Thursday 20 January 2011

Scotland is not England - 1881 census on FamilySearch

There's quite a debate raging right now about how great the new version of the FamilySearch website may or may not be at www.familysearch.org - so here's a find that may help you to love the new site a bit more than you may at present do. Having said that, it may also slightly irritate...!

The 1881 census was previously not available for Scotland on the old version of the FS site, only returns for England and Wales, in the wrongly named "1881 British census" collection, though the Mormons' transcribed Scottish returns were available on the ScotlandsPeople website, with results costing 1 credit, instead of 5, and also on a CD-ROM. I've just found that this census is now included on the new version of the site but - wait for it, you'll love this - it is listed in the England and Wales Census 1881 collection! I knew you'd be happy...

Here's the entry for my great grandmother Jessie McFarlane:


I typed her name into the main search screen, and Inverness as her birth place, then narrowed down the results using the filters at the bottom left of the results screen, choosing England and Wales census 1881. It was the 4th result then returned.

Thanks to the LDS Church for adding this, but could I add that Scotland is in fact not in England or Wales. If you require proof, visit the next annual Grandfather Mountain games at North Carolina and test the hypothesis with the first person you come across in a kilt...! :)

Chris

www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Professional genealogical problem solving and research http://twitter.com/ChrisMPaton
Researching Scottish Family History (New book)
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3 comments:

  1. Audrey CollinsThursday 20 January 2011 at 23:40:00 GMT

    Well, jings, crivvens, help ma boab! Wow, well-spotted, Chris, I had no idea THAT was there. Yes, it's great that it's there, and it is in the UK section (correct), it's just the wee matter of the detailed description at the top, E, W, I of M and CI...

    Another issue for the Feedback, I think.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Audrey CollinsThursday 20 January 2011 at 23:41:00 GMT

    Well, jings, crivvens, help ma boab! Wow, well-spotted, Chris, I had no idea THAT was there. Yes, it's great that it's there, and it is in the UK section (correct), it's just the wee matter of the detailed description at the top, E, W, I of M and CI...

    Another one for the Feedback, I think

    ReplyDelete
  3. Chris PatonThursday 20 January 2011 at 23:43:00 GMT

    Oh I've already left a comment on their blog...! lol Maybe we should have a whip round and buy them a map of the British Isles? :)

    Chris

    ReplyDelete

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