What do you do with census returns?

[yn9man]

kerryb -

I find looking at a "hard copy" document easier than looking at a computer screen. Does this show my age?

Also, I enjoy looking back through my research papers. Every now and then I will notice something I hadn't seen previously or look at in a different light. I also find paper an easier method to use when sharing information. 

Having several documents in front of me at one time helps me to focus on what surname or family member I am researching.

yn9man

[Lainys]

I type mine into the notes section on my FTL software and also have it backed up on CD.  This prints out onto Family Group sheets.

No need to keep hard copies for me 

Dolly

[Elliebob]

I do like looking at copies of the originals so that I can see who the neighbours were and what they did. It gives an idea of the sort of locality.
 I have also found several relatives living close by through looking at the documents.

Ellen

[kerryb]

I've now ordered a copy of Family Historian and I am going to work through all the census returns and add them to it. 

Job for the new year!!!!!!

Kerry

[yn9man]

Elliebob -

What a great idea to see what sort of locality or area they lived in. I will attempt to do the same.     That sort of "tip"or "idea'" is what makes this site so great.

I also have found some of my English relatives (not my Scottish though) lived near each other on the same street or neighborhood by using census records.

yn9man

[nutkin]

I actually save on cd and print them out.  I have found myself going back to old ones as I find other family members and am suprised that to find who I thought was just a neighbor was a parent and older siblings.  I forget that extended family all lived together until the early 20th century.  Modern families just don't seem to do the same.

[kerryb]

Isn' t it amazing what you can miss first time round on a census return.  I guess because we are so focussed on finding whatever it is we are looking for we miss the other bits of useful information!!!!

Or that's what I find anyway!

Kerry

[yn9man]

kerryb -

In that same neighborhood as you.

I try to be more careful in my review of documents now but I still have the knack of missing things.   

I have gone back on a few occasions now to find neighbors eventually turned to relatives (sons and daughters getting married etc.).

yn9man

[kerryb]

I seem not only to have missed neighbours but children and grandchildren 

The ones that I wasn't expecting to be there I have kind of ignored!

Kerry