It Takes a Village

A census is a wonderful tool for looking back at a population at a particular point in time. What were their names? Where did they come from? What did they do to get by? While census data is often bare-bones and provides the most basic facts, it can help us to understand a community and create a framework that can later be filled in by other source material.

In 1851 a census was completed for Galt, which included information on its 2,246 residents: Name, Place of birth; Religion; Occupation; Age; Marriage status; etc. If you've ever wondered what you might do for a living in a small Victorian village, take a look at the graph I've compiled below. Not every census taker had an occupation listed, and I have a sneaking suspicion that there were in fact more farmers... but this information, though incomplete, is eye-opening. You can check out the rest of the census in an easy to read PDF document here.

You do what exactly? Well, a Spinster is an unmarried (and not likely to become married) woman. She might be living and looking after the welfare of older relatives, or living with and looking after the education of nieces and nephews. Coopers are makers and repairers of casks and barrels. A Teamster is someone who drives a team of draft animals and a wagon. You can think of them as the equivalent of transport truck drivers today. Sadlers make, sell and.or repair saddlery. A Mill Wright is someone who builds and maintains mills and their internal machinery. Cordwainers are actually shoemakers who work with cordovan leather. Fleshers flesh hides and skins and tan them in the production of leather. They may also sell meat - in other words, a butcher. Pedlers are travelling salesmen, often going from door to door to trade and sell any number of items. Lime Burners process limestone (by means of baking it in large kilns) into a number of agricultural and home products such as quicklime for home construction, whitewash, and for spreading on fields as a fertilizer. A House Joiner is a type of carpenter that cuts and fits wood without the use of nails, screws, or other metal fasteners. Lastly, a Carriage Trimmer is someone who preps and finishes the lace, linings, and other trimmings for carriage makers.

Sources
Waterloo Region 1851 Census, Transcribed by the Ontario Genealogical Society in 2001.