Two households in Coundon, County Durham

Explore the census entries for two households living in Coundon in County Durham in 1851. Compare their places of birth, their relations to the head of household and occupations by selecting the different features. Discover how to interpret this information and what the data can reveal.

	Thomas head married 46   joiner Durham, Cockfield Elizabeth wife married 48   Durham, Chapel in Weardale Thomas son unmarr 24   coalminer Durham, Chapel in Weardale John son unmarr 21   coalminer Durham, Cockfield Elizabeth dau unmarr 19   at home Durham, Cockfield Esther dau unmarr 17   at home Durham, Ramshaw Matthew son 14   work in coalmine Durham, Ramshaw Charles son 12   screen boy Durham, Coxhoe Joseph son 9   at home Durham, Coxhoe Mary Ann dau 6   at home Durham, Coxhoe Hannah son 4   at home Durham, Chilton Moses son 1   Durham, New Coundon
	Place of birth The Garthwaites were all born in the county, though only one of the family of twelve people was actually born at Coundon. From the variety of birth places it can be seen how regularly this family had moved around. This is a similar case for the Coopers, and this kind of record can reveal the transient nature of many families' lives.
	Looking closer Typically, the Garthwaites had moved around from place to place over quite short distances, probably seeking work and shifting from job to job as new collieries were opened in different locations. Historians identify that as a characteristic pattern. Contrary to popular belief, people were not likely to stay in one place generation after generation but to move frequently within a relatively limited area. Many coal miners and their families came from Durham, although the potters came from Derbyshire and Yorkshire. Family historians will probably be familiar with the 1851 census as a crucial source because it is the first census which gives accurate and detailed place of birth information. Local historians can use these details to look at patterns of migration, seeing where residents of a place were born and so charting movements over time and geographical space. This helps to build up a clearer picture of the community. In Coundon, there is clear evidence of movement on a large scale. In this extract only 13 of the 73 people listed were actually born in the township, a mere 18 per cent. 35 were born in County Durham, but that still meant that over half the people on this extract came from other counties.