https://www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com/feature/transcription-tuesday-2022/
This fasinating index is now live to search on the Staffordshire Name Indexes website, which is brought to you by Staffordshire & Stoke On Trent Archive Service
The early 19th century saw intense debate about how the problem of pauper lunacy should be addressed. At this time, costly private asylums and pauper workhouses offered the only alternative to treating the mentally ill at home. This problem was exacerbated by the long-term detention of criminal lunatics in County gaols.
The 1808 County Asylums Act (Wynn’s Act) enabled counties to raise funds for asylums. The Lunacy Act of 1845 extended this legislation, making it mandatory for counties to provide for the care of the mentally ill. As a result of this legislation, 3 county asylums were established in Staffordshire before the end of the 19th century.
This index includes patients at the hospitals in the period 1818-1920 only since medical records less than 100 years are not normally available for consultation by the general public.
Please be aware that hospital records can be distressing and that terms used to refer to people with mental health problems are historic and reflect the attitudes and language of the period. These terms might now be considered derogatory, or offensive.
A successful search of the index can provide you with some or all of the following information:
Link to the website for more information and how you can track now the records themselves https://www.staffsnameindexes.org.uk/default.aspx?Index=U
1921 CENSUS FACTS 1,095 females to 1,000 males - in 1921 there were 1,720,802 more females than males. In 1911: 1,179,275 more females than males. The 1921 census figure for males doesn’t include ‘members of the Army, Navy and Air Force and of the Mercantile Marine who were out of the country on the census night’.
The significance – the 1.8 million population increase during 1911-1921 was ‘numerically about one half of the increase in the preceding intercensal period; it is less than any corresponding figure since 1811 while proportionately it is far lower than any hitherto recorded’
£50,000 - The total cost of taking the 1921 Census, including staff and materials
£20,000 - The cost for the 1921 Census forms for England and Wales to be printed by the Government Stationery Office Press at Harrow, £16,300 were paper costs.(Costs were mentioned in a House of Commons debate, Hansard, 1 March 1921)
A 2 year prison sentence with hard labour was faced by any of the 38,000 enumerators of the 1921 Census should they divulge any of the confidential information that they acquired on the forms.
A £10 fine for everyone who failed to fill in/provide the details for the 1921 census form or who provide false information (this is an increase on the previous £5 fine for such form-filling malpractice on the 1911 Census)
A £2 fee was paid to each of the 38,000 enumerators, plus 4s for every 100 people enumerated and 6d for each mile over 5 miles that the enumerator has to travel on his beat.(Page 3, Dundee Evening Telegraph, 29 March 1921)
The 1921 Census enumerators had all to be appointed by 31 March 2021, and then had to master the 20 page rule book, before, from 11 April, starting to distribute the 11 million household census forms.(Page 3, Dundee Evening Telegraph, 29 March 1921)
HIS RETURN - The head of the household was thought and sought to be male - And suffragist loving housewives were to be ‘stifled’ according to a newspaper report in the Staffordshire Advertiser, which invited the enumerators to remember this.(Page 7, Staffordshire Advertiser, 26 March 1921)
St Marks Day - 25th April 1921 The day that the census enumerators were orginially due to return to collect the completed household census forms.
'Everyone will soon be in the Workhouse' - This phrase was jokingly bandied about at the time of the 1921 Census, as the Ministry of Health had rented Lambeth Workhouse from the Board of Guardians and was using the Workhouse as it’s HQ to organize the completed householder schedules… thus everyone’s name would be in the workhouse
Lodgers were deemed to be a separate household, therefore needing their own census form. Boarders, however, would have their details entered alongside that of the rest of the household.(Presumably this means that we should also search the 1921 Census by address to ensure that we have found everyone enumerated in a household – otherwise the fact that our family had a lodger may elude us?)
If you have an ancestor who died between 25 April 1921 and 20 June 1921 you will be frustrated that the postponement of the census of England and Wales means that you will not find them enumerated. But, if you have an ancestor who was born in England and Wales between these dates, you will be happily able to search for them – as they will be included, whereas if the postponement hadn’t gone ahead, they wouldn’t have been.
https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/census/EW1921GEN/4 https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/census/EW1921GEN/10 Apparently 500,000 children lost their fathers, who were serving in the British Armed forces in WW1!https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/census/EW1921GEN/4
There has been a big discussion lately about what happens to your genealogical/family history research when you die.
There are several forms online that you can include as a codicil to your will as in the example below.
I have also uploaded this to the Public Docs section of the website so that it can be more readily downloaded
By now members would have received the exciting news that author Nathan Dylan Goodwin is joining us at FHSC for a live Zoom Q&A session on the evening of 7th February
Watch out for the registration opening on 20th January for this event and in the meantime make a note in your diary.
Below is my review of Nathan's latest book The Foundlings and a link to his website where purchasing details can be found.
