1911 Census Data

Spreadsheets are a really easy form with which to digitise Census data using the columns. It took me a while to get the hang of coping and pasting calculations I had done to other areas of the Spreadsheet but once I did you get an indication of how useful Spreadsheets are in carrying out multiple types of statistical analysis on vast arrays of Census data. Additionally the ability to use graphs on the Spreadsheet data is great way of making the numbers easier to interpret.

            We were carrying out analysis of data from the 1911 Census on the Ballymodan area in Bandon. I was looking at Cloughmacsimon, where the workhouse in the town was amongst the houses. I took records of people living in the area and the proprietors of the Workhouse but the hundreds of anonymous names that were resident in the Workhouse at the time were excluded from my spreadsheet. The long list of anonymous names gives you an indication of the level of poverty in the area at the time and the amount of people dependant on the workhouses

The data for Cloughmacsimon reveals an area that seen many changes since the previous Census. One thing I noticed was how many people have moved to a different house number on the street. There are many new names but some remain and changes in family circumstances have come about. Regarding the Hurley family we see that two of their sons Daniel and Jeremiah who would be 42 and 37 years old by 1911 respectively, are absent in 1911 and seem to have emigrated or got married.

There are many widows on this street. There are six widows in all the twelve houses and all they range in age from 58 to 75 with most in their sixties. This gives an indication of the far shorter life expectancy of people in the early twentieth century and it seems particularly with regard to men. There is one widower, John Coleman who is 45 years old. He has a ten year old daughter so his wife may possibly have passed away during child birth.  Another notable example is Frances Collins. She was married but was head of her house in 1901 and looking after her family. By 1911 she is widowed, so her husband, who must have emigrated previously, has since died.

Another major change is that the owner of the workhouse John Holland has got married in the intervening period between the two Censuses and has three children by 1911 too.
            It is notable from the 1911 data is that of the majority of those recorded as Irish speakers are all over the age of 60, reflecting the decline of Irish being taught in the post Famine period and the negative connotations of poverty and backwardness people associated with the language.

We can also see that three local priests Joseph Shinkwin, Robert Burts and Thomas Alphonsus all live next door to each other in houses 4, 5 and 6 respectively. This may possibly be to the fact that the workhouse in nearby and they may be acting in a role to help people in poverty stricken circumstances.

The picture revealed in these Census figures is one of a poor area which has seen much emigration in ten year period and with many single parent families left with widowed heads of the household. The availability of the 1901 and 1911 Censuses is a fantastic resource to have online, especially for people looking up genealogy but also for historians looking at the circumstances people where living in at the turn of the century. I also think the digitisation of the original returned Census forms adds a real sense of authenticity to looking at the results.