The 1851 Census: Discovering the Families of Victorian Swansea
The 1851 Census: Discovering the Families of Victorian Swansea
Swansea Family History
Revised and expanded: November 2026
Introduction: Swansea Ten Years Later
On Sunday, 30 March 1851, the people of Swansea were counted as part of Britain's sixth national census.
Ten years had passed since the census of 1841, and Swansea was continuing its transformation into one of the most important industrial towns in Wales.
Copper smelting, coal mining, shipping and commerce attracted families from neighbouring parishes, other parts of Wales, England and Ireland. Swansea's streets and industrial settlements were home to an increasingly diverse population.
The official census figures reveal the scale of the changes taking place during this period. Between 1841 and 1851, the population of England and Wales increased by more than two million people, while Glamorganshire experienced particularly rapid growth.
For family historians, the 1851 Census represents an important step forward. It provides considerably more information about individuals and households than its predecessor, allowing us to investigate family relationships, places of birth, occupations and changing family circumstances.
It also offers an opportunity to return to some of the people discovered in our earlier article, The 1841 Census: Discovering the People of Victorian Swansea.
Among them were six babies recorded without first names. Our latest research has produced two promising identifications: Humphrey Thomas and John Hosgood.
We have also examined Swansea's youngest residents in 1851, including four babies named Ace whom we hope to trace in the 1861 Census.
At the other end of the age range, we have discovered Anne John, a Swansea woman recorded as 100 years old, and another woman elsewhere in Britain whose recorded age was an extraordinary 110.
Together, these discoveries illustrate the remarkable stories that can emerge when successive census returns are examined alongside one another.
1. From 1841 to 1851: A More Detailed Census
The 1841 Census was the first national census in England and Wales for which surviving enumerators' books systematically recorded individual names.
However, it had several limitations.
Relationships between household members were not recorded, places of birth were usually reduced to whether someone had been born in the county, and adult ages were generally rounded down to the nearest five years.
The 1851 Census introduced several important improvements.
For each individual, it normally recorded their name, relationship to the head of the household, marital status, age, sex, occupation and place of birth.
Where applicable, the census also included information about certain disabilities, although the historical terminology used in these columns is now outdated.
These additional details make the 1851 Census particularly valuable when reconstructing families.
A household that appeared difficult to interpret in 1841 may become much clearer when examined ten years later.
2. What Can We Discover from the 1851 Census?
The greatest advantage of the 1851 Census is the amount of information recorded about each person.
Family Relationships
For the first time, the national census recorded each person's relationship to the head of the household.
Entries might identify a wife, son, daughter, grandchild, brother, sister, servant, lodger or visitor.
This information helps researchers distinguish between family members and unrelated individuals sharing the same address.
However, these descriptions should still be checked against other records. A relationship to the head of the household does not necessarily establish every relationship within the family.
More Accurate Ages
Unlike the 1841 Census, the 1851 return generally recorded ages in completed years rather than rounding adult ages down to the nearest five.
This can help narrow down an ancestor's approximate year of birth.
Nevertheless, ages may still vary between censuses, marriage certificates, burial registers and other documents.
Places of Birth
The 1851 Census normally recorded a parish or town and county of birth, rather than simply indicating whether the individual had been born within the county.
For Swansea families, this is particularly important.
Someone living in Swansea might have been born in Llangyfelach, Oystermouth, Llandeilotalybont, Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire or much farther away.
These details can provide the first clear evidence of a family's geographical origins.
Occupations
The census recorded a wide range of occupations, offering valuable insight into the economic life of Victorian Swansea.
Copper workers, colliers, mariners, labourers, craftsmen, merchants, shopkeepers and domestic servants all formed part of the town's working population.
Comparing occupations between 1841 and 1851 may reveal changes in employment, family circumstances or social position.
3. Swansea in 1851: An Expanding Industrial Community
By the middle of the nineteenth century, Swansea had become closely associated with the copper industry.
The surrounding district contained important copperworks, while coal mining and maritime trade supported the town's economy.
Industrial employment encouraged migration and contributed to the growth of communities such as Hafod, Landore, Morriston and Port Tennant.
The port remained central to Swansea's commercial life.
Ships carried raw materials and manufactured goods, while sailors, dock workers, merchants and tradespeople contributed to the local economy.
Yet Swansea was not exclusively industrial.
Agricultural communities continued to exist throughout the surrounding parishes, including parts of Gower and the more rural districts of the Swansea registration area.
The 1851 Census allows us to explore these contrasting communities through the people who lived and worked within them.
