NRS-1282 | 1841 Census: Abstracts of Returns

Full description

An Act for ascertaining the Number of the Inhabitants of the Colony of New South Wales in the Year One thousand eight hundred and forty-one, 1840 (4 Victoria Act No. 26) required every householder, employer of servants and proprietor and occupier of land to complete the census schedule on the second day ('or on the days immediately subsequent thereto') of March 1841.

The 1841 Census was more complete than its predecessors, as the population was recorded in police districts, counties and towns. There was a broader tabulation of results which included age groups, conjugal condition (married or unmarried), religious denomination and civil condition. Civil condition provided statistical information on the number of bond (convict) or free males and females in a household, whether they were born in the colony, arrived free, held a ticket of leave, and whether they were in government employment or private assignment.

The Census was taken by specially appointed collectors generally responsible to a Commissioner or a Bench of Magistrates, the collector completed printed forms, known as Form ‘A’ for each household in the allotted territory. After the Census magistrates were instructed to check the returns and send abstracts to the Colonial Secretary, designated Form ‘C’. The returns were then gathered together, statistics extracted and the final returns made.

This series comprises bound volumes of Form C . (NRS 1281).

The Form C records: number of return, name of establishment (usually head of household), number of each age group for males, and then for females (the age divisions are under two, two and under seven, seven and under 14, 14 and under 21, 21 and under 45, 45 and under 60, 60 and upwards); married or single; civil condition: free (born in colony, arrived free, other free persons), bond (ticket of leave, in government employment, in private assignment); then religion divided into Church of England, Church of Scotland, Wesleyan Methodists, other Protestant dissenters, Roman Catholics, Jews, Mohammedans and Pagans; occupation divided into land proprietors, merchants, bankers, and professional men; shopkeepers and other retail dealers; mechanics and artificers; shepherds and others in the care of sheep; gardeners, stockmen and persons employed in agriculture; domestic servants; all other persons not included in the foregoing classes; totals for males, for females, and for both; houses - further divided into stone or brick, wood, total; finished or unfinished; inhabited or uninhabited. The columns are totalled at the bottom of each sheet.

As well as these Abstracts of returns, there are also a number of "condensed" abstracts of returns, filled in on Form C. These enumerate the running numbers covered by each sheet of abstracts eg. one-20, 21-40 and give sums for each group as well as grand total.

Form C abstracts are arranged by district following the order in the Returns of the Colony for 1841. 'Condensed' Abstracts are filed with the district abstracts to which they pertain.

Berrima-Port Phillip (X946-49)
Queanbeyan-Yass (X950-51)

References
1) State Records New South Wales Website, "Concise Guide to the State Archives (Ca - Commissioners): Colonial Secretary, later Chief Secretary, later Services; s. Population and Statistics, a. Musters and Census Records, ii. Census,23. 1841 Census: Abstracts of returns, CGS 1282."
2) State Records New South Wales Website, "Introduction to the 1841 Census: Index to the 1841 Census, Background".
3) State Records New South Wales Website, "Short Guide 12 - Muster and Census Records, 1788 - 1901".