It would be quite difficult to review this book, the 9th in the Moreton Farrier series by Nathan Dylan Goodwin, without spoiling the plot for you. Suffice to say that this is a fast-paced story, which unfolds in the author’s distinctive narrative style of moving between flashbacks to the present day, with enough twists and turns to keep even the most ardent Moreton Farrier fan guessing until the last page. Having read all in the series I did feel as if I were returning to visit a family friend when I picked up this book, although it must be said to those new to the series that each book can be read as a stand-alone story.
In his latest adventure Farrier introduces DNA to his genealogical toolbox as he tries to discover the identity of the mother of three women, all abandoned as babies. The case soon becomes emotionally charged for Farrier with his own family history so clearly embroidered throughout the tapestry of the story. It helps that the author is a family historian himself, with the descriptions of the various websites being exactly right and all family historians will find themselves relating to the various online and archival records, you will even find yourself, as I did, second guessing what steps Moreton would take. The explanations of the science behind DNA are not over complicated, which they could so easily become, and the creative dexterity involved in drawing all the threads together to bring everything to a credible conclusion is sublime.
The Foundlings is right up there with the previous books and you don’t have to be a genealogist to enjoy this latest offering, an appreciation of well written crime/mystery/murder thriller is all you need, and I highly recommend it.
The full list of the previous books in the Nathan Dylan Goodwin’s Forensic Genealogist series are listed below in order of publication
Independently published (28 Oct. 2021). Paperback, 258 pages £8.99, Kindle - £4.99. ISBN-13:979-8481041421
For full purchasing details, not only for this book but for all in the series, then visit the author’s at the following link - https://www.nathandylangoodwin.com/
There are also a number of reviews of previous Nathan Dylan Goodwin books in the Cheshire Ancestor that can be downloaded via the website - details below
Reviewed by Babs Johnson
The Chester Creek Murders - Cheshire Ancestor Vol 51 No 4: June 2021 page 15
The Sterling Affair - Cheshire Ancestor Vol 51 No 1: September 2020 Page 23
Reviewed by Jackie Jones
The Suffragette’s Secret - Cheshire Ancestor Vol 49 No 4: June 2019 Page 20
The Wicked Trade - Cheshire Ancestor Vol 50 No 1: September 2019 Page 17
Reviewed by Jean Laidlaw
The Spyglass File - Cheshire Ancestor Vol 48 No 3: March 2018 Page 16
The Missing Man - Cheshire Ancestor Vol 49 No 1: September 2018 Page 18
The America Ground - Cheshire Ancestor Vol 47 No 4: June 2017 Page 20
The 1921 Census of England and Wales is here.
Join us when Findmypast's Myko Clelland offers an unmissable exploration of the biggest new arrival in family history. After years spent digitising and transcribing this unique snapshot of our recent history, discover the stories and secrets contained within. Along with the historical context, tips for effective searching and using it to trace elusive relatives, we'll learn how the 1921 Census will help you to understand your ancestors’ lives better.
This Event is for Members only and registration is now open. REMEMBER you need to be logged into the website in order to register.
Click on Events in top right hand corner, then scroll down to the title of this Seminar, click on the blue title, followed by ‘Join’ and ‘Save’ – You will receive a confirmation email and the Zoom links/meeting protocol will be forwarded two days prior to the talk.
If you run into any difficulties with this then please contact us on the seminar email [see below] or visit the 'Seminar Talks and how to Register' section under 'Online Talks and Meetings' in the FAQ section of the website.
The Seminar series is co-ordinated by Margaret Spate, Jean Laidlaw and Margaret Roberts and ALL correspondence, queries etc should be sent to the dedicated email address -
NOT A MEMBER? Why not join, for £18 a year you will be able to attend all 12 seminars as well as all the other benefits that being an FHSC member includes.
By way of a New Year's Eve present I'll just remind you of this little gem:
The UK & IE Railways map
This is an interactive historic map of almost *every* railway station & line that's *ever* existed on the British & Irish Isles.
It's a fabulous resource and even if you're not a railway buff - I guarantee that you'll lose hours down this rabbit hole - enjoy and Happy New Year!
Link - : railmaponline.com/UKIEMap.php
https://www.familyhistoryfederation.com/podcast
FHSC wish everyone a happy and safe Christmas and all the best for 2022
2022 is already looking like a great year of events for members of FHSC
Our seminar series continues with Myko Clelland from FindMyPast talking to us about the 1921 census in January
In February we welcome Natalie Bodle, an expert in Irish Ancestry, while March sees something a little different with Sean Szmalc, complete in period dress, revealing the unforgettable story of the Titanic.
Dr Michala Hulme is our guest in April and she will be talking to us about the TV programme DNA Journey, in which she was the lead genealogical researcher, should be a great evening. Something more local in May when Kathy Burtinshaw takes us through the history of the Macclesfield workhouse and how mental health records can be used in your research and to wrap up the first half of the year June sees Dave Annal presenting his very interesting and entertaining talk - My Ancestor was a Liar.
