I understand what you are saying, and you are right if the subscribers to this website were only researching in Kincardine. However, I'd suspect many subscribers to this website are also researching in other locations at the same time. Just as I am interested in the information that comes across this website on Kincardine and its history, I'm just as interested in the bits that reveal how research goes on where these subscribers are from. My intent was not to offend or take up valued webspace or other subscriber's time with frivilous stories. I honestly thought this story would give some humorous and possible insight into US census taking for those researching this side of the Atlantic. Let mine be the last word on this issue. I have no desire to start something that would develop into a long discussion thread. Thanks for your thoughts on this. Gordon Johnson wrote: > Date sent: Wed, 03 Jan 2001 16:11:10 -0600 > From: mscaleb <[email protected]> > To: [email protected] > Subject: [SCT-KCD] Census Records? > > > I rarely send these type messages out, but thought you all would enjoy > > this. Even though it's in jest, it might closely explain why the census > > records sometimes look the way they do: > > > > "The Census Taker's Home! (from the Sunday Afternoon Rocking series) > **** Interesting, indeed funny, but one major drawback: It is American, and > as such has no relevance whatsoever to the British census. > The process of census-taking in the US was completely different to the UK. > Here, heads of households were given forms to fill in, and the census staff > simply delivered, came back to collect them and ensured they were filled in > correctly. The possibilities for error existed, but not as in the US story. > Thus, the story is misleading for anyone interested in any UK census > process. > I don't want to put anyone off passing on good stories! > By all means let us have such stories, but in the right forum, so that no > confusion can be caused for newcomers to family history. > Gordon. > Hon.Press Officer for Aberdeen & North > East Scotland Family History Society > <http://www.anesfhs.org.uk/> > Postal address: > 164 King St., Aberdeen AB24 5BD, Scotland.