what they had available and at what price - at the speed they're running at the moment, I'd have time to take a train to Kew, search the 1911, come back, have my sausages and then find the Ancestry page I wanted was STILL downloading.

[Simon Wood]

Hi All,

Ancestry's 12-year-old marketing director needs a sharp kick up the butt.

His whole "prick tease" pricing strategy is denying them a whole pile of business.

Regards,

Simon

[Chris]

I went to Kew today and was pleasantly surprised to find plenty of terminals available. A3 printouts at 20p each are definitely better value than downloads from the website at £3!

[Robert]

Thanks for that, Chris. I'm not actually using the census myself, but I think at some point I will take out a subscription to Find My Past and then I'll use it when it becomes part of the package. I don't know whether I'll keep the Ancestry one going - it would help if they could fix their site.

[Chris]

Wildcards can now be used in the search form, for both given names and surnames.

[Ben]

Not having much luck tracing Joseph Fleming.

The only "patient" to emerge as a remotely viable candidate in terms of known alias, age and location is one G.E. Evans, 51, single, labourer. Under "Industry or service with which worker is connected" is the number "330", whatever that means. Birthplace is unfortunately listed as Poplar, and the nature of the infirmery is blanked out. The district is listed as Romford, Essex, which wouldn't be too far out for Claybury asylum, and we know he used the alias "James Evans".

Not very promising, I'm afraid, but it's the closest I can find.

His mother, Henrietta Flemming, is easily traceable to Shoreditch where she is listed as an 89-year-old patient.

Best regards,
Ben

[Chris]

I have posted transcripts of the entries for Joseph Lavender (Lawende) and Aaron Kozminski to the appropriate threads:

http://forum.casebook.org/showpost.php?p=63119&postcount=25

http://forum.casebook.org/showpost.php?p=63125&postcount=17

[Chris]

For those searching the 1911 census, I have read a tip whereby it is possible to search by first name only. What you apparently have to do is to enter (,) - a comma inside two brackets - in the surname field.

Many thanks for that - it works a treat. My first attempt turned up Aaron "Kozminki" in an institution near Watford...

I only hope it lasts!

[Robert]

For those searching the 1911 census, I have read a tip whereby it is possible to search by first name only. What you apparently have to do is to enter (,) - a comma inside two brackets - in the surname field.

[miss marple]

Hi Brenda,
Daniel Barnett died in December 1906 ref Whitechapel 1c202.
Miss Marple

[Robert]

Since it's the "National" Archives you'd have thought there'd be computer hook-ups for those who live in Wales, Scotland and other far-flung places. This kind of reminds me of the days when the King's sheriffs used to load up the King's taxes on donkeys and plod their way south to the Exchequer, there to hand over said taxes in return for notched wooden tallies as receipts - which ended up burning down Parliament in 1834. Strewth!

[Chris]

Just to confirm that the 1911 census can be viewed for free at the National Archives at Kew:
"The 1911 census is accessible on dedicated machines only at The National Archives. Each terminal is available for a maximum of one hour and must be booked onsite prior to use. There is a dedicated 1911 booking point near the main ground floor entrance."

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/rdleaflet.asp?sLeafletID=326&j=1

I dare say these "dedicated machines" will be pretty busy for the foreseeable future, though.

[Mike Covell]

I was on Ancestry for a year, just to get all the Stephenson information. I gained entries for the Stephenson family, Dawber family, and all the bit part players that they had dealings with.

It helped build a bigger picture, but once I had got what I wanted I cancelled my subscription as it was becoming expansive, and sloooow!

[Robert]

Hi Brenda

Well, I suppose it gives a new angle on folks trying to trace their ancestry :

Step 1 : They subscribe to Ancestry
Step 2 : They look for their ancestors
Step 3 : Before they can find them, they find they've joined them.

Problem solved.