4. Working Britain in 1851: Occupations and Industries
 |
| The Census of Great Britain in 1851 |
Its occupational tables identified trades and industries employing more than 20,000 people.
Agriculture remained one of the country's largest sources of employment, while domestic service, textile manufacture, mining, construction and skilled trades employed substantial numbers of people.
The following table combines the occupations listed across the two pages of the original report.
Occupations Employing More Than 20,000 Persons in Great Britain, 1851
| No. | Occupation | Persons employed |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Agricultural labourer, farm servant, shepherd | 1,456,896 |
| 2 | Domestic servant | 1,238,791 |
| 3 | Cotton, calico manufacture, printing and dyeing | 501,465 |
| 4 | Labourer (branch undefined) | 376,551 |
| 5 | Farmer, grazier | 306,767 |
| 6 | Boot and shoe maker | 274,451 |
| 7 | Milliner, dressmaker | 267,791 |
| 8 | Coal-miner | 219,015 |
| 9 | Carpenter, joiner | 182,696 |
| 10 | Army and Navy | 178,773 |
| 11 | Tailor | 153,672 |
| 12 | Washerwoman, mangler, laundry-keeper | 146,091 |
| 13 | Woollen cloth manufacture | 137,814 |
| 14 | Silk manufacture | 114,570 |
| 15 | Blacksmith | 112,776 |
| 16 | Worsted manufacture | 104,061 |
| 17 | Mason, pavior | 101,442 |
| 18 | Messenger, porter and errand boy | 101,425 |
| 19 | Linen, flax manufacture | 98,860 |
| 20 | Seaman (merchant service), on shore or in British ports | 89,206 |
| 21 | Grocer | 85,913 |
| 22 | Gardener | 80,946 |
| 23 | Iron manufacture, moulder, founder | 80,932 |
| 24 | Innkeeper, licensed victualler, beershop keeper | 75,721 |
| 25 | Seamstress, shirtmaker | 73,068 |
| 26 | Bricklayer | 67,989 |
| 27 | Butcher, meat salesman | 67,691 |
| 28 | Hose (stocking) manufacture | 65,499 |
| 29 | Schoolmaster, schoolmistress | 63,376 |
| 30 | Lace manufacture | 63,660 |
| 31 | Plumber, painter, glazier | 62,808 |
| 32 | Baker | 62,472 |
| 33 | Carman, carrier, carter, drayman | 56,961 |
| 34 | Charwoman | 55,423 |
| 35 | Draper (linen and woollen) | 49,184 |
| 36 | Engine and machine maker | 48,083 |
| 37 | Commercial clerk | 43,760 |
| 38 | Cabinet maker, upholsterer | 40,897 |
| 39 | Teacher (various), governess | 40,575 |
| 40 | Fisherman, fisherwoman | 38,294 |
| 41 | Boat, barge — man, woman | 37,683 |
| 42 | Miller | 37,268 |
| 43 | Earthenware manufacture | 36,512 |
| 44 | Sawyer | 35,443 |
| 45 | Railway labourer | 34,306 |
| 46 | Straw-plait manufacture | 32,062 |
| 47 | Brick maker, dealer | 31,168 |
| 48 | Government Civil Service | 30,963 |
| 49 | Hawker, pedlar | 30,553 |
| 50 | Wheelwright | 30,244 |
| 51 | Glover | 29,882 |
| 52 | Shopkeeper (branch undefined) | 29,800 |
| 53 | Horsekeeper, groom (not domestic), jockey | 29,408 |
| 54 | Nail manufacture | 28,533 |
| 55 | Iron-miner | 28,008 |
| 56 | Printer | 26,024 |
| 57 | Nurse (not domestic servant) | 25,518 |
| 58 | Shipwright, shipbuilder | 25,201 |
| 59 | Stone quarrier | 23,439 |
| 60 | Lodging-house keeper | 23,089 |
| 61 | Lead-miner | 22,530 |
| 62 | Copper-miner | 22,386 |
| 63 | Straw hat and bonnet maker | 21,902 |
| 64 | Cooper | 20,245 |
Source: Published 1851 Census report, “Occupations in Great Britain employing more than 20,000 persons, in 1851”, including the continuation on page 73.
Note: These are national figures for Great Britain, not employment totals for Swansea. The Army and Navy figure includes the United Kingdom's forces but excludes the Indian Army and Navy.
What Do These Occupations Tell Us About Swansea?
The occupational statistics provide important context for Swansea's industrial and maritime economy.
Coal mining supplied fuel for industrial processes, while seamen, shipbuilders and other maritime workers supported the movement of goods through the port.
