GR-0469 Canada Census Office Nominal Census Returns for British Columbia, 1881 Microfilm reels 35 mm [B00389-B00390]

Transcription

1 GR-0469 Canada Census Office Nominal Census Returns for British Columbia, 1881 Microfilm reels 35 mm [B00389-B00390] GR-0469 consists of microfilm copies of the British Columbia portions of the 1881 Dominion of Canada census. The 1881 census was the first decennial census to include the Province of British Columbia. The census was carried out under the authority of the federal Census Act of 1879 [42 Vic., c.21]. It was administered by the Department of Agriculture and by fourteen Chief Census Officers who were appointed by cabinet. Joseph William McKay ( ), the distinguished explorer, Hudson s Bay Company officer, legislator, and Indian Agent, was the Chief Census Officer for British Columbia. For the purposes of enumeration, British Columbia was divided into five census districts:,,,, and Yale. The province was divided further into twenty-six sub-districts. Generally speaking, the census districts corresponded to federal electoral districts, while the sub-districts corresponded to polling divisions within the districts. The 1881 census was a de jure survey and 4 April 1881 was chosen as the target date of enumeration. That is, although the process of enumeration extended over many months, enumerators were instructed to record details of the population as they would have been on April 4th. The census comprised eight schedules pertaining to population, property, agricultural production, manufacturing, fisheries and shipbuilding, etc. Of the schedules, only Schedule 1 (Nominal Return of the Living) survived in manuscript form. The Nominal Returns were microfilmed for the Dominion Bureau of Statistics (Statistics Canada) in the 1950s and in 1979 copies of the microfilm were transferred to the National Archives of Canada. The film was found to be of poor quality: in places the pagination was inconsistent and portions of some of the reels were virtually illegible. Unfortunately, the original copies of Schedule 1 were destroyed at the time of filming, so it was not possible to improve the quality of the microform copies. Despite the poor quality of the film, the records, which constitute GR-0469, contain a wealth of demographic and genealogical information. The Nominal Returns show the names of individuals and record details re: a person's G:\RSD\@ORCS09\ \GR-0469.DOC:2008/08/21 page 1

2 residence, sex, age, place of birth, nationality, religion, occupation, marital status, literacy, and infirmities. In the pages that follow, researchers will find a list of abbreviations used in census enumeration, an index of census districts, and an alphabetical list of census sub-districts in British Columbia. The index and lists were prepared in 1981 by genealogist, Mrs. Joanne Hughes, using information from the National Archives' Preliminary Finding Aid for the 1881 census. Having identified a particular sub-district on the lists, researchers should search the appropriate reel (B00389 or B00390) for copies of the Nominal Returns for that area. Note: letters identifies sub-districts, and in some instances, sub-districts were divided into two or three localities. The order of documents on the reels is shown on the lists. This finding aid also includes a descriptive list and maps prepared by Mr. Lorne W. Main. Mr. Main's guide (which has been modified slightly to include BC Archives microfilm reel numbers) first appeared in the British Columbia Genealogist, Vol. X, No 4 (Winter 1981). His maps are particularly useful for identifying sub-districts within the larger enumeration areas. Researchers should note that individuals were not listed alphabetically on the census schedules; rather, they were recorded consecutively as they were met by enumerators. Because of this method of enumeration, it is sometimes difficult to locate a particular person or family within a census sub-district. To alleviate these difficulties, researchers should consult Main's "Index to 1881 Canadian Census of British Columbia: Part I" (1981). Main's "Index" consists of an alphabetical list of Heads of Household, arranged by Enumeration Area (Census district) and by sub-district. The 90-pp. mimeograph "Index" is catalogued in the Archives Library as NW M224. Statistical summaries, based on all eight schedules of the census were published in four volumes, under the title Census of Canada, (Ottawa: Maclean, Roger & Co., ). Volumes 1 & 2 are catalogued in the Archives' Library as NW 971/C396/ Microfiche copies of the complete four-volume summary are catalogued as Df-2. Note: A companion finding aid, prepared by the Library and Archives Canada contains an index of census districts and sub-districts for the whole of Canada. It also contains a microfilm shelf-list, indicating on which reel a particular district or sub-district may be found. In 2008 a name-searchable database linked to digitized pages of the 1881 census schedules was made available on the Internet by LAC at G:\RSD\@ORCS09\ \GR-0469.DOC:2008/08/21 page 2

