Census Count Down……

Posted on March 21, 2011 by Julie Goucher

Last week the 2011 census paperwork plopped through my letterbox. I had a glance through it and pondered and considered the changes that the census has endured since it commenced in 1801. I also felt a glimpse of sadness, as an article on the BBC website last year suggested that the 2011 census may well be the last one. The official Census sites are HERE and HERE

Initially the census in 1801 was produced as a head count. How many females and males lived within the United Kingdom. Most of the early census’ from 1801 – 1831 have not survived, but every now and again an early one is established as survived, which is a great historical fact, but it does not contain any personal data to the individuals it covered. There are also mini population studies that have survived.

The parish that I have studied extensively is that of Puttenham Surrey. In 1824 there was a document called the Preambulation of Puttenham in which those who walked the boundaries of the parish are listed. This was not compulsory, but it does name those who took part and as such is not conclusive in the evidence it leaves behind, it does occur during the time scale of the early census’ when naming of individuals was not done and the early census have in part not survived.

There has been a census every ten years since 1801, with the exception of the 1941 Census which didn’t occur because of the Second World War. The dates for the census from 1801, which is the earliest Census with any specific data relating to individuals, until 2011 are as follows:

10th March 1801
27th May 1811
28th May 1821
30th May 1831
6th June 1841
30th March 1851
7th April 1861
2nd April 1871
3rd April 1881
5th April 1891
31 March 1901
2nd April 1911
19th June 1921
26th April 1931 (England & Wales) and destroyed by enemy action in 1942
none in 1941
8th April 1951
23rd April 1961
25th April 1971
5th April 1981
21st April 1991
29th April 2001
27th March 2011

There are two additions, which can be of use to those researching. In 1939 The National Registration Act came into force as an emergency action due to the Second World War and in 1966 there was a trailling of alternative methods of data collecting.

The census date for 2011 is 27th March and I reflected on the census that I will appear on. There will be genealogical mysteries for future generations if anyone is looking for me on the census.
  • In 1971 I appear on the Guildford Surrey Census with my Mum, and her parents
  • In 1981 I appear on the Guildford Surrey Census with my Mum and her mother only
  • In 1991 I do not appear on the Census anywhere in the UK as I was overseas. I also do not appear on that Census either.
  • In 2001 I am in Devon with a different surname having married in another overseas Country and living with my husband. My Mum will appear also at my address.
  • In 2011 I am in Devon with the same surname as in the 2001 census with my husband and my Mum recorded as a visitor.
The questions of the 2011 Census are not I think particularly intrusive. There are some basic surprises. There is no reference to where I was born, only specifying England, Wales and so forth. There is more data and interest on how many rooms my home has and who owns it.

In 2001, I took a photocopy of the census form before I returned it. In the 2011 Census we can complete the forms online, which reflects the technological changes that our Society has undergone in the last ten years. We still haven’t decided whether to complete online this year and I have just under a week before we have to make the decision.

How will you complete yours and will you archive a copy?
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Sunday Salon

Posted on March 20, 2011 by Julie Goucher

The new day job suddenly cranked up a notch last week, which I was a little unprepared for, and consequently I was exhausted by the end of the week. I am sure my Thyroid is misbehaving again as I also felt a little out of sorts, which I really don’t have time for.

Last week I received in the post a couple of books that I had ordered via eBay – three of the five books in the Australian series by Aaron Fletcher. Wallaby Track,Outback Legacy and Outback Station. I had also ordered Castaway by the same author and only when it arrived did I realise that it is not book 3 of the Australian series but a book in the set about New Zealand. Very frustrating! In the front it does mention that the author is an American from I think California. I don’t have the book in front of me to check.
I have recently signed up for the Spring Reading Thing which started today. Click HERE for details of signing up for the event and to see what I am planning to read.
This week I have also completed a book review for the eBook Fading Scars by Paige Day. The review is to be added to my blog during the week. It was a tear jerker and incredibly moving.
Last week I ordered online three books from Waterstones. I had been given a voucher and wanted to select a few books that I would keep rather than paperbacks that I would read and potentially pass along in a year or two. One thing I noticed was that the price was not competitive when compared to Amazon and the free shipping a little on the slow side!
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In My Mailbox – Week 6

Posted on March 20, 2011 by Julie Goucher

The new day job suddenly cranked up a notch last week, which I was a little unprepared for, and consequently I was exhausted by the end of the week. I am sure my Thyroid is misbehaving again as I also felt a little out of sorts, which I really don’t have time for.

