cen 12 1901 census Ball Green, Stoke on Trent

This return of 1891 shows an increas in the number of inhabitants as it lists 220

It is an interesting document to use along with other census returns to both follow families throughout  the series and also to obtain a visual of how and when other occupations started to appear in the village. Make a good project for a local history group or local school to draw conclusions.

The 1851 is the first census that is reliable especially regarding the ages, even so many parents had no idea how old their children were as birthdays were not celebrated as they are now.
Not only useful for family research, but this census gives an insight to the very nature of workhouses, the break-up of families just to survive. A study of each location of birth gives data regarding areas of poverty or unemployment. Other areas can be identified as wealthy. The grouping of ages also gives remarkable results for students of humanities. Lastly the gender balance in certain areas can be identified.

As partr of a local project the 1861 census is a valuable tool as this lists  all the details available to the time of people. In the small community of only 147 on the census tells us of the many family connections there are and if each of those families worked in the local coal mine.

However, its interesting to note that most of the managers came from different areas and not ‘home grown’