3 Abbreviations used in Census Enumeration Religion column: B.B. Bible Church C.(of)E. Church of England C.(of)S. Church of Scotland E.M.C. Established Methodist Church F,C, Free Church (Presbyterian) M.E.C. Methodist Episcopalian Church P.C.L.P. Presbyterian-Canada and Lower Provinces P.F.C. Presbyterian Free Church R.P. Reformed Presbyterian U.P. United Presbyterian Q.M. Weslyean Methodist Country or Province of Birth column: B.C. Bas-Canada (Lower Canada, Quebec) and British Columbia in 1881 C.E. Canada East (Canada-Est, Quebec) C.W. Canada West (Canada-Ouest, Ontario) H.C. Haut Canada (Upper Canada, Ontario) L.C. Lower Canada (Bas-Canada, Quebec) N.B. Brunswick (uncommon usage - North Britain, i.e. Scotland) N.S. Nova Scotia Ont. Ontario U.C. Upper Canada (Haut - Canada, Ontario) Index of Census Districts British Columbia Index des Districts de Recensenment Columbie - Britannique Number of District Name Reel Numero des District Nom Bobine 187 B B Yale B B B-390 Index of Sub-Districts in Alphabetical order Names District Sub- District Remarks Reel G:\RSD\@ORCS09\ \GR-0469.DOC:2008/08/21 page 3

4 Alberni- 191 b p B00390 Alert Bay - see Coast of 187 d-5 p. 1-2 B00389 Ashford see Lytton-YALE 189 b-2 p B00390 Barkerville-CARIBOO 188 a p B00390 Bella Bella see Coast of 187 d-2 p B00389 Boothroyd see Lytton-YALE 189 b-2 p B00390 Burrard Inlet see North-NEW 187 b p B00389 Cache Creek see Lytton- 189 b-1 p B00390 YALE Cache Creek see Lytton- 189 b-2 p B00390 YALE Cache Creek see Lytton- 189 b-3 p B00390 YALE Canoe Creek-CARIBOO 188 c-1 p B00390 Canoe Creek-CARIBOO 188 c-2 p B00390 Cassiar-NEW 187 c p B00389 Cassiar see also Northern 187 c p B00389 Interior-NEW Chilliwack see South-NEW 187 a p B00389 Chimsian see Coast of 187 d-8 p B00389 Chimsian see Coast of 187 d-9 p B00389 Clinton-CARIBOO 188 e-1 p B00390 Clinton-CARIBOO 188 e-2 p B00390 Coast Indian see Coast of Coast of 187 d-1 p B00389 Nass 187 d-2 p B00389 Bella Bella 187 d-3 p. 1-7 B00389 Nass Harbour 187 d-4 p B00389 Kwawkewith 187 d-5 p. 1-2 B00389 Alert Bay 187 d-5 p. 1-2 B00389 Ft. Rupert 187 d-5 p. 1-2 B00389 G:\RSD\@ORCS09\ \GR-0469.DOC:2008/08/21 page 4