Carpenters, blacksmiths, masons and other craftsmen contributed to the construction and maintenance of houses, workshops, ships and industrial buildings.
The figures also connect with individuals discovered during our census research.
Humphrey Thomas, the father of one of the children we have tentatively identified from the 1841 Census, was recorded as a master mariner in 1851.
Edward Beynon, grandfather of Abraham Ace, was a blacksmith and farmer living at Middleton, Rhossili.
John Ace, father of Mary Ace, was a cordwainer, or skilled shoemaker, at Pennard.
William Ace, father of Richard Ace, worked as a cooper journeyman in Swansea.
Coopers were particularly important in a maritime trading town because wooden barrels and casks were widely used for storing and transporting goods.
The occupational tables therefore help connect national economic statistics with the everyday lives of Swansea families.
5. Understanding Swansea's Historical Boundaries
One of the challenges facing family historians is that historical administrative boundaries do not always correspond with the modern City and County of Swansea.
Records may describe an individual as living in Swansea, Swansea Higher, Swansea Lower, Swansea Town and Franchise, or in a neighbouring parish within the wider registration district.
The distinction between a registration district, parish, borough and census enumeration district is particularly important.
A person whose birth was registered in the Swansea registration district did not necessarily live in the centre of Swansea.
When searching the 1851 Census, researchers should therefore consider nearby parishes and settlements, especially when an ancestor cannot be located under the expected place name.
Historical maps, parish boundaries and the enumerators' descriptions of their districts can provide valuable assistance.
6. Population Growth in Britain, Wales and Swansea: 1841–1851
The decade between the 1841 and 1851 censuses witnessed considerable population growth throughout England and Wales.
The published census returns provide an opportunity to examine these changes at national and county level, placing Swansea's industrial development within a wider historical context.
The official figures are particularly valuable because they distinguish the actual populations recorded by the census authorities from the number of records returned by modern online search databases.
Population Growth in England and Wales
The published census appendix provides the following comparison:
| Area | Population 1841 | Population 1851 | Increase | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| England and Wales | 15,914,148 | 17,927,609 | +2,013,461 | +12.7% |
| England | 14,997,427 | 16,921,888 | +1,924,461 | +12.8% |
| Wales | 911,705 | 1,005,721 | +94,016 | +10.3% |
The combined population of England and Wales increased by more than two million people during the decade.
For the first time, the population of Wales exceeded one million.
These figures reflect a period of industrial expansion, urban development and migration, although the rate of growth varied considerably between counties.
Population Changes in the Welsh Counties
 |
| The Census of Great Britain in 1851 |
| County | 1841 | 1851 | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anglesey | 50,891 | 57,327 | +6,436 | +12.6% |
| Brecon | 55,603 | 61,474 | +5,871 | +10.6% |
| Cardigan | 68,766 | 70,796 | +2,030 | +3.0% |
| Carmarthen | 106,326 | 110,632 | +4,306 | +4.0% |
| Carnarvon | 81,093 | 87,870 | +6,777 | +8.4% |
| Denbigh | 88,478 | 92,583 | +4,105 | +4.6% |
| Flint | 66,919 | 68,156 | +1,237 | +1.8% |
| Glamorgan | 171,188 | 231,849 | +60,661 | +35.4% |
| Merioneth | 39,332 | 38,843 | −489 | −1.2% |
| Montgomery | 69,607 | 67,335 | −2,272 | −3.3% |
| Pembroke | 88,044 | 94,140 | +6,096 | +6.9% |
| Radnor | 25,458 | 24,716 | −742 | −2.9% |
The most striking increase occurred in Glamorganshire, where the population rose from 171,188 in 1841 to 231,849 in 1851.
This represented an increase of 60,661 people, or approximately 35.4 per cent, substantially greater than the overall rate for Wales.
Glamorganshire's growth reflected the rapid development of its industrial districts.
Coal mining, iron production, copper smelting, shipping and related industries attracted workers and their families from other parts of Wales and beyond.
Swansea, with its internationally important copper industry and expanding port, played a significant part in these developments.
By contrast, Merionethshire, Montgomeryshire and Radnorshire experienced small population declines during the same decade.
The differences demonstrate how industrialisation and migration were reshaping the distribution of population across Wales.
