Censusitis?

[busyglen]

Now I `know' that I've been looking at too many Census pages!! I've just read Richard Cowdry as Cow-dry not Cowdrey!! What an unusual name I thought, perhaps he was a farmer? :) Then....I realised my stupid mistake and couldn't stop laughing!

Today's other interesting names were: F.D Ironmonger, who was a machine engineer, and Charles Vanlook who was a Coachman from Brussels. I suspect the Van should have been separated, but it was written as one word.

Oh well, back to the grindstone! ;)

Glenys

[Ken Boyce]

Censusitis is highly contageous particularly the Indexphrenitis strain

For example here are some cryptic job clues taken from the infamous 1901 Index late at night <VBY>.

"Tobblecount Shopkeeper" (A drunken storekeeper taking stock?)

"Central Tel Officer Tube Attent Domt" (A Cockney Information

Officer on the London underground railway?)

"Buctcher Journeyman" (A sneezing Mass Murderer?)

"Watchman Apprentic" (a trainee to a City Night Watchman who has

only completed half training in the use of a mechanical

time-piece?)

"Burth Literary Age Journalist" (pre-New Age writer?)

"Monthly Nurse" (medical aid on the Hire-Purchase?)

"Feather Curler" (a Scottish hat-trick on ice?)

Regards

[busyglen]

I love the explanation of the Monthly Nurse!! And...the Buctcher Journeyman!!

Glenys

[GeoffD]

Maybe 'censusitis' caused a transcriber to read 'Shepherd's Bush' as 'Shefberd, Bucks' on one of great-grandad Henry Dyer's census entries.

Birth: 1861 - Shefberd, Buckinghamshire, England
Civil: Pinner
Residence: 1871 - Pinner, Middlesex, England
Source: Census - 1871 England Census

Is there such a place as Shefberd?

[busyglen]

Maybe 'censusitis' caused a transcriber to read 'Shepherd's Bush' as 'Shefberd, Bucks' on one of great-grandad Henry Dyer's census entries.

Birth: 1861 - Shefberd, Buckinghamshire, England
Civil: Pinner
Residence: 1871 - Pinner, Middlesex, England
Source: Census - 1871 England Census

Is there such a place as Shefberd?

Did a search of place names, but couldn't find Shefberd! You can see how the words could be misread, if the writing wasn't too clear. You want to see some of the words I came up with when transcribing.....nothing like they actually should have been I am sure, but just a wild guess on occasions. Hopefully when the pieces had been checked, someone would have had a better idea than I and corrected it.

What a pity they didn't have portable typewriters to carry around....but then I suppose they could have hit the wrong keys.....can't win can we? :(

Glenys

[GeoffD]

What a pity they didn't have portable typewriters to carry around....but then I suppose they could have hit the wrong keys.....can't win can we? :(

Glenys

The transcriber's lot is certainly made worse by the handwriting variations. I found Henry Dyer's father's marriage when I stumbled on William ***** Dyer in Free BMD. I immeadiately saw that on the image that the ***** was 'White', but then I knew what I was looking for.

I will soon be finding out first hand about the difficulties of trnscription - Terry is sending me a CD with some Hemyock Hundred 1841 census to transcribe (and maybe do a bit of sneaky research as I go?).

Geoff, in The Colonies

[busyglen]

"I will soon be finding out first hand about the difficulties of trnscription - Terry is sending me a CD with some Hemyock Hundred 1841 census to transcribe (and maybe do a bit of sneaky research as I go?)."

That's what it's all about Geoff. When I started transcribing, it was in the hopes that I would come across `family' whilst doing so. It was that which spurred me on. Unfortunately....on one piece I didn't find anyone, but that's life, and hopefully someone else will. :)

Good luck.

Glenys

[Terry]

Hi Geoff, the CD went off in the post Saturday lunchtime (UK time), so should be winging its way to the Antipodes as we speak.