Speakers at the seminars for the rest of the year include; Professor Rebecca Probert, Dr Janet Few, Dr Penny Walters and our very own Ann Simcock, who will deliver the 2022 Dorothy Flude Memorial Lecture in October.
We also have something very special lined up for early in the new year, all a bit secret for now but keep your eye out for details soming very soon.
Added to that our Groups have some great speakers and events in the pipeline with appearances by Judith Batchelor, Dr Mike Ebester, Jackie Depelle, Paul Hindle, Christine Wootton and Tony Bostock and many others on a diverse range of subjects including Colditz, Railway accidents, Cheshire turnpikes, heraldry, military medals ... the list is endless. Please keep a eye on the Events page of the website as more Zoom talks and events are listed.
Gay will be continuing with her excellent and comprehensive monthly newsletters together with Margaret's Musing which include news of what FHSC has been up to and a list of some of the websites included in the Archive of the Week section on our social media platforms.
The Cheshire Ancestor continues to go from strength to strength and Rosie does a sterling job getting the journal ready for publication each quarter, an unenviable task it must be said and a mention in despatches to Geoff for his Net that Serf section. If you have any articles or items of interest please submit as soon as possible, details regarding deadlines and email addresses can be found in the current issue.
So - all in all - being a member of FHSC is great value for money - 7 or 8 Zoom talks a month, in person events, newsletters, journal, a huge range of content on our website all for the just £18 a year [£13 if you opt for the Ancestor in digital form only], or £1.50 a month..... what a bargain!
Once again I'm featuring an Advent Calendar on our social media platforms
During this series of WDYTYA, one of the main themes that came through for me was to ask questions of your relatives, there will come a day when you wish you had and the people won't be there to ask - so with that in mind this year's FHSC advent calendar is going to take the form of:
24 Questions to ask your Loved Ones this Christmas
with a different question everyday, hopefuly this will also encourage younger generations to get involved.
For those that don't follow our social media accounts I will post a full list of all the questions as a downloadable PDF on the website under the Public Documents section - perhaps if you do hav a go you can let me know how you get on
If you would like to join us on Facebook or Twitter then I would be more than happy to help you sign in and show you how to keep your profile safe - just email me at
News from the National Archives re 1921 Census
Two regional hubs that will provide free online access to the 1921 Census of England and Wales from 6 January 2022.
The census will be available online via our commercial partner Findmypast and will be free to access in this way at The National Archives, in Kew.
In addition, visitors to the Manchester Central Library and the National Library of Wales will be able to access the 1921 Census of England and Wales via the Findmypast website for free following its publication next year.
Access at the Manchester Central Library, on St Peter’s Square, Manchester, will be supported by the Manchester and Lancashire Family History Society helpdesk and the Archives+ Team.
The publication of the 1921 Census of England and Wales is the culmination of almost three years’ work by Findmypast’s highly skilled team of conservators, technicians and transcribers.
It is the largest project ever completed by The National Archives and Findmypast, consisting of more than 30,000 bound volumes of original documents stored on 1.6 linear kilometres of shelving, as outlined in two special guest blogs exploring the vast digitisation and conservation project.
Dr Valerie Johnson, Director of Research and Collections at The National Archives, said: ‘I am pleased to announce these regional hubs for the north of England and for Wales which, along with our own hub at Kew, will offer free online access to the 1921 Census via the Findmypast website.
‘We understand the excitement and anticipation of this release and, by making the census available online, we are hugely increasing its accessibility. These hubs will offer an important alternative to those not able to log on from home. Without commercial partnerships of this kind, and the associated charges, the alternative for everyone would be to work through the papers themselves at The National Archives.
‘As with other historical census data for England and Wales, we are also hopeful that the existing I-CeM database used by many academics will be expanded to include the 1921 Census data, and we are working to facilitate this as far as we can.’
To mark the publication of the 1921 Census of England and Wales, the National Archives have launched an exciting programme of events and activities, 20sPeople, connecting our lives in the 2020s with those of people living in the 1920s. The keystone of the season will be the exhibition, The 1920s: Beyond the Roar, opening on 21 January 2022.
https://www.familyhistoryfederation.com/podcast
https://blog.nrscotland.gov.uk/2021/11/19/archives-online-maps-and-plans/
Ahead of the highly anticipated launch of the 1921 Census, FMP are inviting centenarians born in 1921 or before to come forward and be a part of the campaign to bring this piece of history to life.
Successful applicants will be given the opportunity to dive into their own family history and learn the secrets of their ancestors, with the help of an expert genealogy team – capturing moments from the 1920s and assisting in the preservation of this period of time for future generations by sharing their own stories and memories.
Helen Kaye, head of brand, content and PR for Find My Past says: :
"This is a once in a lifetime moment and what better way to celebrate than to hear from those who actually lived through this time.
That’s why we are calling for all centenarians across England and Wales to come forward and tell us about their earliest memories. We are so excited to be able to unveil the census and to bring this project to life."
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/at-christmas-we-feast-the-history-of-the-christmas-dinner-with-annie-gray-tickets-191582407137