As a result, I have got a bit behind on my blogging and I have various posts to edit and then post, and I also missed my regular “In the Mail Box” post for last Monday, so now we are a day early with the list of books acquired in the last two weeks.
  1. Wallaby Track by Aaron Fletcher
  2. Outback Legacy by Aaron Fletcher
  3. Outback Station by Aaron Fletcher
  4. Castaway by Aaron Fletcher
  5. The Book of Needlework by Mrs Isabella Beeton
  6. Mother’s Gift by Debbie Macomber
Several weeks ago, I purchased via eBay the delightful scrapbook of an ancestor. I can’t recall if I posted about this here or not, but look out for a post soon!
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Weekend Cooking – Hot Potato!

Posted on March 20, 2011 by Julie Goucher

To find out about the Weekend Cooking feature hosted by Beth Fish Reads click HERE

During last week I came across, via Twitter a great new site called Hot Potatoe, which describes itself as a first internet social networking site for food lovers. I managed to grab one of the free gold memberships on offer at the site, and at first glance it looks great and has potential to be a really useful site. At the moment the site is in the early stages.
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Spring Reading Thing

Posted on March 20, 2011 by Julie Goucher

The details of the Spring Reading Thing can be found in my earlier post HERE or on the hosts page at Callapiddar Day’s.


I have way too many books, just ask my husband! and a rather full to be read (TBR) pile in my study. In addition to that I have a rather healthy pile of library books and a smaller pile of books on the bedside table.

Here is the list of planned reading for the period of this challenge – 20th March – 20th June.

  1. The Christmas Cookie Club by Ann Pearlman (Library Book due 9th April)
  2. That Christmas Feeling – a collection of two stories by authors – Catherine Palmer & Gail Gaymer Martin (Library Book due 9th April)
  3. One Perfect Gift by Kathleen Morgan (Library Book due 9th April)
  4. The Matchmaker by Marita Conlon-McKenna (Library Book due 9th April)
  5. Brown Owl’s Guide to life by Kate Harrison (Library Book due 9th April)
  6. Trace your Roots with DNA by Megan Smolenyak Smolyenak & Ann Turner (Library Book due 9th April)
  7. The Scarlet Kimono by Christina Courtenay
  8. A Thread so thin (Cobbled Court) by Marie Bostwick
  9. The Union Quilter (Elm Creek) by Jennifer Chiaverini
  10. The Girl on the Wall: One Lifes Rich Tapestry by Jean Baggott
  11. At Home A Short History of Private Life by Bill Bryson (Library Book due 11th April 2011)
  12. A Month in the Country by J.L.Carr (Library Book due 13th April 2011)
  13. Inspector Singh Investigates by Shamini Flint (Library Book due 13th April 2011)
  14. All Good Gifts by Kathleen Morgan (Library Book due 13th April 2011)
  15. Quilt as Desired by Arlene Sachitano
  16. Quilter’s Knot by Arlene Sachitano
Additional Reading
  1. Read Root and Branch, Journal of the West Surrey Family History Society Journals – The four journals than make volume 37 and create the annual place name index for the Society – Planned to complete by 10th April.
  2. For the day job – Read and complete the CPD package “Supporting people in care homes”
Books for Review
  1. Kings of Colorado – due 10th April
  2. Fading Scars – due 20th March – DONE!
  3. The Eloquence of Desire by Amanda Williams – due 30th April

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Book Blogger Hop – How Many Books?

Posted on March 18, 2011 by Julie Goucher

From the Crazy-For-Books web page “the Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book blogger and readers to connect and share our love of the written word! This weekly BOOK PARTY is an awesome opportunity for book blogger to connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books! It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs to read! So, grab the logo, post about the Hop on your blog, and start HOPPING through the list of blogs that are posted in the Linky list below!!


The Hop lasts Friday-Monday every week, so if you don’t have time to Hop today, come back later and join the fun! This is a weekly event! And stop back throughout the weekend to see all the new blogs that are added!“


There are a few rules!
1. Enter your blog address at the linky list on the Crazy-For-Books website
2. Post about the hop on your blog & answer the question on the Crazy-For-Books website

3. Visit other blogs in the linky list

This weeks question is:

“Do you read only one book at a time, or do you have several going at once?”