Of Course, never one to miss an opportunity:-)) if anyone else would like to help out with census transcription projects for Devon, (joint Devon FHS/FreeCEN projects) or any other county for that matter- for Devon please contact myself at terryleaman@tiscali.co.uk

[GeoffD]

Well, Terry, it will probably beat me back from Viet Nam. If I'd not taken so long to ask you, I could have been sitting here in the hotel transcribing.
;)

[Terry]

Hi geoff, the way the post has been lately, its quicker to send to Australia than it is from Torquay to London- Its probably sat at home waiting for you.

[busyglen]

I hope I am not boring you with this thread, but I thought I would let you know what today's efforts revealed and also led me to a flash of inspiration!!

Today's topic was `occupations' and the first one I found was Ironmonger...that's the first time I've come across that although it's perfectly logical, as quite often names came from occupations. Strangely enough he was a mechanical engineer. The rest were fairly simple ie. Sweep, Gardner, Baker, Painter, Fletcher, Groom, Cooper, Cook, Barber, and Dancer.

Whilst pausing on a name that meant something to me from helping someone else's research, I noticed the wife's name of Emma. Now this is the christian name of the person I am looking for. I suddenly realised, that there was another avenue that I hadn't thought of, and that (although I assumed she was dead) she could have remarried and have another name! It's certainly a possibility....not that it helps a lot, but another avenue that I hadn't even considered....so, my form of easing the boredom has at least given me food for thought! ;)

Glenys

[mary elms]

:) Glenys, you're never boring ......... and I'm forever getting into trouble for the kind of lateral thinking you describe. I have a tendancy to put something that someone's said or written together in my mind with something I was thinking about and come up with something very different that makes me giggle - usually at quite the wrong moment. Wish it would help me with some of my families though |banghead|

:confused: just wondered - have you crossed two of your threads here?

Mary.

[busyglen]

:) Glenys, you're never boring ......... and I'm forever getting into trouble for the kind of lateral thinking you describe. I have a tendancy to put something that someone's said or written together in my mind with something I was thinking about and come up with something very different that makes me giggle - usually at quite the wrong moment. Wish it would help me with some of my families though |banghead|

:confused: just wondered - have you crossed two of your threads here?

Mary.

Doh!! How right you are Mary!! I really am going mad!! I should have put this on the Boredom thread.....sorry!!! I put it down to the fact that I am exhausted from having the bathroom ripped out and redone, plus I am trying to remove everything from the cupboards in the kitchen, as that is going to be ripped out in a couple of weeks. To be honest, I don't know whether I am coming or going.....probably the latter :D It's only escaping to this forum now and again that is keeping me sane.....(perhaps not)

Anyway, apologies for confusing everyone.

Glenys

[mary elms]

I am exhausted from having the bathroom ripped out and redone, plus I am trying to remove everything from the cupboards in the kitchen, as that is going to be ripped out in a couple of weeks.
:eek: you're excused!!!! You've also reminded me that I've got that coming - the bathroom and the ensuite that is. We've managed to put it off for two years so far but it really won't stretch much further! |shakehead |help|


Mary.

[GeoffD]

OK, I've got it nutted out - the ideal census transcriber's working layout. One computer running the spreadsheet and on-line at the same time. Another computer sitting beside you showing the census page image. Why on-line at the same time? To check whether "Silk Throwster Labourer" is a real occupation or a result of a fevered brain and eyestrain. :o Also, to check whether the name you think you have deciphered shows up in a later census in the same general locality.

[Guy Etchells]

OK, I've got it nutted out - the ideal census transcriber's working layout. One computer running the spreadsheet and on-line at the same time. Another computer sitting beside you showing the census page image. Why on-line at the same time? To check whether "Silk Throwster Labourer" is a real occupation or a result of a fevered brain and eyestrain. :o Also, to check whether the name you think you have deciphered shows up in a later census in the same general locality.

You have almost described my work-desk - see the photo in my profile for part of the layout.

To my left a microfiche reader in front the twin screens of my computer - no need for two computers as it is possible to run multiple screens on one computer, to the right my microfilm reader.
I have been running dual screens on my computer for about three years now and am lost when I use another computer a the dual screen.
The graphics card required costs the same as other graphics cards but the difference is amazing.
Cheers
Guy

[GeoffD]

Unfortunately, daughter's use (for Uni) of the 'big' computer means that I am mostly restricted to laptop(s).

