Difference between revisions of "Finding Martha"
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== The 1891 Census Search == | == The 1891 Census Search == | ||
| − | <div align="right">[[Image:1891 Search Criteria.jpeg|300px|thumb|1891 Search Criteria]] | + | <div align="right">[[Image:1891 Search Criteria.jpeg|300px|thumb|1891 Search Criteria]]</div> |
Some of the new information i found in the 1901 | Some of the new information i found in the 1901 | ||
census didn't help much with the 1891 result, the surname was badly mistranscribed and it took a few tries to refine the search, eventually the breakthrough came by adding the parish name as well as the town for a possible<br> | census didn't help much with the 1891 result, the surname was badly mistranscribed and it took a few tries to refine the search, eventually the breakthrough came by adding the parish name as well as the town for a possible<br> | ||
Revision as of 17:10, 22 April 2007
Contents
The first searches
My first census searches revolved around finding Martha, i knew that she married during the 1880's but apart from knowing her approximate age at marriage (from her marriage certificate) i knew nothing more about her early years, it was only through working back in time using census searches i could narrow down the search for her birth and discover more about her.
Each illustration shows exactly what information was entered in the search box, the text alongside explains how i decided to use the search criteria shown, these refined searches show how even a novice can achieve results, if you need help with finding a relative in the census then post a request for help on the Research Advice Forum
The 1901 Census Search
As if to demonstrate that "less i more" when it comes to census searches my first census search was done with very little background information. Just a name and age plus a suspected area where she may have lived was enough to find Martha.
I knew the name Martha Chambers and 1855 for an approximate year of birth, I suspected she was living in Lincoln (she married there in 1855), the census image also gave me the name of one of her children, and showed she was in the same parish in 1901 as the one she married in during 1885. This additional information can help when you search the earlier census years.
By using the search criteria demonstrated in the above illustration this is the result found, viewing the image confirmed it was the correct one.
The 1891 Census Search
Some of the new information i found in the 1901
census didn't help much with the 1891 result, the surname was badly mistranscribed and it took a few tries to refine the search, eventually the breakthrough came by adding the parish name as well as the town for a possible
residence.
The results screen gave a "Martha Gresham, wife of George" with the right year of birth and resident in the right parish, only by viewing the image could i confirm the family group.
The 1881 Census Search
The 1881 census was the first census return i searched before Martha married, i had her maiden name from her marriage certificate and her county of birth from the previous census searches, again her name is mistranscribed but by trying different techniques i eventually found her. It was somewhat of a suprise to find where she was and only by using the information i had gathered could i confirm it was indeed her.
The 1861 Census Search
The 1861 census places Martha in her home county along with her parents and siblings, through the census searches i had followed Martha through a marriage, births of children and three counties, quite a trip tbut the census returns helped to locate her birth record and the marriage for her parents.
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