Population, Occupation and Ages in Buxton, Nfk

[Geoffers]

Buxton, Norfolk, is in many respects is a fairly typical rural parish, at least for Norfolk - so I've extracted a few facts and figures from the census for 1861 (RG9/1206 folios 115 -128). They give an idea of how many people were employed in different jobs, services available and age spread of the community

Population:
640, comprising 285 male and 355 female.
Living in 134 dwellings, 8 more were uninhabited.
335 (52.3%) of those living there, were born in the parish

Ages:
Splitting the population into ages by decade shows:

Aged 0-9 - 175 (27.3%)
Aged 10-19 - 114 (17.8%)
Aged 20-29 - 91 (14.2%)
Aged 30-39 - 96 (15%)
Aged 40-49 - 39 (6.1%)
Aged 50-59 - 53 (8.3%)
Aged 60-69 - 43 (6.7%)
Aged 70-79 - 19 (2.9%)
Aged 80-89 - 8 (1.2%)
Aged 90+ - 2 (0.3%)

continued....

[Geoffers]

Occupations:

Landowner 3
Manufacturer 1

Farmer 9
Agricultural labourers 86
Gardener 6

Blacksmith 3
Farrier 1
Saddler 1

Vet 1

Gamekeper 1
Vermin Control 1

Domestic Service 37

Miller 5
Malster 1
Baker 1
Butcher 4

Tailor 11
Dressmaker 6
Hatmaker 1
Shoemaker 7
Laundress 5

continued.....

[Geoffers]

Occupations in Buxton 1861, continued:

Boatman 4
Bricklayer 4
Builder 1
Carpenter 13

Upholsterer 1
Watchmaker 1
Weaver 6

Engine Driver 1

Merchant 1
Shopkeeper 3
Innkeepers 2

Carrier 1
Porter 1

Vicars 2
Relief Officer 1
Teachers 6
Governess 1

[Rod Neep]

Buxton, Norfolk,
Ages:
Splitting the population into ages by decade shows:

Aged 0-9 - 175 (27.3%)
Aged 10-19 - 114 (17.8%)
Aged 20-29 - 91 (14.2%)
Aged 30-39 - 96 (15%)
Aged 40-49 - 39 (6.1%)
Aged 50-59 - 53 (8.3%)


This sort of pattern is always interesting. Note the population boom of the 1850s (perhaps inflated by the fact that quite a few of the under 2 year olds will die young), but especially note the low figure for the 40-49 age group. That low figure turns up so often in that age group, as a result of the 1832 cholera epidemic striking those that were the most vulnerable at the time.

Rod

[Geoffers]

This sort of pattern is always interesting. Note the population boom of the 1850s (perhaps inflated by the fact that quite a few of the under 2 year olds will die young), but especially note the low figure for the 40-49 age group. That low figure turns up so often in that age group, as a result of the 1832 cholera epidemic striking those that were the most vulnerable at the time.
RodLooking at the registers for North East of Norfolk, many of them note the epidemics that were bumping folk off at the time (Cholera, Diphtheria, Scarlet Fever, Smallpox, etc) and by comparing the numbers of burials in the different parish registers, it is possible to follow the spread of fatal illnesses along the Bure Valley and Northern Broads. The spread of Cholera and Diphtheria in two outbreaks in the 1840's knocked back the population substantially. In Buxton, the usual number of burials was only about 11 per year, but in the 5 years 1845-1849, 120 were buried.

Geoffers

[Geoffers]

Looking at the census for Buxton in 1901 produces an interesting comparison with the census from 1861.

Total population 523 - 249 male, 274 female
Living in 122 dwellings, 10 more were unoccupied
232 (44.4%) of those living in the parish were born there.


Ages in 1901
Aged 0-9 - 109 (20.4%) - in 1861, 175 (27.3%)
Aged 10-19 - 128 (24.5%) - in 1861, 114 (17.8%)
Aged 20-29 - 72 (13.8%) - in 1861, 91 (14.2%)
Aged 30-39 - 49 (9.4%) - in 1861, 96 (15%)
Aged 40-49 - 60 (11.4%) - in 1861, 39 (6.1%)
Aged 50-59 - 38 (7.3%) - in 1861, 53 (8.3%)
Aged 60-69 - 32 (6.1%) - in 1861, 43 (6.7%)
Aged 70-79 - 29 (5.6%) - in 1861, 19 (2.9%)
Aged 80-89 - 6 (1.1%) - in 1861, 8 (1.2%)
Aged 90+ - 0 - in 1861, 2 (0.3%)

continued.........

