Count this day in history
Published Tuesday August 19th, 2008
Roots to the Past
The most recent Canada Census was taken on May 16, 2006. Not every census was taken on this month and day. Official counting days were at the whim of the government. This often produced unusual aging for some citizens. For example, a child enumerated as two years-old in one census might be 13 years-old only ten years later. The age might have been mistakenly recorded or one census was taken before the birthday and one was taken after.
Although an official date was given for each census, it took weeks and sometimes months to collect the data. Enumerators were supposed to record the data as it occurred on that official date even if they were completing forms a month later. This didn't always happen. In some cases, children born after the official date were (thankfully) recorded on the census forms.
People such as teachers, domestic help and seasonal workers who boarded for short periods of time may not have been recorded. Although they lived at the location on the official day, a few weeks later when the enumerator visited, they may have moved on, possibly to a location that had already been enumerated.
In some instances, enumerators took notes and then transferred the information to official census forms. This resulted in copying errors. It might have also resulted in enumerators guessing at data because they either forgot to ask the family or could not read their own handwriting.
The official enumeration dates for the Canada Censuses were:
1825: June 20 to September 20, 1825: Lower Canada (Quebec)
1831: June 1 to October 1, 1831: Lower Canada (Quebec)
1842: Completed by February 1, 1842: Canada West (Ontario)
1851: January 12, 1852 (delays resulted in late enumeration): This census recorded the age the person would be on their next birthday (in 1852), not their age in 1851.
1861: January 14, 1861: Enumerators recorded the age at the next birthday.
1871: April 2, 1871: Again, enumerators recorded the age at the next birthday.
1881: April 4, 1881: The age given is that of the last birthday. This trend continued in all future census records.
1891: April 6, 1891
1901: March 31, 1901: This was the first census that included the date of birth.
1906: June 24, 1906: Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan
1911: June 1, 1911
Surviving census records can be accessed at the provincial archives. This may prove a long search if the location of the family is unknown. A more efficient search can be done on the Internet. In many cases, the digital images of the original census form are available to confirm the transcription.
Automated Genealogy (www.automatedgenealogy.com/index.html) provides transcriptions and digital images free of charge for the 1851, 1901, 1906 and 1911 Canada Censuses.
The Library and Archives of Canada (www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/census-1881/) recently posted an index for the 1881 Census. The search results link to digital images. This database is free to access. Cyndi's List (www.cyndislist.com/census-canada.htm) contains a variety of online sources for census data, worksheets, and related information.
Researcher's file
Seeking information on Mary Jane McGurgian and Patrick Breen. The couple had a large family in Kings County, NB in the late 1800's. Contact their great great-grandson: John Breen; e-mail: jbreenm@comcast.net
tibert@ns.sympatico.ca
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