The PRO 1901 census site appears to be intermittently working more on than
off now so there`s lot`s of good stuff to be found. Having said that, here`s
my observations to date on the fallibility of the online search. I must admit
to a degree of success in my searches for some of my more elusive ancestors
but at the same time many of my searches for people who I am certain were in
the UK in 1901 have proved fruitless. I gave up on the start date of the
online census a long time ago and decided to purchase the RG13 fiches for my
own areas of interest, mainly Shropshire and North Wales so I have been
testing the online search by giving it the details off the fiche in an
advanced search and I have been amazed at the dismal success rate that I have
received, and knowing full well that they have the same details that I have,
ie; the same census sheets. The actual search for possibles costs nothing, so
nothing lost but my confidence in finding those people who I thought it would
be relatively easy to find once the site became available. Sorry PRO, your
technology is only as good as the cheap labour you employed to transcribe the
records to your online search.
Here`s just one example of what I am talking about:
RG13/5262 Llanystumdwy. Rural district/Lleyn/Eifion.
Dwelling: Bailiffs House.
My Great Grandad.
Thomas Roberts. Head. Married.Age 60. Farm Bailiff.B.
Montgomery/Llansaintfraidd.
Put all that info into the PRO site and what comes up -- NOTHING.!!
Frustrated Keith Roberts