Morris, Ellen and Family

Census of Ireland 1901

Household Return (Form A)

In 1901 a Ellen Morris(75), farmer and widow was head of the household. She was living with three sons George(31), Martin Joseph(29) and John(27) in the townland of Cregboy. On the night of the Census Ellen’s son Timothy(25) was visiting as well as her granddaughter Mary(15). All her children and her granddaughter were born in County Galway but Ellen herself was born in Co. Mayo. All her sons are unmarried and all are Roman Catholic. Everybody can read, write and speak Irish and English. All men are recorded as farmer’s sons and Mary is recorded as a farmer’s daughter.

Enumerator’s abstract (Form N)

The Moran family are the only family living in the cottage, there were four males and two females.

House and Building Return (Form B1) & Out-Offices and Farm-Steadings Return (Form B2)

Ellen owns the land that she and his family live on. The house which was 2^nd class is a stone or brick house with a slated or tiled roof. It was most likely a two storey house as is it had 5 front windows and it had 6 rooms occupied.

The farm was large with twelve buildings in total. Two stables, a coach house, harness room, two cow houses, calf house, dairy room, piggery, fowl house, barn and a shed.

The 1901 Irish Census took place the night of Sunday, March 31^st and the forms filled out. As Anne could not read or write, an “X” marked her signature. The returns were filled out, witnessed, signed and collected by local constable John Reilly on April 4^th.

Census of Ireland 1911

Household Return (Form A)

In 1911, Ellen has now passed and his son George Morris(42) is now head of the family and a farmer. George is now married to Minnie(28) and was not recorded as having an occupation, she would most likely be a housekeeper, domestic duties were not asked to be recorded.

There are three new columns in the 1911 census, ‘Years Married’, ‘Children Born’ and ‘Children Living’. George and Minnie are three years married and the have two children both living, Edmund aged two and Mary eleven months.

Since 1901, Martin Joseph and John are no longer living at the house. A Celia Morris(22), George’s niece, was now living with them in the house the night of the census. Two additional people are also living on the farm the night of the census, Winifred Quinn(17) a domestic servant and Tom Boyle(30) a farmer Servant.

Minnie, Celia and Winifred can read and write. Minnie and Celia only spoke English but Winifred spoke both Irish and English. Tom could not read or write but also spoke Irish and English. Edmund and Mary are too young too be scholars but both were speaking English. All were born in county Galway.

Enumerator’s abstract (Form N)

The Morris family are the only family living in the house, there were three males and four females and all are of the Roman Catholic faith.

House and Building Return (Form B1) & Out-Offices and Farm-Steadings Return (Form B2)

The house they live in was the existing house with now an additional window to the front and was now owned by George. There are now only six out-houses on the farm. There was a stable, cow house, piggery, turf house and a shed.

The 1911 Irish Census took place the night of Sunday, April 2nd and the forms were filled out by George as noted by his signature. The return was witnessed, signed and collected by local constable Thomas Fitzgerald on April 8th.

Census of Ireland 1926

The next census in Ireland was not taken until 1926. It was not taken in 1921 as Ireland was in the midst the ‘War of Independence’ against Britain. By 1926 Ireland was a Free State and the government was able to take their first census. The official due date for the release of the 1926 Census is January 1st, 2027 as there is a 100 year privacy law in Ireland. There have been many attempts to have an earlier release date, but to no avail yet.

The 1911 Irish Census took place the night of Sunday, April 2^nd.The forms were signed by William as noted by his signature. They were witnessed and collected by local constable Thomas Fitzgerald on April 8^th.