Tracing Your Ancestors Using the Census - Retford Library - Adult Learning

About this course

Census returns are amongst the most popular records for family history research, and for good reason. They provide key information about people from the past including names, ages, family relationships, addresses, birthplaces, occupations and more. If you want to learn more about historical censuses and how to use them effectively to trace your own ancestors, why not come along to this new three-week course? The course is suitable for beginners in family history and may also be useful for more experienced researchers who would like to refresh their knowledge. If you’re struggling to find an ‘elusive’ ancestor on the census, this could be the perfect chance to gain new ideas, tips and techniques to help with your search. The main focus of the course will be on the available census records for England and Wales (including the 1921 England and Wales Census, released in 2022). We will, however, make reference to censuses of other countries, including Scotland and Ireland. Additionally, we will explore the 1939 England and Wales Register which, although not a census, is arranged along similar lines and contains some similar information. At the start of the course, you will discover more about the history of the census – when and why it was introduced, how it was taken, and what information was collected in different censuses over time. You will explore physical census documents and practise reading and interpreting information on different census returns. You will also look at census documents online, discovering what can be accessed and where, and developing skills and strategies to help you search online censuses and interpret the information you find. There is a strong practical element to the course with around half the class time spent on practical activities (in pairs or small groups). This includes time dedicated to searching online for ancestors of your own. Laptops will be provided for this purpose with free access to Ancestry.com (Ancestry.com is free to access in Inspire Libraries).

Booking your place and fee information

Booking your place and fee information If you are in receipt of certain benefits you will be offered the course for free, however if you have a financial barrier which may prevent you from enrolling on the course, please visit our webpage for further information https www.inspireculture.org.uk skills learning funding your courses Complete our INSPIRE ONLINE ENROLMENT FORM for each person attending the course. To enrol on one of our courses, you must have been living in England and have been resident in the UK for the past 3 years. Some exceptions may apply if you are living in England with evidence of the right to remain and are from an EEU EEAU country (completion of a questionnaire will be required). As we no longer receive funding for our ESFA funded courses for learners living in the devolved areas listed below, full cost fees would apply to these courses if you live in these areas: Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Greater London Greater Manchester Liverpool City Region Newcastle Upon Tyne, North Tyneside and Northumberland Tees Valley West of England West Midlands West Yorkshire