5 Marbledown Island 187 d-6 p B00389 Port Essington 187 d-6 p B00389 Tsimpsean 187 d-7 p B00389 Cowichan 187 d-8 p B00389 Chimsian 187 d-8 p B00389 Metlakatla 187 d-9 p B00389 Tsimpsean 187 d-9 p B00389 Chimsian 187 d-10 p B00389 Upper Skeena 187 d-10 p B00389 Gardener s Inlet 187 d-11 p B00389 Gold Harbour 187 d-11 p B00389 Haida 187 d-11 p B00389 Queen Charlotte Island Indian 187 d-11 p B00389 Comox- 191 b-1 p B00390 Cook s Ferry see Lytton-YALE 189 b-2 p B00390 Coquitlam see Coast of 187 B00389 Cowichan - see also Coast of 187 c p B00389 Cowichan - see also Western 191 f-2 p B00390 Coast Deadman s Creek see Lytton- 189 b-3 p B00390 YALE Esquimalt see 190 e p B00390 (city/ville) VICTORIA Fort Rupert see Coast of 187 d-5 p. 1-2 B00389 Gardener s Inlet see Coast of 187 d-10 p B00389 mainland - - NEW Gold Harbour see Coast of 187 d-11 p B00389 mainland - NEW Gold Stream see Sooke Lake 191 e p B00390 Greenville see Coast of 187 d-1 p. 1- B00389 Haida see Coast of 187 d-11 p B NEW Highland 181 e- p B00390 Hope - YALE 189 a-1 p B00390 G:\RSD\@ORCS09\ \GR-0469.DOC:2008/08/21 page 5

6 Hope - YALE 189 a-2 p. 1-8 B00390 Hope see also Yale YALE 189 a-1 p B00390 Hope see also Yale YALE 189 a-2 p. 1-8 B00390 Hudson Bay post see 188 f-1 p B00390 Omineca CARIBOO Hudson Bay post see 188 f-2 p. 1-4 B00390 Omineca CARIBOO Hudson Bay post see 188 f-3 p. 1-6 B00390 Omineca CARIBOO James Bay (ward/quartier) 190 c- p B00390 (city/ville) - VICTORIA Johnson Street 190 b- p B00390 (ward/quartier) (city/ville) - VICTORIA Kamloops - YALE 189 b-1 p B00390 Kamloops - YALE 189 b-2 p B00390 Kamloops - YALE 189 b-3 p B00390 Keithley - CARIBOO 188 d- p B00390 Keithley Creek - CARIBOO 188 b- p B00390 Kitimat see Coast of 187 d-10 p B NEW Kootenay - YALE 189 e-1 p B00390 Kootenay - YALE 189 e-2 p. 1-6 B00390 Kootenay - YALE 189 e-3 p B00390 Kwawkewith see Coast of 187 d-4 p B00389 Lake see Sooke - Western 191 f-4 p B00390 Coast - Langley see South - NEW 187 a p B00389 Lightning CARIBOO 188 a p B00390 Lillooet CARIBOO 188 e-1 p B00390 Kootenay YALE 188 e-2 p B00390 Lillooet see also Clinton 188 e-1 p B00390 CARIBOO Lillooet see also Clinton 188 e-2 p B00390 CARIBOO Lytton YALE 189 b-1 p B00390 Lytton YALE 189 b-2 p B00390 Lytton YALE 189 b-3 p B00390 Lytton see also Spences Bridge YALE 189 b-3 p B00390 G:\RSD\@ORCS09\ \GR-0469.DOC:2008/08/21 page 6

7 Marbledown Island see Coast 187 d-5 p. 1-2 B00389 of Matsqui see South - NEW 187 a p B00389 Metchosin VICTORIA 191 e p B00390 Metlakatla see Coast of 187 d-8 p B00389 Moodyville see Coast of 187 B00389 Naas see Coast of d-1 p B00389 NEW Nass Harbour see Coast of 187 d-3 p. 1-7 B00389 Nanaimo 191 a p B00390 Nanaimo see also Nanoose 191 a p B00390 Bay Nanoose Bay - see also 191 a p B00390 Nanaimo Caledonia CARIBOO 188 f-1 p B00390 Caledonia CARIBOO 188 f-2 p. 1-4 B00390 Caledonia CARIBOO 188 f-3 p. 1-6 B see South 187 a p B NEW - see North 187 b p B NEW Nicola YALE 189 c-1 p B00390 Nicola YALE 189 c-2 p B00390 Nicola see also Okanagan 189 c-1 p B00390 YALE Nicola see also Okanagan 189 c-2 p B00390 YALE Nicomen see Lytton - YALE 189 b-2 p B00390 North Arm see North - NEW 187 b p B00389 Northern Interior - NEW 187 c p B00389 Northern Interior - see also 187 c p B00389 Cassiar - NEW North Saanich see Saanich (North/Nord) 191 d p B00390 G:\RSD\@ORCS09\ \GR-0469.DOC:2008/08/21 page 7