[Geoffers]

Note that in 1901 the population had decreased by 117 over 40 years - like so many other rural parishes, Buxton had suffered from migration, this is reflected in the lowering birth rate with only 20% of the population under 10 (down 7% in 40 years).

Occupations had changed too, though farming was still the major employer in the area. By 1901, centuries of weaving in the parish had come to an end. Other, new occupations had taken over, with the introduction of the railway.

Occupations:
7 farmer
2 farm bailiff
51 aglab
7 gardener
1 cattle dealer
2 gamekeeper
1 Theshing machine owner
1 Traction Engine Driver
3 woodman

32 dom servt
4 charwoman
2 dressmaker
5 laundress
1 Caretaker

1 builder
12 bricklayer

[Geoffers]

More occupations in 1901, although specific to Buxton, they give a good idea of the spread of employment in 1901 in a rural village

3 blacksmith
2 groom
1 harness maker
1 coachman

1 basketmaker
1 paperhanger
13 labr

2 Innkeeper
1 Barmaid

1 Police
1 Vicar
6 teacher
1 author

1 Rly labr
2 Rly Porter
1 Rly signalman
1 Rly Stn keeper
2 Engine Driver
1 coal carter
1 coal yard labr

[Geoffers]

.....and finally from 1901

4 butcher
9 carpenter
4 shoemaker

2 shopkeeper
1 general dealer
2 grocer
2 shop assistant
1 errand boy

1 Postman
1 Postmaster
1 Post Office Clerk
1 Porter

2 Miller
2 flour merchant
1 malster

1 dredger
3 wherryman

[Geoffers]

Looking at the registers for North East of Norfolk, many of them note the epidemics that were bumping folk off at the time (Cholera, Diphtheria, Scarlet Fever, Smallpox, etc) and by comparing the numbers of burials in the different parish registers, it is possible to follow the spread of fatal illnesses along the Bure Valley and Northern Broads.
'The Encylopedia of Plague and Pestilence' by George C Kohn, ISBN 9 781853 267536 records that a Cholera outbreak occurred in Britain in 1848-9. Whilst useful information, how does this relate to a community - how many actually died?

Looking at the registers for Buxton, the following numbers of burials are recorded:
1848 - 17
1849 - 34
1850 - 18
1851 - 19

continued......

[Geoffers]

(part 2)
This spike in the numbers is enough on it's own to point to something having happened. The Curate also added the 'Cholera' or 'Typhus fever' to 13 of the entries, indicating the extent of the outbreak; he may not have recorded the cause for all the victims of the outbreak.

In an average year, 11 or 12 burials took place in Buxton - roughly 1 in 50, or 2 per cent of the population - for 1849 it rose to 1 in 20. No where near as devastating for a large urban area; but still significant.

This peak in burials is also earlier in Buxton, than nearby parishes. Coltishall, Horstead, Hevingham, Aylsham and Hainford all had peaks in burials in 1850 - in each case the numbers of burials roughly doubled.

continued....

[Geoffers]

(part 3)
Most families were not affected, but looking at the names of those who were buried there were 6 members of the FRANKLING family and 5 COPLAND (I shall have to see if I can find where in the village they were living at the time).

Down the road in Horstead in 1850, 3 HOWES, 2 RICHARDSONs, 3 FOULGERs and 2 WILLIMOTTs were buried in 1850. The majority of all these being young children. With limited medical assistance available and a poor understanding of the causes of disease outbreaks of illness were common.

But even so, the deaths must have caused great distress amongst a small rural community - and then there must have been the added fear of where it might strike next?

Geoffers

[coenmfam]

Thats fascinating Geoffers.
My "John Coe" emigrated from England about 1849 - 1850, and I've been wondering for ages why he did, this gives me a better idea of what was happening at that time.

Its also interesting to note how many made it into their eighties and nineties.

regards
Neville

[Geoffers]

This is just a snapshot of one outbreak; it came soon after outbreaks of smallpox and the dreaded scarlet fever. Combine this with poor wages in agriculture, encouragement to migrate to urban areas in order to work in factories and assisted emigration under the Poor Law Amendment Act; and it becomes easier to understand how people may have felt that there was no reason to stay in their 'home' village.

A simple way of looking at how things changed in many rural Norfolk parishes is to look at the 1851 census for a village - check the birthplaces and the total population. Then check the 1881 and 1901 census as a comparison. Also compare the 'local' surnames in these census returns and see how they changed. There are always exceptions, but you will often find that out of 10 or 12 local surnames, 3 or 4 will disappear and instead almost everyone being born within a couple of miles of the parish - 'foreigners' creep in, some from as far away as Norwich - some from even further.

Geoffers