Prisoner 4099

Historical background

Census return (1871)

The first official census was taken in the UK in 1801. It was taken because there was an increasing concern about the amount of food available for people to eat. Up until 1831 the census simply showed how many people lived in each house. From 1841 the name of each person was included. After 1851 the other details that you see in the census below were included.

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Street	Name	Role	Status	Age	Job	Place of birth
9 Bottons Place	William Towers	head	Married	32	Brick­layer	Chelsea Middx
	Mary Towers	wife	Married	28		Richmond Surrey
	Elizabeth Towers	daughter	unm	11		Mortlake Surrey
	William R. Towers	son	unm	10		Richmond Surrey
	Henry Towers	son	unm	7		Richmond
	George Towers	son	unm	6		Richmond
	Edwin Towers	son	unm	5		Richmond
	James H Towers	son	unm	2		Richmond
	Thomas Towers	son	unm	9 mo		Richmond

What's interesting about this document?

Did you notice that William was named after his father? This used to be very common. How many people do you know who have the same name as their dad? Also, the head of the house, William Towers, moved away from the area where he was born before the birth of his children. Can you think of any reasons why he may have moved? What do yo think 'unm' means?