Population Changes in the English Counties
 |
| The Census of Great Britain in 1851 |
| County | 1841 | 1851 | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford | 107,936 | 124,478 | +16,542 | +15.3% |
| Berks | 161,759 | 170,065 | +8,306 | +5.1% |
| Buckingham | 156,439 | 163,723 | +7,284 | +4.7% |
| Cambridge | 164,459 | 185,405 | +20,946 | +12.7% |
| Chester | 395,660 | 455,725 | +60,065 | +15.2% |
| Cornwall | 342,159 | 355,558 | +13,399 | +3.9% |
| Cumberland | 178,038 | 195,492 | +17,454 | +9.8% |
| Derby | 272,202 | 296,084 | +23,882 | +8.8% |
| Devon | 532,959 | 567,098 | +34,139 | +6.4% |
| Dorset | 175,054 | 184,207 | +9,153 | +5.2% |
| Durham | 307,963 | 390,997 | +83,034 | +27.0% |
| Essex | 344,979 | 369,318 | +24,339 | +7.1% |
| Gloucester | 431,495 | 458,805 | +27,310 | +6.3% |
| Hereford | 113,272 | 115,489 | +2,217 | +2.0% |
| Hertford | 156,660 | 167,208 | +10,548 | +6.7% |
| Huntingdon | 58,549 | 64,183 | +5,634 | +9.6% |
| Kent | 549,353 | 615,766 | +66,413 | +12.1% |
| Lancaster | 1,667,054 | 2,031,236 | +364,182 | +21.8% |
| Leicester | 215,867 | 230,308 | +14,441 | +6.7% |
| Lincoln | 362,602 | 407,222 | +44,620 | +12.3% |
| Middlesex | 1,576,636 | 1,886,576 | +309,940 | +19.7% |
| Monmouth | 134,368 | 157,418 | +23,050 | +17.2% |
| Norfolk | 412,664 | 442,714 | +30,050 | +7.3% |
| Northampton | 199,228 | 212,380 | +13,152 | +6.6% |
| Northumberland | 266,020 | 303,568 | +37,548 | +14.1% |
| Nottingham | 249,910 | 270,427 | +20,517 | +8.2% |
| Oxford | 163,127 | 170,439 | +7,312 | +4.5% |
| Rutland | 21,302 | 22,983 | +1,681 | +7.9% |
| Salop | 225,820 | 229,341 | +3,521 | +1.6% |
| Somerset | 435,599 | 443,916 | +8,317 | +1.9% |
| Southampton | 354,682 | 405,370 | +50,688 | +14.3% |
| Stafford | 509,472 | 608,716 | +99,244 | +19.5% |
| Suffolk | 315,073 | 337,215 | +22,142 | +7.0% |
| Surrey | 584,036 | 683,082 | +99,046 | +17.0% |
| Sussex | 300,075 | 336,844 | +36,769 | +12.3% |
| Warwick | 401,703 | 475,013 | +73,310 | +18.2% |
| Westmorland | 56,454 | 58,287 | +1,833 | +3.2% |
| Wilts | 256,280 | 254,221 | −2,059 | −0.8% |
| Worcester | 248,460 | 276,926 | +28,466 | +11.5% |
| York (East Riding) | 194,936 | 220,983 | +26,047 | +13.4% |
| York (City) | 28,842 | 36,303 | +7,461 | +25.9% |
| York (North Riding) | 204,701 | 215,214 | +10,513 | +5.1% |
| York (West Riding) | 1,163,580 | 1,325,495 | +161,915 | +13.9% |
The figures reveal particularly substantial growth in industrial and urban counties.
Lancashire gained more than 364,000 inhabitants, while Middlesex increased by nearly 310,000.
Durham, Staffordshire and the West Riding of Yorkshire also experienced considerable growth.
These changes provide a useful comparison with Glamorganshire, where the rate of population increase was especially high.
Historical note: The published table places Monmouthshire within the England section, reflecting the administrative classification used in the census report.
Swansea's Population: Comparing Online Census Search Results
Alongside the official population figures, our own research compared the number of records returned by online searches for Swansea and its historical geographical divisions.
| Search location | 1841 results | 1851 results | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swansea | 38,612 | 46,564 | +7,952 |
| Swansea Higher | 838 | 380 | −458 |
| Swansea Town and Franchise | 154,085 | 238,258 | +84,173 |
| Swansea Higher and Lower | 154,085 | 238,258 | +84,173 |
The search results for Swansea increased from 38,612 in 1841 to 46,564 in 1851.
However, these figures represent online database search results rather than official population counts.
Different geographical categories may overlap, and indexing methods and search settings can affect the number of records returned.
They are therefore useful for understanding the scope of the online records but should not be treated as direct measures of population growth.
Swansea in a Decade of Extraordinary Growth
The official census figures reveal the scale of the changes taking place in Glamorganshire during the decade.
