English Census Records

 

For what years can we access census records in England?  There are nine  censuses available: 1841, 1851, 1861, 1871, 1881, 1891, 1901, 1911 and 1921. Sadly, the 1931 census was totally destroyed by fire and no census was taken in 1941 due to World War II. (In 1939 there was taken a National Registry and ID cards issued.)

Found it interesting that the English censuses included the name for each person in the house whereas U.S. censuses didn't begin doing that until 1850. 

If you cannot read the info in that last paragraph, just Google that title. 

Tips to realize and remember:

• English counties are also known as shires (Worcestershire, Somersetshire, etc.) comparable to our U.S. states.
• Ind. independent or having own means; also may be reported as gent/gentleman.
• Pensioner usually referred to someone retired from the Army
• Scholar meant the child or person was attending school
• Ag Lab mean agricultural laborer
• F.S./ M.S. meant female/male servant

Just for fun, using www.freecen.org.uk I looked by my mother's maiden name, GURNEY, in the 1841 census. Viola! There were 104 hits!!  And I've never explored them!!! 

Green Peas: A History

 

  

"Fresh green peas were considered a delicacy by King Louis 14th of France. To his wife, the subject seemed all consuming. 'This subject of peas continues to absorb all others....a pleasure of having eaten them and the desire to et them again are among the great matters which have been discussed for the four days past.' One of Louis' wives wrote in a letter dated 1696: "It is both a fashion and a madness."

The history of peas is long and jumped quickly from country to country. Certainly by 1793 in America "peas were popular with all classes of people."

Recipe for Dressed Peas from a 1744 cookbook published in London:  Place one pound of peas in sauce pot with 6 TB of butter; simmer and dust with flour. Add any sweet herbs desired: parsley, basil, mint. Stir in 1/2 cup flour and bit of boiling water "slowly stewing the mixture." Lastly, add some diced ham. 

(Thanks to The Magazine of Colonial Williamsburg, September 2023.) 

Did you know that Washington ranks #1 in edible dry pea production, contributing 45% of the U.S. production.  Our dry eastern Washington fields are good for dry peas, lentils (all colors) and chickpeas. There are three types of peas grown here:

• Garden peas - grown from seeds
• Sugar peas - grown for the whole edible pods
• Field peas - grown for dried seeds

Isn't September a dandy time to make a pot of pea soup???

Google: Your Internet Swiss Army Knife

 

Even if you've never used a Swiss Army Knife, I'd bet that some in your family have one and use it regularly. That little pocket tool is just that useful.

That's why some compare Google to your Internet Swiss Army Knife. Certainly there is not just one all-purpose tool (think kitchen gadgets and pans) but Google for genealogy comes close to fitting that definition. 

How do I use Google? (How do YOU use Google?)

History of Labor Day..... Were Your Ancestors Involved?

 

Okay, we all mark Labor Day as an end-of-summer holiday. But do we know WHY we have a holiday labeled "Labor Day?"

In 1894, Congress voted to have a national holiday to honor the nation's workers and their contributions to the well-being of the country. The impetus for this decision was to celebrate the achievements of American workers and, specifically, the establishing of an 8-hour workday and abolishment of child labor, among other achievements.

Tidbits from Vogue magazine dated 1925: Where did the idea that you can't wear white after Labor Day originate? In a quote from the magazine we read: "It's a fashion rule that has been parroted by grandmothers, magazines and teenage girls for generations, as if it's a statue that society has always abided by." 

This crazy idea traces back to the elite of the Gilded Age. Every summer the rich would move from the crowded, sweltering cities to the cooler places by the ocean, such as Newport of Southampton, and remain for the entire season. Packed away in their travel trunks were their summer wardrobes of white. White clothing was cooler in summer, reflecting sunlight. But another factor for the elite to wear white was a subtle way of showing you were not doing any manual labor which would dirty your white clothes. 

And one certainly could not wear white back in the city where the streets were dirt or mud and were covered in horse poop and rotting garbage.