No. 20 Census information changes over the years

Last time I showed the fairly elementary 1841 census and the format of the 1851 which has been the basis of subsequent Census Records to the 1901 Census which is last that is currently available because of the 100 year confidentiality rule. The format of the 1861 Census is the same as that in 1851.

There is one change in the 1871 Census in that the last column asks the enumerator to note whether a person is "1 Deaf and Dumb, 2 Blind, 3 Imbecile or Idiot, 4 Lunatic". I can't really understand how you differentiate between a person who is an "imbecile or idiot" and one who is a "lunatic", particularly as the enumerators were not medically qualified! Thankfully I haven't, so far, come across any of my ancestors who fitted into these categories but I have seen a person categorised as a "lunatic". I show part of the 1871 Census where one of my great great grandfathers, Owen Griffith, is shown as an agricultural servant at the age of 75 at Tyddyn Gethin, Penmachno the home of Owen Gethin Jones. A little above at Ty'n y Coed a boarder, Elizabeth Davies aged 53 is categorised as a "Lunatic". This seems very cruel.

There are no changes in the 1881 Census but I show and extract from the 1881 census for Cerrig Ceinwen, Angesey, which shows one of my great, great grandmothers, Catherine Morris" living by herself at Hendre Bach aged 71. Under "Occupation" she is described as a "Pauper" which makes me feel really sad. There was, of course, no state pension in those days so ordinary people had to work into their old age as we see Owen Griffith working as a farm servant at the age of 75 or they went to seek charity from the parish and were then categorised as paupers as was Catherine Morris. We should be really thankful for David Lloyd George who started our welfare state through the introduction of the Old Age Pension in 1911, even if it was only five shillings a week at that time!

The 1891 Census saw the question on the Welsh language on the records for the first time. I show the page containing Talywaen, Penmachno, where my great grandfather (born in Glanypwll in 1851, was living with his wife Catherine and four sons; William John aged 15 a quarryman slate dresser; Robert (my grandfather) aged 12 a scholar; Owen aged 8 also a scholar and Thomas aged 4. Under "Language spoken" they all say Welsh as does everyone else on the page except one person who is described as speaking "both" languages. How things have changed!

However by the 1901 Census, Robert, Owen and Thomas are described as speaking both languages so their time at the Penmachno National School was clearly effective.

The next Gwynedd Family History Society meetings are:

Bangor, 2 December (first Tuesday of each month) 7.00pm at the Quakers Meeting Hall, Dean Street: Wynne Roberts, "Aber Ogwen to Ogwen Lake"

Caernarfon, 29 January (last Thursday of each month) 7.00pm at the The Library, Lôn Pafiliwn: Dewi Tomos, "Beirdd Gwlad yn y Teulu"

Dolgellau, 8 January (second Thursday of each month) 7.00pm at the Royal Ship Hotel: BUT this night. "Noson yn yr archifdy / An evening in the Archives"

Llandudno, 8 December (second Monday of each month) 7.00pm at Capel Ebenezer, Abergele Road, Old Colwyn (please note new meeting place):
Members evening

Llangefni, 15 January (third Thursday of each month) 7.15pm at Capel Smyrna, Ffordd Glanhwfa: But this evening "A workshop in the Llangefni Archives"

Pwllheli, 16 January (third Friday of each month) 7.00pm at Capel Seion, Lon Dywod:
Dewi Tomos, "Bardd Gwlad yn y Teulu"