I prefer to have one book on the go, but am currently in the midst of a ebook for a book review, a paperback library book which needs to be returned by Monday and a great hardback book which is my bedtime reading as I don’t want to damage the book by carrying to and from work. I really hate the fact that I am in the middle of so many books, and prefer at a time!

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52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History – Wk 11 – Illness & Injury

Posted on March 16, 2011 by Julie Goucher

Week 11: Illness and Injury. Describe your childhood illnesses or injuries. Who took care of you? Did you recuperate in your own bed, on the couch in front of the television, or somewhere else?

Challenge runs from Saturday 12 March, through to Friday 18 March 2011

The first childhood illness that I had was actually during my pharmacy training, when I caught chickenpox from a patient. Boy was I ill. I was off sick for three weeks and felt truly dreadful. When I am poorly I like to be in bed with a book and usually can gage how ill I am by how much I read!

On the whole, I was a fairly healthy child and looking back what feelings of un-wellness I did experience I can probably contribute to my Thyroid condition, which did not become apparent until I was in my early 20s. You can read about the condition and the effects it had and some general pondering HERE

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Fearless Females – Day 15

Posted on March 15, 2011 by Julie Goucher
March 15 — Write a six-word memoir tribute to one of your female ancestors

My tribute today is for my Grandmother, whose tribute reads:

Resilient, fun, loving and always missed.
Lilian Edith Butcher nee Matthews 1912 – 1995.
Picture shown was taken for the occasion of her 21st Birthday.
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Spring Reading Thing

Posted on March 13, 2011 by Julie Goucher

The Spring Reading Thing is being hosted by Callapidder Days and will take place between 20th March and 20th June, typically Spring, although here in the UK the clocks don’t change and Spring officially commence until 26th March.

“If you’d like to participate, here’s what you need to do:

  • Create a list of some books you’d like to read or finish this spring.
  • Feel free to set some additional reading goals (such as reading to your kids two hours per week, getting through your pile of magazines, etc.). This is completely optional.
  • Write a blog post including the list of books you want to read and any additional goals you’ve set, and get ready to post it on your blog on March 20th.
  • Visit Callapiller’s blog on Sunday, March 20th to sign up, by completing the Mr. Linky so you can submit a link to your personal Spring Reading Thing post, and it will be added to the master list.
  • Read! Work on your goals throughout Spring 2011.
  • Report your results. Write another blog post in June to let everyone know how you did.
  • Have fun! Visit other participants to see what they’re reading. Write reviews if you’re so inclined. But most of all, enjoy your spring reading.”

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Sunday Salon – Books, Wild and Wonderful

Posted on March 13, 2011 by Julie Goucher

This week we turned our thoughts to planning some time away during the summer. I was fairly keen to return to either the Scottish Islands or Hay on Wye, a book lovers paradise. I suspect that, if we opt for the Hay on Wye option, there will be a trade off with the other half for a day of fishing, which has to, in my opinion to be the most mind numbing and boring hobby going, in exchange for a day wandering around the 30 odd bookshop of Hay.

Whilst we were pondering, and we still haven’t decided, I stumbled upon a Floating Bookshop and thought that this perhaps has some potential for a stop off en-route. The other thing I stumbled across this week, book related and I have no chance of getting him indoors to agree to this for the bathroom or shower room was some decorative bathroom tiles. When I showed the other half, there was no response other than the raise of an eyebrow! He did though sit with me on the sofa and periodically grunt as we explored the a great book themed blog. We then came across a reference to an article about a women who spends her time sniffing books, at which point the grunts formed into whole words, which I am sure sounded like, “I suppose I should be grateful you only buy books and not sniff them”. I immediately pointed out that the smell of old books is unique and I find comforting. By that point we were back to more grunts and raised eye brows!
All these thoughts of smelling books reminded me of the most wonderful bookshop I have even known.
It was called Thorps and was situated at the top of Guildford High Street, just after Holy Trinity Church. There were books everywhere, on the stairs, on floor to ceiling shelving, in piles randomly plonked on the floor. It was certainly a Health and Safety nightmare, but, oh the smell and feeling of such a shop. It is quite simply a tragedy that the shop has gone. I am not sure if it was a casualty of the recession or quite simply quitting while it was ahead, as it failed to compete with Waterstones and Amazon. That said, Waterstones is not as good as it once was and is not as price competitive as Amazon. Thorps did not particularly specialise in new books, but with pre loved books and my study still has some fine examples courtesy of Thorps.
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