Family history researchers all over the world now have access to the 1841 census of Prince Edward Island through the Internet. Genealogists and historians can search the 1841 data and download or print-out census entries from the surviving census books in the PEI Public Archives and Records office.
The census was mounted as a result of a project under Industry Canada's SchoolNet Digital Collections program. The Vernon River Community Access site worked in co-operation with the Department of Education to accomplish the task. In addition to supplying the data from the original census, the department's Systems and Technology section provided programming for the powerful on-line search tool.
Education Minister Chester Gillan said this is an excellent project to demonstrate the advantages of cooperation in the digital world. "By combining the province's historical resources with the department's technological skills, and the combined expertise of the Vernon River community and Industry Canada, we have been able to do together what none of us could do alone."
The 1841 census contains information about households and is not a full listing of all inhabitants of the colony at the time. More than half of the census volumes have been lost in the last 150 years. Nevertheless, the database contains more than 6,000 names and has information covering almost half of the province. In addition to personal
data such as country of origin, religion and ages of family members, the census also includes information regarding occupation and farm production.
Provincial Archivist Harry Holman said the project builds on the 1891 census index released last year and is part of a long-term project to make more archival information available through the Internet. The 1841 census is located through the Public Archives web page: http://www.edu.pe.ca/paro/1841/index.asp