1851 Census of New Brunswick Online
I
looked through the pile of magazines that Aunt Ethel brought, in search
of recipes that I could write in my new hardcovered scribbler. Next I
asked Aunt Sadie and Mum if I could borrow their recipe books to copy
some of my favourite ones.
For days, I had been helping Mum with the baking. I now felt
secure enough to try making Blueberry Buttermilk Muffins on my own.
Carefully I measured the flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar and
salt into a bowl and mixed them carefully. In another bowl, I whisked
eggs, buttermilk and butter and poured into the well in the dry
ingredients, carefully folding in the blueberries.
The muffins certainly smelled good while cooking. I was waiting for the
look of delight when Cliff bit into one of them. But instead he made a
face and spit. I then burst into tears!
Mum placed her arm around my shoulders and suggested we find the recipe
in her book and compare it to what I had written.
I don’t know if the cause was “human error” or if I couldn’t read Mum’s
writing but I found my mistake. I had written 1/2 cup of baking soda
instead of 1/2 teaspoon.
It is much easier to read typed material but errors can be made in
transcribing records and often one wishes the originals could be
compared but that takes time to go to a research institution and find
the microfilm reel and hope a reader is available.
Today, if you want to view the 1851 census for New Brunswick, the pages
have been digitized and are available online at the website of the
Library and Archives Canada at http://www.collectionscanada.ca/archivianet/1851/index-e.html.
There is no surname index so you will search by geographic location. It
makes it much easier if you know the ward, parish and county where your
ancestor resided. Most of the counties in New Brunswick have been
transcribed and indexed so it may be possible for you to find the
transcription at a research institution which will give you the
“finding facts”. You can choose to then go online to determine if the
information was transcribed properly or you can click your way through
an area checking any names you stumble upon as you walk along the road
where your ancestors lived in 1851.
This census provides personal information as to, Name, Sex,
Relationship to Head of Household, Age, Race, Occupation, Date of
Entering Colony (when they came to New Brunswick), Sick or Infirm and
the last column may contain remarks that the enumerator believed would
be relevant.
Much of the actual census-taking did not occur until 1852 since the
planning was not completed in time.
Parts of the 1851 census did not survive and therefore no digital
images exist.
Information can be found on 31,682 family groups and nearly 194,000
individuals. A total of 2,366 were reported as being "Sick or Infirm".
Computers and the internet have certainly changed the way we do census
research. I well remember sitting at a microfilm reader, slowly turning
the crank, constantly watching the clock to see when “my time” would be
up. Now, I turn on the computer at any hour of the day or night and sit
as long as I want to read the pages of the 1851 census at http://www.collectionscanada.ca/archivianet/1851/index-e.html
***
Query 1497
Dickie: I am looking for any information on the family of Hector
Dickie, born 1737 in Northern Ireland, settled in Ninety-Six South
Carolina about 1768, served His Majesty George III in the South
Carolina Loyal Militia and as quartermaster to refugees in Charleston
and came to New Brunswick (the Norton area) via Jamaica after the war.
He died on 5 May 1837 aged 100 in Norton Parish. Anyone have
documentation as to his place of burial? I'm also hoping to
confirm or prove false the story that he died from blood poisoning when
he stuck himself with a needle his wife left in a sock after darning
it. His wife, Sarah, and several of his children moved to Upper
Canada and settled in the Burford area circa 1837. I will
gladly share what I have on the family with anyone interested.
ALEX LAWRENCE
4 Chalk Lake Road
Port Perry, ON
Canada, L9L 2C5
E-mail alawrenc@durham.net
