Dedicated to the memory of Bob Muchamore, 1934 – 2004
The
Devon 1861 Census
The project is being jointly organised by Devon Family History Society and FreeCEN.
The two co-ordinators are Terry Leaman (DFHS) and Lesley Dawson (FreeCEN) - our contact e-mails are at the bottom of the page.
The completed transcriptions will be put into the FreeCen database for free access on the internet and also passed to the Devon Family History Society for use in whatever way the Society may wish
The intention is that we will be transcribing from CDs which are being supplied free of charge , This CD will be passed from the transcriber once he/she has finished to the checker and then to a validator. This means that the transcribers do not need to have a fiche reader at home, which was something that stopped a lot of people helping with the FreeCEN Devon 1891 project - they were willing, had time but no fiche reader! Having said that, if a helper does have a fiche reader and would prefer to use this method, then they can be supplied with the fiches on loan to do the transcription. It is our intention that helpers will be allowed to choose an area of interest to them, but this may not possible if it is being done already by someone else and we would encourage folk to help in any event on the basis that someone is helping you and you can help them!
The data must be done to the FreeCEN format, we strongly recommend using the SSCENS software for this project, this is spreadsheet based and will allow you to work with a split screen using the data from census CD and any spreadsheet programme that will accept .csv format, SSCENS is supplied free, download from this site
http://freecen.rootsweb.com/software/incens/SSDOWN.HTM
You
will need a blank floppy disk to download the software to.
Note:
other useful and important downloads
*
Spreadsheet
tips
*
Relationship to Heads
*
Chapman County Codes
*
Genie
Placename Gazetteer
*A guidance sheet in .PDF format comparing original transcriber's sheets to SSCens spreadsheet is available for download. This will assist you in checking what goes where and where to find things like Folio numbers, page numbers, schedule numbers etc.Click here.
To give you an idea of the task:
Each piece covers between 2,000 and 6,000 records which will have to be transcribed using the FreeCEN software SSCENS. Once you have downloaded the software to floppy and expanded 'Sscens.exe' to get the files which will be on the floppy also, make a new folder on your C:/UKCENSUS/SSCENS and copy all the files from the floppy to this folder.
*You
should open the 'Readme.htm' following the instructions
*Open
up the 'Structur.htm' and we would suggest you print this and look at
the Demo spread sheet you will have already opened and work along
with this
*Open
'Field Descriptions' and again, we suggest you print this and keep
along side you as you transcribe as it will 'keep you on the straight
and narrow'!
*
Transcription must be done "AS IS" even if you know the
enumerator to be wrong - transcription means just that and not
interpretation!!
The 1861 handwriting (or the amount of ink the enumerator used) can be variable - please don't worry unduly about reading the CD. Just make your best guess and move on - there are 2 more people who will be eyeballing the same data after you who might just be able to read it. Take heart in that the enumerator changes after so many pages and sometimes you do get used to a certain hand!
*You will need Acrobat Reader software on your computer to enable you to read the census CD, if you have not got it, download it for free from the Adobe web site.
Click on link below
There is a dedicated 'Helpers' list where you can post questions, address below, though in the first instance we would prefer that you contact either Terry or Lesley to help; we are here for you!
Finally, we would just reinforce the point to READ the information supplied with the SSCENS package and usually there is an answer there in the Help file or the FAQ. We would ask that after you have completed 5 pages you send it to Lesley to check that everything is in the correct format so that the final data is not having to be re-jigged!
If you feel you have time and would like to contribute to this worthwhile project, please contact either:
OR
WEB ADDRESSES ETC THAT YOU WILL FIND USEFUL
1. The Devon Family
History Society
Devon
Family History Society
2. FreeCEN Home page
which shows all the different projects
http://freecen.rootsweb.com/project.htm
3. FAQs which will
probably answer any queries - please print, read and refer
to!
http://freecen.rootsweb.com/censfaq.htm
4. CSVCHECK is now
available from
http://freecen.rootsweb.com/software/incens/SSDOWN.HTM
MAILING LISTS
Every helper should be subscribed to the FreeCEN 'HELPERS' list by sending an e-mail to:
mailto:UK-CENSUS-HELPERS-L-request@rootsweb.com
with subscribe in the body of the e-mail
or
if you prefer digest mode
mailto:UK-CENSUS-HELPERS-D-request@rootsweb.com
again with subscribe in the body of the e-mail.
There is also a
help list especially for those working with the spreadsheet version
of the software
mailto:UK-CENSUS-SS-HELP-L-request@rootsweb.com
(This list is not compulsory as it only deals with queries and no announcements are made on this list.)