8 Okanagan YALE 189 c-1 p B00390 Okanagan YALE 189 c-2 p B00390 Omineca CARIBOO 188 f-1 p B00390 Omineca CARIBOO 188 f-2 p. 1-4 B00390 Omineca CARIBOO 188 f-3 p. 1-6 B00390 Osoyoos YALE 189 d p. 1-5 B00390 Pitt River see Coast of 187 B00389 Port Essington - NEW 187 d-6 p B00389 Quak-Yohl Agency NEW 187 d-4 p B00389 Queen Charlotte Island 187 d-11 p B00389 Indians see Coast of Quesnelmouth CARIBOO 188 b p B00390 Richfield CARIBOO 188 a p B00390 Saanich (North/Nord) 191 d p B00390 Saanich (South/Sud) 191 d p B00390 Salt Spring Island 191 c p B00390 Seymour Creek see Coast of 187 B00389 Siska see Lytton YALE 189 b-2 p B00390 Skeena (Upper) see Coast of 187 d-9 p B00389 Soda Creek CARIBOO 188 b p B00390 Songhees see Western Coast 191 f-4 p. 1 B00390 Sooke see Western Coast 191 f-4 p B00390 Sooke Lake 191 a p B00390 Sooke see also Highland 191 e p B00390 South 187 a p B00389 South Arm see South-NEW 187 a p B00389 South Saanich see Saanich (South/Sud) VICTORIA 191 d p B00390 G:\RSD\@ORCS09\ \GR-0469.DOC:2008/08/21 page 8

9 Spence s Bridge YALE 189 b-1 p B00390 Spence s Bridge YALE 189 b-2 p B00390 Spence s Bridge YALE 189 b-3 p B00390 Sumas see South NEW 187 a p B00389 Thompson Indian - North Fork 189 b-3 p B00390 see Lytton-YALE Tsimpsean see Coast of 187 d-6 p B00389 Tsimpsean see Coast of 187 d-8 p B00389 Unorganized parts of Island 191 B00390 see Western Coast Upper Skeena see Skeena 190 d-9 p B00389 (Upper) VICTORIA (city/ville) 190 B00390 VICTORIA Yates Street 190 a p B00390 (Ward/Quartier) Johnson Street 190 b p B00390 (Ward/Quartier) James Bay 190 c p B00390 (Ward/Quartier) 190 d p B00390 Metchosin 190 e p B00390 Esquimalt 190 f p B00390 West Coast Agency see 191 f-5 p B00390 Western Coast Western Coast 191 B00390 Western Coast 191 f-1 p. 1-2 B00390 Western Coast 191 f-2 p B00390 Western Coast 191 f-3 p. 1 B00390 Western Coast 191 f-4 p B00390 Songhees 191 f-4 p B00390 Sooke 191 f-5 p B00390 West Coast Agency 191 f-5 p B00390 Western Coast see 191 ff-1 B00390 also/voir aussi 182, 186 Estension G:\RSD\@ORCS09\ \GR-0469.DOC:2008/08/21 page 9

10 Western Coast see also 191 ff-2 B , 186 Estension Williams Lake CARIBOO 188 c-1 p B00390 Williams Lake CARIBOO 188 c-2 p B00390 Yale YALE 189 a-1 p B00390 Yale YALE 189 a-2 p. 1-8 B00390 Yates Street (ward/quartier) VICTORIA 190 a p B00390 LAC and BCA Reel Numbers Enumeration Title (No) Subdivision Number Subdivision Title Geographical Description A South South side of Fraser River; Langley to Richmond B North North side of Fraser River; Mission to C Cassiar - North Interior D Coast of D-2 Coast of D-3 Coast of D-4 Coast of D-5 Coast of D-6 Coast of D-7 Coast of Northern one-third of BC; Naas Indian tribe Bella Bella Indian tribe Port Essington and mouth of Skeena River West Coast of and northern part of Island Indian tribes; very faint reproduction Tsimphshean tribe Indian tribes: Matsqui, Chilliwack; Squamish Burrard Inlet G:\RSD\@ORCS09\ \GR-0469.DOC:2008/08/21 page 10

