General Chat

Interesting TW.......thanks for this.....I'll keep it in mind xx

From 1911census.org

Failure to complete the census schedule was an offence, liable to a fine not exceeeding five pounds. The Suffragists campaign was in full flow at the time of the census and they planned to disrupt the census by staying out all night and refusing to complete a schedule. One group spent the night at a skating rink in Aldwych but they were counted there by the police so their action was considered a failure. The lack of names, age etc were seen as of secondary importance at the time although that will not be of much comfort to anyone trying to find details of suffragettes for their family tree.

Edinburgh:

In Spring 1911, the WFL encouraged women to be absent from their homes on the night of the census, 3rd April. The boycott was supported by the Edinburgh WSPU which hired the Cafe Vegetaria where games, music, and waxwork caricatures were organised to make the night pass enjoyably and to gain media coverage for their actions.

Extract from http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/internet/Attachments/Internet/Leisure/Museums_and_galleries/Museum_
of_Edinburgh/Suffrage%20Panels%201-7.pdf

1918 Colin, just after the war.

Hayley, it seems some men refused to fill in the forms too, so the women would not have been recorded there. Some of this was in support of women's suffrage, though for others it was in protest at the questions lol

Some even asked what relevance the death of a child 56 years ago had to the census, and did they want to know what everyone ate for breakfast, in the comments.

Lynda, I haven't really looked deeply into whether or not any of my ancestors were directly involved in the suffragette movement, but I would be so proud of any connection.

Here is another example of typical census form protest..

"PLEASE NOTE-----I FILL UP THIS FORM UNDER PROTEST, FOR IF I AM INTELLIGENT ENOUGH SO TO DO, I AM SURELY CAPABLE OF PUTTING MY CROSS ON A PARLIAMENTARY BALLOT PAPER"

LOUISA THOMSON

Louisa Thomson, 44, of 18 Rockley Road West Kensington, Schoolmistress was clearly not going to miss an opportunity to express herself on this occasion.

Wow Lynda, what a great story.

I think women would put that on the census, because they had only years before been allowed to own their own property, and so they would have felt that was something to be proud of. And probably that was her way of saying, I'm good enough to vote.

Have you managed to find photo's?

You never know Hayley, there was a very strong branch in the Manchester area, maybe they went there....

I'll dig around, see if there was a similar protest up there.

Do you think my grandad and his brother could of been at the rally supporting them as I cant find them on that dammed census....

I love the subject, I did this as my history exam project at school, and it really captured my imagination.

Emmeline Panhurst and her daughters Sylvia and Crystabel. Yes they were very central to the movement, and it was Emmeline who ordered the movement to stop all protests and action to support the government in every way on the outbreak of WW1.

There was a rally in Trafalgar Square on the night of the 1911 census, for many women to avoid being at home. Most though just sabotaged the forms apparently. It's not clear how many were involved, or how extensive the protest was in its many forms, but I'd guess it was huge.

Apparently some suffragettes actually slept in the back streets to avoid being anywhere there was a census form.

Sue xx

How strange you should metion this I am reading a book at the moment and the movement and women are part of the story all made up women of course but Emmline?? was it ? Is central to the plot.

The full extent of the protest hasn't yet been revealed, but the Times Online have uncovered the fact there was a protest, hidden until the recent early release of the 1911 census. One woman returned her form with the words, 'If I am intelligent enough to fill in this paper, I am intelligent enough to put a cross on a voting paper.'

The Guardian gives one or two more details:

“Votes for Women” is written in capitals across a return from 27-year-old Mary Howey, who calls herself an artist and suffragette living near Malvern, Worcestershire. Another has “No Votes for Women - No Census” stuck on a printed message across the return, with a handwritten addition: “No persons here, only women.”

Some of you, when looking through the 1911, might not be able to find a great grandmother or aunt, or another female relative. Did you know the suffragette movement boycotted the 1911 census, and organised other activities that meant they were not present in their homes on the night of enumeration.?

So if there is a missing rellie, could they have been involved in this?