I was surprised the day I looked up my mother’s great-grandparents on the 1911 census. The data indicated that there were an additional three children who had not survived to 1911. But who were they, when were they born and when did they die? I was not looking forward to trawling through BMD records to locate them!

Well, the first question has been partly answered – two of the three children were a daughter called Ino Kate HOLLANDS, and a son called Uno Frank HOLLANDS. What unusual names!

How did I find them? Via the 1891 census on FindMyPast ! However, the data showed why I may not have found the household previously via Ancestry – the family was listed as HOLLARD! Thanks to FindMyPast’s improved correction submission system, I have now had this corrected.

Now to find child three and when they all died …

The 1911 Census was finally made available as a subscription option today, via FindMyPast.com, but being an existing Explorer subscriber, I have had the benefit at a discounted rate for about a week now as a “top-up” to my subscription.

I must say that if you are at all in two minds as to whether you subscribe, and you have anything other than a small quantity of records to check out, just do it. At a cost of £39.95 for 6 months’ full access to the 1911 alone (or £59.95 for 12 months), it would not take long to reach this cost if you were only to use PayAsYouGo credits via 1911census.co.uk, which until now has been the only method to access the census online.

I have already gained the benefit – the census highlighted that I had entered the wrong person for one of my mother’s uncles. Both born the same year (1907) in the same district (Medway), but had different middle names. The 1911 census showed the correct middle name, which allowed me to determine the correct details.

The census has also, of course, enabled me to determine extra children/siblings born between 1901 and 1911, who would not (obviously) have appeared on the 1901 census. In addition you can of course see your ancestor’s own handwriting to feel that little extra personal involvement!

Have been laboriously tracing BALDOCKs through censuses page by page this weekend to see what surfaces.
Managed to find siblings, marriages and link up stray families in the Pluckley area.

Hope to link more this Thursday – if I can manage to get to the Society of Genealogists to view the BALDOCK pedigree roll they have! I do not know what era it covers, which counties it covers or anything – I’m just chuffed to know they have something!!

Watch this space for news!

Finally, it’s up! The website for the 1911 census (http://www.1911census.co.uk) is available, and very much surprised me by having many counties available (although of course, I couldn’t say how complete!). Suffice it to say that the areas of Kent I am interested in have come up trumps – and highlighted a stupid mistake I had made regarding the birth year of my father’s auntie – who had the same name as here mother!
Unfortunately, FindMyPast.com (who run the site) are only making data available on a Pay-As-You-Go basis at the moment (although searches are free). There is no date as yet as to when we may all be able to use our subscriptions to findmypast.com to access the data for no extra charge (I’ve already contacted them!). And now I’ve used up what few credits I had left after upgrading to subscription at Xmas!
I suspect that demand may bring their plans forward. Let’s all do our bit to achieve this – although I guess flooding them with emails is not such a good idea! Demand has seen the census released early, and I suspect us subscribers will benefit further soon …
Bring it on!