Description:Census returns are among the most useful sources of historical information about places and households. The first national census was taken in 1801 and they were repeated every 10 years. This extract is from the Brereton census returns for 1871. It records each household and the members of the household resident on the night of the census, 2nd April 1871. The relationship between the household members is given as is the marital status, occupation and place of birth. This last piece of information is often crucial for family history but also tells us about migration into a particular place.
This extract is of particular interest as it gives us an insight into the community, the variety of occupations within the village, particularly those relating to mining, and an insight into the families. Of particular note is William Dicken who is listed as a labourer from Newton Surrey, Denbighshire but appears, from previous census returns, to have actually been born in Newton Solney, Derbyshire.
RG10 2919 f 85
Copyright; The National Archives
Reproduced by courtesy of The National Archives
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