Find Ancestors

I can understand Lauren's confusion as I too, wasn't used to looking at a census form - I had to learn and am still learning.

To have all the info plonked in front of you without explanation can be very daunting to a newbie. C'mon Gins, you're a helpful sort......(sometimes)help her out.....perleeze.... :-D

I have done, Ive explained the stuff I posted and the other stuff :-P

Edit: It might help the poster if people edited and explained what they had posted, as you say its easy for us but if she's not seen a census before or birth records......scarey stuff :-S

Sheeeeeesh...........I meant explain about 'Head' of household, place of birth etc......... :-P .......

Lauren I can explain what 'Head' means after Bens name. Each family on a census return has someone who was the head of the family and thats what 'Head' means

Some of the other stuff is references and you dont need to get tangled up with them. Just look at the names, starting with the head of the family and work your way down reading left to right....this shows you the name, relation to the head and where and when they were born

Hope this helps but if you need more explaining just shout


Cyns, I hadnt seen Laurens question about 'Head'......is this OK Miss C!!

Some blame must lie with me for not explaining, but I was concentrating on getting the info onto the screen as I am short of time this evening and didn't spot the queries until Gins had done some explaining at Cynthias request. If you have a problem you can direct it to me, I am not as experienced with replies as some of you so probably need to learn too!

That's MUCH better Gins........ :-D Mind you, it shows you weren't concentrating.......tuts...........


Hi Stuart..........you are obviously turning into a good researcher and could be catching up with Gins.............she can't run as fast as she used to these days .... and she's at a very funny age too.........:-D :-D



Poor Lauren will wonder what on earth I am rabbiting on about. :-S

Cheeky mare!

I am young enough to be your daughter Mrs C :-P

Ive PMd Lauren and explained a little......hope she gets back here with as many questions as she can throw at us :-D

You are doing a 'grand job' Stuart !!!

Keep up the good work !

Dea Xxx

Thanks for the PM Lauren

Im sending over the service records. They list his father as Samuel and state that he had two brothers who were older and two who were younger than Ben

Happy reading!

Heres the Banns and marriage for Doris

Dorset, England, Marriages and Banns, 1813-1921
Name: Doris Walter Crossley
Marriage or Bann Date: 30 May 1920
Parish: West Fordington
Spouse's Name: Albert Richard Harcourt

Dorset, England, Marriages and Banns, 1813-1921
Name: Dovis Walker Crossley
Birth Year: abt 1902
Age: 18
Marriage or Bann Date: 30 Jul 1920
Parish: West Fordington
Father's Name: Benjamin Herny Frederick Crossley<<Pensioner
Spouse's Name: Albert Richard Haubert <<Serg
Spouse's Father's Name: Thomas Henry Haubert <<Pensioner


And here is her death

England & Wales, Death Index: 1916-2005
Name: Doris Walker Harcourt
Birth Date: 27 Nov 1901
Date of Registration: Aug 1985
Age at Death: 83
Registration district: Surrey Northern
Inferred County: Surrey
Volume: 17
Page: 313

And her husbands death

England & Wales, Death Index: 1916-2005
Name: Albert Richard Harcourt
Birth Date: 7 Oct 1898
Date of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar 1971
Age at Death: 72
Registration district: Hounslow
Inferred County: Greater London
Volume: 5c
Page: 1347

Alberts baptism

Dorset, England, Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906
Name: Albert Richard Harconst
Baptism Date: 29 Oct 1898
Parish: Portland St Peter
Father's Name: Thomas Henry Harconst
Mother's name: Sarah Mary Jane Harconst

Albert with his grandparents in 1901

1901 England Census
Name: Albert R Harcourt
Age: 2
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1899
Relation: Grandson
Gender: Male
Where born: Portland, Dorset, England

Civil parish: Leicester Formerly St Leonard
Ecclesiastical parish: St Leonard
County/Island: Leicestershire
Country: England

Registration district: Leicester
Sub-registration district: North West Leicester
ED, institution, or vessel: 11
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 199
Piece: 2987
Folio: 46
Page Number: 33
Household Members: Name Age

Albert Harcourt 60 <<Granfather to Albert
Mary A Harcourt 54 <<<Grandmother to Albert
Claude V Harcourt 18
Sarah M J Harcourt 27 <<Mother to Albert
Albert R Harcourt 2
Alf Hy Wheatley 16


His service records didnt survive as most didnt but there is a medal card for him giving his service number


British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920
Name: Albert R Harcourt
Regiment or Corps: Dorsetshire Regiment, Labour Corps
Regimental Number: 13116, 605776

Thank you all for the help, will have a good look through my grandads papers and see what else i can find , there are all sorts of names which i am trying to peice together .

Have not been on for a few days as it being christmas, hope you all had a good one . Is there no where on the forums you can put pictures up , as i would like people that have helped me to see who he was, i know that probly sounds a bit sad , :-D

Gins whats a " Banns " ??

I know Albert R Harcourts mum was called sarah mary jane harcourt, but on the last bit you have put up gins im a bit stumped as its made to look like sarah and albert were the siblings , my god i dont think all this is for me :-D :-S :-D

Lauren, here's a different version of that 1901 census. This shows the relationship of each person to the head of household:

HARCOURT, Albert Head Married M 60 1841 Army Pensioner Leicester Leicestershire
HARCOURT, Mary A Wife Married F 54 1847 Worsted Reeler Cadeby Leicestershire
HARCOURT, Claude V Son Single M 18 1883 Dyer Leicester Leicestershire
HARCOURT, Sarah M J Daughter-In-Law Married F 27 1874 Yeovil Somersetshire
HARCOURT, Albert R Grand Son Single M 2 1899 Portland Dorsetshire
WHEATLEY, Alf Hy Nephew Single M 16 1885 Printer Quorn Leicestershire

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Registration District: Leicester
Civil Parish: Leicester

Address: 30, Grundon Street, Leicester County: Leicestershire

Lauren, 'Banns' are what are read in church weeks before a marriage to let everyone know of the up and coming marriage

Ive added to the census above.

Top tip: You need to read all the info on a census starting at the top as this gives you the persons relationship to the head of the house. It will make sense eventually

In answer to you other points - if you got married in church the banns were read in the weeks leading up to the actual marriage. The idea was to give notice in case anyone knew a reason why the marriage shouldn't go ahead (e.g. one of the couple was already married).

About the picture, you could always change your picture of the dogs to one of him.

Don't say all this isn't for you! We were all in the same boat at one time, you learn as you go along.

We all sometimes forget when we post information that although it makes perfect sense to us it can be absolute gobbledygook to the recipient! Just keep asking. :-)

There used to a board on here where you could post photos and videos but that seems to have gone over the last few months

You can go on Genes Reunited Face Book and post photos on their wall