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Questions asked on the 1861 census of Ontario
(The names of all family members are listed)


The introduction to the 1851 census also applies to this census although not as much of this census is missing. Of special note is the 'married during the year' question (#4). This was not always checked however some enumerators misunderstood the question and entered the year married.

The Other Form
The microfilm copies of the census of many cities uses a different form. It was a form that was dropped off at all residences, filled in by the residents and then collected by the enumerators.
Both sides of the form were microfilmed. This makes searching these censuses difficult because each screen has few names. Other problems are created because the average citizen had poor handwriting, inferior spelling skills than most enumerators and frequently misunderstood or ignored questions. On the other hand some citizen added more details than required. Most notably in place of birth, many people would enter towns or parishes rather than a country.
Also the 'remarks' section attracted budding authors. This was their chance to tell ther family history or vent their anger against the establishment.

PERSONAL CENSUS
1. NAMES OF INMATES
2. PROFESSION TRADE or OCCUPATION
3. PLACE OF BIRTH
4. Married during the year
5. RELIGION
6. RESIDENCE IF OUT OF LIMITS
7. Age next Birthday
8. Sex: Male
9. Sex: Female
10. Married or Single
11. Widowers
12. Widows
13. Colored Persons, Mulatto or Indian
14. Residents: Members of Family, M
15. Residents: Members of Family, F
16. Residents: Not members, Male
17. Residents: Not members, F
18. Members of Family absent: M
19. Members of Family absent: F
20. Deaf and Dumb
21. Blind
22. Lunatics or Idiots
23. Attending School within the year: M
24. Attending School within the year: F
25. Persons over 20 who cannot read & write: M
26. Persons over 20 who cannot read & write: F
27. Births in 1860: M
28. Births in 1860: F
29. Deaths in 1860: No. - M
30. Deaths in 1860: No. - F
31. Age and Cause of Death
32. Houses: Brick, Stone, Frame, Log, etc
33. Houses: No. of Stories
34. Houses: No. of Families living in house
35. Houses: Vacant
36. Houses: Being built

LIVE STOCK, etc., OF TOWNSPEOPLE AND PERSONS NOT FARMERS
(Questions 37 through 41 were only intended to apply to live stock of persons resident in cities, towns, villages, etc., and who are not farmers. The live stock of farmers was to be enumerated in the agricultural census.)

37. Horses
38. Cows
39. Sheep
40. Pigs
41. Value of Live Stock in Dollars
42. Carriages for Pleasure
43. Value of the same in dollars
44. Carriages for hire
45. Value of same in dollars
46. Quantity of Land attached to tenement 47. Name of Business or Manufacture 48. Capital Invested in Business in Real and Personal Estate

RAW MATERIAL USED EXCLUSIVE OF FUEL
49. Quantities
50. Kinds
51. Value
52. What motive, power or machinery
53. Average no. of hands employed - Male
54. Average no. of hands employed - Female
55. Average cost per month of male labor
56. Average cost per month of female labor

ANNUAL PRODUCT OF BUSINESS OR MANUFACTURE
57. Quantities
58. Kind
59. Value
60. REMARKS

AGRICULTURAL CENSUS
1. NAME OF OCCUPANT - (head of family - male or female)
2. CONCESSION or Range
3. Lot or part of Lot
Number of acres of land:
4. Total held by each Person or Family
5. Under Cultivation
6. Under Crops in 1860
7. Under Pasture in 1860
8. Under Orchards or Gardens
9. Under Wood or Wild
NOTE: the acreage in 4 should equal the total in 6, 7, 8 & 9.
10. Cash value of the Farm, Dollars
11. Cash value of the Farming Implements or Machinery, Dollars

CROPS AND BY-PRODUCTS
12. Fall Wheat - Acres
13. Fall Wheat - Produce in bushels
14. Spring Wheat - Acres
15. Spring Wheat - Produce in bushels
16. Barley - Acres
17. Barley - Produce in bushels
18. Rye - Acres
19. Rye - Produce in bushels
20. Peas - Acres
21. Peas - Produce in bushels
22. Oats - Acres
23. Oats - Produce in bushels
24. Buck Wheat - Acres
25. Buck Wheat - Produce in bushels
26. Indian Corn - Acres
27. Indian Corn - Produce in bushels
28. Potatoes - Acres
29. Potatoes - Produce in bushels
30. Turnips - Acres
31. Turnips - Produce in bushels
32. Mangel Wurtzel - Acres
33. Mangel Wurtzel - Produce in bushels
34. Carrots, bushels
35. Beans, bushels
36. Hops,lbs
37. Tons of hay of 2000 pounds or bales of 16 pounds
38. Clover Seed, Timothy Seed, or other Grass Seed, bushels
39. Flax or Hemp, lbs
40. Wool, lbs
41. Maple Sugar, lbs
42. Cider, gallons
43. Fulled Cloth, yards
44. Linen, yards
45. Flannel, yards

LIVESTOCK AND BY-PRODUCTS
46. Bulls or Oxen over 3 years of age
47. Steers or heifers under 3 years of age
48. Milch Cows
49. Horses over 3 years of age
50. Value of same in Dollars
51. Colts or Fillies under 3 years
52. Sheep
53. Pigs
54. Total value of all Live Stock, Dollars
55. Butter, lbs.
56. Cheese, lbs.
57. Beef in Brls. of 200 lbs
58. Pork in Brls. of 200 lbs

FISH
59. Quantity dried in Quintals
60. Salted and Barrelled
61. sold, Fresh

MISCELLANEOUS
62. Pleasure Carriages kept
63. Value of ditto, Dollars

MINERALS
64. Copper ore mined, Tons
65. Value of ditto, Dollars
66. Iron Ore mined, Tons
67. Value of ditto, Dollars
68. Produce of Orchard and Garden, Dollars
69. REMARKS
Census Index

CanGenealogy.com > Hugh Armstrong's Genealogy Site Index