General Chat

No you're not the only one Diana. Unfortunately I made the mistake of saying so on a thread earlier, and had to remove my posts lol I really do think that out of respect for the very ancestors we are researching we should leave it at 100 years, as that is what THEY agreed to and believed.

is getting wound up by everyone asking for the 1911 census to be published early? Its driving me nuts, cos when people gave the information they were promised that it wouldn't be disclosed for 100 years..... should we break that promise and to hell with it? Should we just abolish the data protection act altogether and have everything out there for someone who may want it? There may be lots of people who are currently 96, who are on that census and may not want that information out there in the public domain!!! Don't get me wrong I would love to get my hands on it, but I still don't believe that it should EVER be released before the legal date. Just my opinion!!!

Hi Diana It doesn't wind me up - but I do agree that we should respect the privacy of those who could still be alive that are on it. Your Grandma is a classic example that folk can and do live to a ripe old age. And at the end of the day - we are the first to go up in arms at the prospect of any 'third party' disclosure of info that involves us and our lives ............ we should afford the same respect and privacy to one and all ..........

Diana I agree with you and TW. People are living longer now and if a promise has been made then it should be kept.

I agree with both of you - they should stay closed for 100 years as promised. I just don't like the way some of the posts have been worded that's all. Debby

TW my point exactly!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A - yeah you are right sweets.... Grandma is on that census as a 7 year old, she has nothing to hide, but her parents gave that information without her permission as her legal guardians, so why should her information be passed on to people like me without her permission while she is still alive?

That was the very point I tried to make earlier. in 2011 we will be filling in a census, giving information about ourselves and our children. The likelihood of our children still being alive in 100 years is not impossible. I would not like any information realeased before that time whatsoever, so why should we disrespect our ancestors for the same thing?

Also - whether we would like to have the info or not - it ain't gonna happen !!!!!!!!!

When I add my details and those of my family, to a census, I don't AGREE to anything. I do it cos I'm TOLD that I HAVE to do it. I don't ask and check that the information will be kept secret for at least 100yrs .... so therefore, I doubt our Ancestors expected it. What is on a census ? Our names, age, occupation, status, address and whether or not we are blind, deaf dumb etc. This is information that our children / grandchildren will more than likely already be told anyway. No secrets, ! .... we were born, we lived, we worked ... what the big secret ? If our Ancestors are researching us in 100yr time, isn't it likely that they ALREADY have our names and dates of birth .... together with possibly our occupations ??? The only info they may not already know, is where we live now or then etc .... and whats the harm in folks knowing that ? I believe that the only information that could and should be witheld for 100 yrs .. are criminal records / census of prisons etc. When I research my family, I don't go nosying into the names, etc of the neighours on that street. They are simply names on a piece of paper to me ... of NO interest whatso ever to me .... so therefore, I doubt my families details will be of any interest to anyone else in 50, 60, 70 + years. If I'm blind, deaf, dumb or illegitimate, my family already know about it, and will pass it down the generations anyway. If I'm of no fit mind, health or body to pass on my genes to the next generation, then I have no descendants who will be remotely interested in me anyway. So who is searching/researching me ? Family/Descendants. They possibly know more about us already ! than we know about ourselves. The good, healthy, lovable characters who have reached the grand old age of 100, are usually splashed across the TV News headlines anyway ... so we know they exist, where they live, how many generations they have in their family, what they have to eat and drink everyday of their lives ... what so secretive ?? With the Newspaper and TV coverage of today, Mobile Phones, Internet, e.mails, satalite etc.... no person's life is a secret anymore. The USA Census are available upto 1931 .... I've not heard any bad press about that ? Why should it harm us or our Ancestors ?

Chris, but if we or our families already know these things why would we want it released early? I think they should leave it as it is. we should not be able to overturn a rule made 90 odd years ago. If we want to change things we should concentrate on changing the time limit for future censuses, not past. Ann Glos

I don't think they should allow the census already completed any earlier as people filled those forms out thinking they would be disclosed for 100 years, however if they wished for future census to be dropped to 70 years I personally don't have a problem with it. I know it won't help us but we should uphold the promises that were made to our ancestors. Jackiexx

Well......... for goodness sakes - after 96 years - is waiting another 4 years such a big deal ???????????

I'm with Ann on this one as I have previously stated..... if you know all the details what is the big deal about waiting another 4 years for a legal document???? Because lets be honest that's what a census is.... a legal document they use to gather information!! Every person on that census (dead or alive) has a right to it being 100 years til they disclose it!!!!!

Aww, I must admit to wanting it released early. You see, I'm trying to obtain info for my Mum, who's in her 70's now and doesn't have anyone else to ask about part of her tree. She's absolutely fascinated by what I'm doing. Her brother, my Uncle, died in 1982/3, and he'd have been a mine of information. x

I'm getting increasingly p'ed off with the petitions to have the censuses. I even sent my aunt an email back last night saying that it's only 5 more years and too be patient, also pointed out the absentce of a 1931 census which shows what the petition organiser knows about the censuses - the silly cow still went a head and signed today. I wonder how she would feel if in 55 yrs time we had access to the first census her children are on that shows her eldest was born out of wedlock (it was still a big thing when my cousin was born in the 70's in our area) It's only recently I realise how many of my relatives are in their 90's! I keep forgetting that my grandfather (76yrs) has at least 2 living Aunts and I think there is a 3rd Aunt. One I know was born 1916 so is 91 this year so she will definately be on the 1921 census (wish I could speek to her and get her memories but her mind has vertually all gone) and another in 1909 so she was 2 in 1911. They have a right to privacy and to have the promise the governmant at the time made Honered.

Anne.... Another 5 years means an awful long time to me. At my age by the time 2012 comes I will have lived 5 years over my 3 score years and ten if I am lucky. There is so much I need to know between 1901 and 1911. I can't possibly afford all the cetificates I need to verify the various twigs on my tree. This is the last census where things will be difficult. The ones after this we will most probably be able to put our families in their various groups without the aid of census. I am realistic enough to know that no amount of petitions will bring it forward but I am pleased to know that around 2009 it might be possible to see the family groups. Jean x.

1911 census is not completley closed as if you know a surname name and address you can pay ONS for the the information,,,,,I had this done in 1994 for info from the 1901,,,,,,,,,,,it cost then £40.. It was stated that a white paper bill was going to be drawn up to change future census to 70years,,,,,,Austrailia were given the vote on this about 3/4 years ago ?and they opted to remain at 100years, But we cant grumble at the information we have ready avalible to us now. And at one time getting a certificate of birth /death or marriage from then Somerset House was unheard of with so much red tape, and then only given in dire circumstances,and often then with a personal visit there, Old census forms it was written that all information supplied would not be open for pulic viewing for 100years from that date,,so the govenrment have a duty to uphold that promise ,,,,,,,,,and future census information will not be as informative as those from an earlier time, And what is being forgotten is that nobody from 100years ago or even 1920,30.40 or even 1970 would have envigaged the cult of the --**Family Historian**,so therefore all goverment's have upheld the 100 years ruling for all census, probally had anyone had insight the multi ££'s in revenue it would have brought to them they probally would have changed it back in the dark times to 50years,?)) Kay,

Fair comment Jean!! But as you say we know darn well it isn't going to happen ever!! xx

Much as I'd like to see it we should wait the 100 years. Also someone mentioned neighbours being of no interest to them, personally I disagree. MY aim is to put my ancestors into their social context therefore neighbours are of great interest to me. There's a lot of other research still for me to do, including visiting local study centres, where if I wanted I could trace my ancestors through the electrol roll. Keep the census closed for 100 years as promised. T.O.R. ;o)))))