General Chat

Hi, I dont think it would cost so much more than the 1901 at just over 2.? million,but revenue I read just from that alone has topped in the region of 20ml.so has been cost effective,,,,,,,,,,,,,plus all the other revenue that got in other ways,,,,,,certs and the like,,but they do need this money to unearth other stuff and preseve it for *history*purposees,, But it does question,will the 2001.2011.or 2021, one be of use to future searchers?so maybe it wont matter if its kept for 100years,or even longer,but as most are filling in those vital years of 100 years ago or more,,,are some searchers going to be around when ,1911,1921 census ar released,,, But we have to abide by the rules......but it was mentioned there could be a consession of 2years for the 1911,,,,,,,so whether it was ever put to Gov ,remaims a mystery, it wondt be such a bad idea on this one,1911 as at a guess very few on it would be still be here,in a couple of years time,? kay,

I think the 100 year closure should stay. I was all agog waiting for the 1901 but it didn't answer as many questions as I'd hoped. After 1911 maiden names appear on certs so it isn't as imperative as the others were. It would cost a lot of money to bring it online early and the money could be better spent elsewhere. It's only a hobby, even though it is addictive. Gwynne

Hi jacky, i dont suppose that during the next 20 years of census there will be no need to hold them for 100years as most now in--families are pretty much open,and information can be got through other sourses,,,,,,,,,,by telepohne ,GRO,and of course internet,,,,,,,,but back 100years ago there was really nothing apart from whats out there now,,,,,,,,,,,,,, But when it come to the release of 2001 one,,there wil not be the information released that was put on the forms,,infact they will in effect be nearly useless,,,,,,,,,,,but as said above ,they really wont be needed,,,,,,,,or unless of course someone wants to uncover a big fat lie,))))))

Thanks Kay. I suppose if I had been wary of putting a secret on the last census I may have looked at the wording a bit better! Well, hopefully by the time the next census is released I may have sorted out all the paperwork from the last one! Jacky :-)

I,m thinking of the census's I filled in with reasurance that it was held private for 100years, As frustrating as it is i feel we must uphold the privacy that was given when the original census's were filled in. I guess that some family secrets were disclosed cos family felt they had too but family secrest are still valid. some 'SECRETS' can still cause hurt Shirley

Hi Jacky, Yes it does state that on the earlier census if you read from the start of the enumerators report in the census that all information contained will be held by the goverment and will not be accessed for 100 years,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and it also stated that on the latest one we all had in 2001. Kay,

Just a thought but...... At the time the 1911 census was carried out, were people actually informed it would be closed for 100 years? Was that time put on all census or only on later ones? As we know from previous census entries, a lot of people had trouble with reading and writing so would everyone have read any info and if they didn't, would the person recording details from every house have repeated that rule to everyone. I can't say that I remember that information on any census and if I did read it, I can't remember! Like someone else said, I completed it because I had to so probbaly didn't read every word. One other thought, would 100 years have actually meant anything to anyone as at that point they could not have dreamt of the technology that would be around today for finding information. But like many others, I would love to get my hands on the information and as we never know what is around the corner for ourselves, I would rather it was sooner than later! Jacky :-)

TOR I have to agree that neighbours are important cos I know one of my lot had 3 sons who married 3 different neighbours and I will be able to get their families from that!! ;o) Still want it closed for 100 years tho out of respect! x

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)))))

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

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,

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.

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.

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 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!!!!!

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

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

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

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 ?

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