The 1871 Census: Discovering the Next Generation of Victorian Swansea
The 1871 Census: Discovering the Next Generation of Victorian Swansea Swansea Family History Revised and expanded: November 2026 Introduction: Swansea Thirty Years After 1841 On the night of Sunday, 2 April 1871 , the people of Swansea were counted as part of the eighth national census of England and Wales. Thirty years had passed since the detailed household census of 1841. During those decades, Swansea had undergone extraordinary changes. The copper industry continued to dominate the town's economy, shipping remained vital to its prosperity, and the expanding railway network connected Swansea with industrial communities throughout South Wales and beyond. Families had moved, children had grown into adults, and new generations had been born. The 1871 Census provides another opportunity to follow the people introduced in our earlier articles about the censuses of 1841, 1851 and 1861. In particular, we can continue the story of Abraham Ace, Ann Ace, Mary Ace and Richard Ace , four b...
