TOOMEY/BURNETT (General)

by Mike Pinchin , Bedford, England, Tuesday, December 30, 2014, 23:43 (3616 days ago) @ sidtoomey01

As you have obviously noticed the enumerator’s notes make it clear that this was predominantly north Churcham parish, i.e. north of the main Gloucester-Ross road. The whole of Bulley parish was also included together with a few properties south of the road. There are a few places mentioned which are identifiable on the maps but we have to recognise that the earliest map is from the 1880s and things might have been changed or forgotten since 1861. There are many more maps here ranging from the 1880s to the 1920s which might help identify other places of interest:-

http://maps.nls.uk/

It is usually possible to track some kind of progression for the course of a census but whether or not it is logical is another matter! In this case what attracted my attention was the juxtaposition of William’s entry with that of Richard DOBBS in two censuses some 10 years apart. Of course , it’s not proof but simply suggestive that they weren’t far away from each other.

It’s quite true that what are normally available to us are the enumeration books; these were compiled by the enumerator from the schedules collected from each household. The schedules were delivered in advance and filled in by the householder although, in many cases, the enumerator would have had to provide assistance, especially in the earlier years before literacy became widespread. The schedules themselves were usually destroyed after checking and/or extraction of statistics. The exception to this is the 1911 census where we can generally see the original schedules in our forebears' handwriting.

What address information is given seems to have been down to the diligence of the enumerator. Some gave the names of houses and cottages, some named only the more important dwellings and some gave practically no information at all.

Good luck with wandering the Earth.