The general ‘problems’ with the records are as follows:- There was a different enumerator for Upper & Lower Froyle. This gives a lack on consistency in each Census. It does, however, mean that we are not necessarily plagued with bad handwriting for ALL the records in any one year! Each enumerator took a different route through the villages. This makes it difficult to identify who lived where. People’s names, ages and place of birth change from Census to Census! The cause for this is mainly the level of literacy, not only in the villagers, but in the Census Enumerators. Names to watch here are the Beckhursts (Backus, Beckus etc.) and the Upfulls (Upfield, Huffield, Hutfield etc.) Handwriting is difficult to read, and the original microfilms of the actual records are not always as good as could be expected. I will now deal with each Census in detail. 1841 This Census was conducted for the night of 6th/7th June. For the first time the names of inhabitants were recorded (previous Censuses from 1801 recorded only numbers). For children up to the age of 14 exact ages were recorded but those for older people were given in five year bands, indicated by the lowest age in that band; someone aged 23 would be recorded as being 20. Place of birth was only recorded as being in the County (of Hampshire), or Foreign parts - we have ignored this in our transcription. Where they were able householders filled out their own forms. 1851 The Census was taken on the night of 30th/31st March and the exact age, relationship to the family head and precise place of birth (if in England) is recorded. 1861 This year is more difficult to follow as the schedule numbers do not refer to households. They seem to refer to families, so that several schedules may apply to one house - a lodger, for example, will have his own schedule! The Census was conducted on the night of 7th/8th April. The enumerator took a very ragged course through Upper Froyle and we have not got to grips fully with the houses. 1871 The Census was conducted on the night of 2nd/3rd April, with the same information being recorded as ten years earlier in 1861. 1881 The Census was conducted on the night of 3rd/4th April, with the same information being recorded as ten years earlier in 1871. At last we have good information on the house names, which also helps to fill in earlier years. 1891 This Census has more information about houses and occupants. It also records if people were living in 4 rooms or less. 1901 This Census, conducted on 31st March 1901, was out of logical order in it's original form,, with Lower Froyle followed by Upper Froyle by Lower Froyle. I have put the relevant bits together so that you can, hopefully, follow them. Once again house names are sadly lacking, but we are working on it! In fact, quite a lot falls in place and you will see that names we have added that aren’t in the original have a ? after them. Oh, the handwriting leaves a lot to be desired as well. Please remember that every Census is a snapshot of the village on one night in a 10 year span. If people were away from home they were not recorded.

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