11 D-8 Coast of D-9 Coast of D-10 Coast of D-11 Coast of Tsimpshean tribe Upper Skeena River and area Kitimat and Gardiner s Inlet Queen Charlotte Island and Banks Island A Richfield Towns of Barkerville, Lightenny; and Richfield and areas B C Quesnel- Mouth Towns of Soda Creek and part of Keithley Creek Williams Lake Indian tribes: William Lake, Canoe Creek, and High Bar C-2 Williams Lake Town of Williams Lake and environs D Keithley Town of Keithley E-1 Clinton - Lillooet Towns of Clinton and Lillooet and environs E-2 Clinton - Indian tribes: Fountain, Lillooet Quatqua, Lillooet Meadows, Pemberton, Squamish, Pavilion F-1 Omineca Fort Caledonia, Stuart Lake, Fraser Lake, Babine Lake, Peace River F-2 Omineca Area generally east of Fraser River and north of Thompson and Columbia Rivers F-3 Omineca Indian tribes: Soda Creek, Alexandria; Sleutta-Choola; Kloos- Kus; Nichowatia Yale (189) A-1 Yale and Hope Towns of Yale and Hope G:\RSD\@ORCS09\ \GR-0469.DOC:2008/08/21 page 11

12 Yale (189) A-2 Yale and Hope Indian tribes; Flathead Cowichan Yale (189) B-1 Lytton Spence s Bridge to Cache Creek Kamloops Yale (189) B-2 Lytton Indian tribes: Nicola- Cache Creek Thompson, Kapami River Indian Nation, Spuzzum, Clalst- Ashcroft Yale (189) B-3 Lytton Indian tribes; Dead Cache Creek Man s Creek, Kamloops, Taushwap Yale (189) C-1 Nicola Towns of Nicola and Okanagan north Okanagan area Yale (189) C-2 Nicola Indian tribes: Penticton, Okanagan Okanagan; Karemeous, Showshowira- Similkameen, O Soo Yoos, Okanagan Mission Yale (189) D Osoyoos Town and environs of Osoyoos Yale (189) E-1 Kootenai Indian tribe: Kootenai Yale (189) E-2 Kootenai Mining areas of Fernie and Kimberley Yale (189) E-3 Kootenai Indian tribes: Kootanai (190) (190) (190) (190) (190) A B C D E Yates St. Ward, City/ Johnston St. Ward, City/ James Bay Ward, City/ Ward, City/ Esquimalt Metchosin Yates Street and south to Juan de Fuca Strait Johnston Street and north to city boundary Area south of city town core Town core of City Esquimalt and Metchosin towns and environs G:\RSD\@ORCS09\ \GR-0469.DOC:2008/08/21 page 12

13 A Nanaimo - Nanoose Bay B Comox Alberni C Cowichan - Salt Spring Islands D Saanich North and South E Sooke Lake and Highlands F-1 Western Coast F-2 Western Coast F-3 Western Coast F-4 Western Coast F-5 Western Coast Town of Nanaimo, Nanoose Bay and environs; Belanan and Texada Islands Towns of Comox and Alberni, Denman and Hornby Islands Town of Cowichan plus Islands of Galiano, Mayne, Pender, etc. All of Saanich Peninsula Sooke Lake and environs West Coast of Island and unorganized parts e.g. Nitinat, Barclay Sound, Nootka, Keyouquat Sound Indian tribes: Cowichan and sub tribes of Island Ports of: Hesquat, Kayukat, Uclulet, Nootka, Mucklat, Ahousah, Ee-Kool, Clayoquot Indian tribes: Sooke, Beecher Bay, Saanich Indian tribes: Ahousett, Nootka, Euclueclet, Hesquiat, Matchlaht, etc. G:\RSD\@ORCS09\ \GR-0469.DOC:2008/08/21 page 13