Genealogy Chat

I have been waiting patiently for this census to come out because it will answer a lot of questions regarding my tree........ So I was horrified to read that the Suffragette Movement called all women to boycott the 1911 census...... On the night of 2nd April when the enumerators came a-calling, many women stayed out all night to avoid him! Bet all mine are missing......

Oh Batman - I do hope you are wrong. There is something to be said after all, about having a lot of good, clean living (sounds soooo much better than boring) rellies. Lol Victoria

And I have read various reports, by people who are supposedly 'in the know', that upto 50% of the 1911 is totally unreadable due to water damage and rodent depredation! However the TNA (I think, or is it the GRO?) have put out a bulletin on their website which states 'only about 5% is unusable'. We will see! OC

:O( So in 2011 when we view the next chapter in our Ancestors lives, they will either be missing, in a rodent's belly or paper mache.......

I have no worries then. My grandmother was always a very strong woman but never felt in need of Womens Lib. She ruled my grandfather with a rod of iron up to a point. ;-) When I came home from school and visited her house, if there was only enough food for one visitor, my male cousins would always get the food in preference to me! ;-) I'm sure my Nan will be on the 1911 census! She was no womens libber or suffragette - she didn't need to be! ;-) Cheers, Horatia

I'll cross my fingers for you Horatia.

Batman, I'll lay money on it that Nan will be there. No enumerator would DARE miss her out and no rodent would have the guts to nibble any bit of paper that my Nan appeared on! ;-) Cheers, Horatia

Oh well, only 5 years and 75 days left to wait ...................

First of all, the head of the household had to fill in the form, so its quite possible any absent women would be put on anyway. Secondly, where would they have spent the night - enumerators called at hotels etc. Thirdly, this can't amount to a large number of women and it certainly wouldn't include any of my lot - suffragettes were mainly middle-class women who had leisure to go around throwing stones, attending meetings and rallies. I think it far more likely I won't find my lot because they will be mistranscribed!

At my age, I'm more concerned about tomorrow...............2012 is a long way off!! Reg

Googled and found 'Another example of ingenuity was the defiance of the census of 1911. This was instigated by the Women's Freedom League and subsequently taken up by the WSPU; if women were not to count as citizens for the purpose of the franchise, then they would not be counted! Many spent the night in empty houses, some at what seems to have been a well-organized and enjoyable all-night party at the Aldwych Skating Rink. (`Taking leave of their census', as Mr. Punch said). ' So I guess any missing London ladies might be at the Aldwych, but my rural lot will still be in their villages.

Hi, I think that my ladlies will be at home .April in England must have been very cold and to spend the night out and would be unthinkable at least in Wandsworth , and just think about going home the next day. As well as that 'the Man of the house' would be embarassed not to record his wife , but at my age, I do not think it matters very much what happens in 2011 Sheila

Ah, you might be surprised....many working class women in the larger cities such as London and Manchester joined the Suffragette Movement. Those who stayed out all night in protest took the kids with them. Some of their husbands actively encouraged these women, particularly men who didnt have a voice in the workplace (trade unions) and even those who did. OK, I concede that the women from Little Mudwick on the Yorkshire Moors, and other remote rural areas probably didn't...but a lot did. OC