And I forgot that the other essential is a TARDIS so you can pop back and keep reminding enumerators to write neatly and spell consistently. |rant|

[busyglen]

Unfortunately, daughter's use (for Uni) of the 'big' computer means that I am mostly restricted to laptop(s).

And I forgot that the other essential is a TARDIS so you can pop back and keep reminding enumerators to write neatly and spell consistently. |rant|

Shame they didn't listen then isn't it Geoff? All that time wasted. ;)

Glenys

[GeoffD]

Bestsy or Betsey, Ann or Anne, Betty or Bettey - all at the whim of the enumerator. Spelled one way in one enumeration district, another in the next. Marshell or Marshill?

Nah - it didn't work.

[GeoffD]

... is waking in the middle of the night when your feeble brain has just worked out what that near-illegible name really is!

[GeoffD]

My only problem with US Census (1870 and 1880 are all that I was interested in) has been in the transcription of 1880 where Great Aunt Ella's birthplace of 'Maine' was transcribed as 'Minn'. I suppose it made some sort of sense, because by then other children had been born in Wisconsin and Illinois, so the transcriber just guessed another mid-west state. In 1870, it was very clearly written as 'Maine'.

[GeoffD]

... is waking in the middle of the night when your feeble brain has just worked out what that near-illegible name really is!

And now I have a name that, despite being written quite clearly, is still not revealing itself to me. Anyone with access to Devon 1841 images who can help solve this mystery? I know that others (checker and validator) will come along and apply their skills, but this one is driving me batty.

Dunkeswell HO107/230/13 f7 p9
Wolford Lodge - four independent spinsters, three aged 50 and one 33, all with the same surname, with a houseful of servants, giving only their initials.


:confused:

[Mythology]

Simcoe look most likely to me, but I wouldn't put too much money on it.

[GeoffD]

Simcoe look most likely to me, but I wouldn't put too much money on it.

That makes sense! That particular enumerator had some quirks to his handwriting.

Thanks, Myth.

(I wonder if they were as coy about giving their full names in the 1851?)

OK, stacks of Simcoe names associated with the area.

And this: "Mrs. E.P. Simcoe owns a great part of the soil, and is lady of the manor. She has a pleasant seat at the south end of the parish, called Wolford Lodge, 4 miles N.N.W. of Honiton. This mansion was the seat of the late General Simcoe, ..." from http://genuki.cs.ncl.ac.uk/DEV/Dunkeswell/ (where else?)

*note to self* Check out the various home pages for these parishes more often.

[AnnB]

I wonder if they were as coy about giving their full names in the 1851?


Hello Geoff

You aren't the only one to have trouble with the Sircoe Sisters ;)
In 1851 (on the LDS 3 Counties CD), they have been transcribed as Sirmoc :eek: BUT there are first names for the 3 who survive - Ann, Caroline and Sophia J.
They each have the occupation of 'Jemo Holder' - which I suspect should be something like Fund Holder, although it must have been badly written to get Jemo out of Fund!

Best wishes
Ann

[GeoffD]

You aren't the only one to have trouble with the Sircoe Sisters ;)


The silly thing is, the information was there for the looking. And I've found a couple of other scrawled naes that have suddenly become a little more sensible just by spending a bit of time on the parish pages.

[Mythology]

"They each have the occupation of 'Jemo Holder' - which I suspect should be something like Fund Holder"

Nah - this lot got all the dosh to buy Wolford Lodge by committing a series of burglaries. ;)
Ann, being North Devon, wouldn't know this, of course, but "Jemo Holder" is an East Devon variant of "Jemmy Holder".

(Well, that's my theory and I'm sticking to it .....)
:)

[AnnB]

I'll av you no Myf, that I wus brung up in East London, so I no all abaht slang. Just cos my lot came from Norf Devon a few years back, don't mean I've ad a sheltered life. I rekon the 'Sircoe Sisters' were someow tied in wiv the 'Kray Twins' - that's my story and I'm sticking wiv it. :D

And, as my ancestors would have said (and all good Devonians still do)
Proper Job
Ann