[4e]

FreeCEN Field Descriptions

Spreadsheet
Column letter:
"Field" name 		Whether
Mandatory
Description & Rules
Schedule & Address Details
Column E

Schedule
Number

Rev 22Nov2003
 Yes Up to three numerals + one optional suffix
This is the first column on most census pages except for the 1841 census, and on Institution & Shipping returns where Schedule numbers were not used.
A suffix is entered only if present on the Census page

A value MUST be entered in Column E for every New Household or empty premises.
If no other value can be found then type a zero.
At conversion from SSCENS this column provides the 'trigger' to recognise each separate household or building. (INCENS will allow the entry of Unoccupied premises without a Schedule Number, but has other means of determining the start of each new household.)
Care should be taken if the Enumerator has entered two separate families, each with its own "Head", under a single address and schedule - the second family should be entered as Schedule=0

If an Enumeration contains more than 999 numbered schedules then enter the schedule numbers in the form 999, 000!, 001!, 002! etc (where the Upload routine will convert such entries to the appropriate schedule number).
If any alpha-suffix is enumerated to such a schedule this should be explained as a Note (Column Y). Do not enter (e.g.) "002!a".

All Schedule Numbers must be accounted for (see also under Column H)

Column F

House
Number

. Up to four numerals + one optional suffix
On the census page this is in the second column, associated with the street name

For instances where the "house number" is compound (as in "23 & 24", "2½" or "2 Back") enter only the first number in this field, then type the full address into the Street/Road address.
Do not use "keyboard special characters" to enter fractions!

... continued ...
Spreadsheet
Column letter:
"Field" name 		Whether
Mandatory
Description & Rules
Column G

Street/Road
Address

Yes Up to thirty alpha/numeric characters
Address must be copied precisely - even if it looks wrong!
Abbreviation as St Rd Terr etc will be acceptable.

If no address is written, then enter a hyphen/dash
Do not assume that the Street/Road (etc) is necessarily the same as the previous household!

Supplementary information should follow the Street Name (as in "High St, Anchor Hotel")
A Shipping Schedule should be entered as (e.g.) "Vessel - Mary Rose"
Public Buildings without any residents, such as a Church, should be entered as "Unoccupied".

Column H

Query
or
Special Use

. One character, (b, n, u, v or x if needed).
Any other entry will be rejected as "invalid".
This field may be set with an x to indicate that you have doubts about the interpretation of any of the Header or Address details.
A brief comment in Column Y should explain the nature of your doubts, e.g. "?house no".

This field may, alternatively, contain one of b,u,v, or n

  • use b if this is shown on the Census Sheet as (Building)
  • use u if this is shown on the Census Sheet as (Unoccupied)
  • use v if the Census Sheet indicates "family away or visiting"
  • use n to show that the Census Sheet is missing specific Schedule Numbers
    (This proves the omission to be on the Census, not made at the Transcription!)
  • 'n' should also be used in case of deleted items, as for a note on the Census "Three schedules numbered for the Light House not required, being provided with a schedule from the Trinity Board". (Type the address as "Light House" and Column H as 'n'

NOTE: where an Enumerator has 'grouped' vacant premises as a single entry (of "4b" or "2u") each premises must be treated as a separate household.
Vacant premises cannot occur within a household (e.g. where the Enumerator may have added "1u", having previously forgotten it). Normally, enter the vacancy immediately after the household with residents.
NOTE: where b, u, v, or n have been entered in this field, any data entered in following fields (except "Notes") will be rejected. A comment may be entered in Notes (Column Y) if there is a Query regarding the schedule or address entries.
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25Nov2003