The Fernhurst Society
Censuses
This new project is analysing the Fernhurst and adjoining parish residences recorded in the 1841-1901 England censuses, and will hopefully summarise the information with cross-references to other information, e.g. parish maps.
Comparing the area covered by the present Fernhurst parish with historical records is somewhat complex because there are other parishes that once impinged upon its village centre. We therefore include census returns from Fernhurst and parts of Linchmere, Easebourne and North Ambersham and Woolavington detached.
A provisional transcription of the 1901 Fernhurst parish census is now complete, thanks to our transcribers: Anne Pennington, Robin Barnes, Carla Barnes, Charles Hallifax, Pat Hallifax, John Siebert, C M Maynard, Ralph Carver, Richard Ranft and Tracey Edwards. The data are currently being checked against the census returns, but are provided here now as work in progress.
Additional census transcriptions from other years and adjacent districts, and much other data including tithe records, kindly provided by David Coward and Trevor Hill, are being added.
Finally, we include an 1815 listing of Fernhurst parish - in effect, an early form of census, kindly transcribed by John Trussler.
See also: Genealogy and history links
Note: some of the census tables are large; please be patient while they load.
1901
The 1901 census was taken on the night of March 31st across England and Wales. Fernhurst Parish was split across two enumeration districts, district 1 enumerated by William Luke Smith, and district 2 enumerated by Charles Hansford. The North Ambersham district was enumerated by William Albert Hoare.
The records for each of these districts consist of a set of identical handwritten forms, completed by the enumerator as he followed a pre-determined path through the area on that day. Each form has space for the names of up to thirty-one people, grouped by household. The path taken by the enumerator was chosen to ensure full coverage of the area. Based on the information we have, we may well need to undertake further detective work to deduce the actual path taken by each of the enumerators.
1891
The 1891 census was taken on the night of 5th April 1891. Fernhurst Parish was split across two enumeration districts, district 1 enumerated by William Luke Smith, and district 2 enumerated by Charles Hansford. The North Ambersham district was enumerated by Robert Burt.
1881
The 1881 census was taken on the night of 3rd April 1881. Fernhurst Parish was split across two enumeration districts, district 1 enumerated by William F Bridger, and district 2 enumerated by William Slade. The North Ambersham district was enumerated by W Thoms.
1871
The 1871 census was taken on the night of 2nd April 1871. Fernhurst Parish was split across two enumeration districts, district 1 enumerated by Thomas Bridger, and district 2 enumerated by Edward Etherington. The North Ambersham district was enumerated by James Pannell Pickman.
1861
The 1861 census was taken on the night of 7th April 1861. Fernhurst Parish was split across two enumeration districts, district 1 enumerated by Thomas Bridger, and district 2 enumerated by Edward Etherington. The North Ambersham district was enumerated by William Clement Lucas.
1851
The 1851 census was taken on the night of 30th March 1851.
1841
The 1841 census was taken on the night of 6th June 1841.
1815
Not a census, but an interesting listing of inhabitants of Fernhurst parish
We need more volunteers to help check and analyse the data. Anybody who would like to help should contact John Buchanan via the Society's email.
More data will be added as the project progresses. Please check back again later.
Fernhurst History