While the population of England and Wales increased by approximately 12.7 per cent, Glamorganshire's population rose by approximately 35.4 per cent.
Swansea's expanding copper industry, coal supply, maritime trade and associated employment formed part of this wider transformation.
The town's growth was reflected in its streets, industrial settlements, workshops, shipping facilities and surrounding communities.
Yet behind the population figures were individual families whose lives were changing from one census to the next.
The Thomas and Hosgood families, whom we have followed from 1841 to 1851, provide examples of this continuity and change.
The Ace families of Swansea and Gower offer another opportunity to investigate how households developed during the following decade.
7. Swansea's Youngest Residents in the 1851 Census
Our examination of the 1851 Census search results identified 1,532 children in Swansea with a recorded birth year of 1851.
Among these records, we discovered an interesting difference from the census taken ten years earlier.
In our investigation of the 1841 Census, we identified six babies who had been recorded without a Christian name.
However, our searches of the 1851 Census revealed no completely unnamed babies among the records examined.
Instead, we found just ten babies who were recorded by their Christian names but without surnames.
This provides an interesting contrast between the two census years.
In 1841, the challenge was to discover the first names of children whose family circumstances could sometimes be established from the surrounding household entries.
In 1851, the ten babies identified in our searches present the opposite problem: their Christian names were recorded, but their surnames were missing.
The additional information available in the 1851 Census, particularly household relationships and more precise ages, may make it easier to investigate these children and establish their family identities.
It is important to remember that these findings relate to the online census records examined during our research, rather than a definitive count of every child born in Swansea throughout 1851.
The census was taken on 30 March 1851, so children born later in the year would not appear in its returns.
Nevertheless, the discovery offers another fascinating insight into the recording of Swansea's youngest residents and the differences between the 1841 and 1851 censuses.
8. The Unnamed Babies of 1841: Two Discoveries in the 1851 Census
In our previous article, The 1841 Census: Discovering the People of Victorian Swansea, we examined six babies whose first names were not recorded in the census indexes.
Ten years later, the 1851 Census provides an opportunity to discover what happened to some of these children.
Our investigation has produced two promising identifications: Humphrey Thomas and John Hosgood.
Their records illustrate how comparing successive census returns can help us reconstruct family histories and uncover the identities of children who were unnamed in earlier records.
Humphrey Thomas: From Greenfield Row to Daniel Court
 |
| The 1851 Census household of Humphrey Thomas Daniel Court, High Street, Swansea, showing Humphrey and Jane Thomas with their four children. |
He was living in a household containing Humphry Thomas, aged 25, and Jane Thomas, aged 19.
1841 Census reference: HO107/1426, Book 2, Folio 26, Page 4, Schedule 443.
Ten years later, the 1851 Census records a Thomas family living at Daniel Court, High Street, Swansea.
The head of the household was Humphrey Thomas, aged 33, a master mariner who had been born in Holyhead, Anglesey.
His wife, Jane Thomas, aged 28, was born in Swansea and worked as a bonnet maker.
Their household included four children: Humphrey, aged nine; Ann, aged six; Margaret, aged five; and Thomas, aged two.
All four children were recorded as born in Swansea.
The eldest boy, Humphrey Thomas, was identified as their son and recorded as attending school.
The matching names of the adults in both census returns suggest that this was the same family.
It therefore seems possible that the unnamed baby boy of 1841 was Humphrey Thomas, named after his father.
There is, however, a small discrepancy in the ages.
A baby aged three weeks in June 1841 would have been approximately nine years and ten months old in March 1851.
The younger Humphrey was recorded as nine, which is compatible with that calculation, although the online index estimates his birth year as 1842.
The evidence therefore supports a promising identification, but a birth or baptism record would be useful to confirm it.
The two census returns also reveal changes in the family's circumstances.
By 1851, Humphrey Thomas was recorded as a master mariner, Jane was working as a bonnet maker, and the family was living at Daniel Court rather than Greenfield Row.
John Hosgood: From Port Tennant to Fabeans Bay
 |
| The 1851 Census household of Ann Hosgood Fabeans Bay, St Thomas, Swansea, John Hosgood, aged ten, with his mother and siblings. |
The household included Frederick Hosgood, aged 30, Ann Hosgood, aged 35, Frederick Hosgood, aged six, and Ann Hosgood, aged four.
1841 Census reference: HO107/1424, Book 34, Folio 20, Page 5, Schedule 2656.
By 1851, the Hosgood family was living at Fabeans Bay, St Thomas, Swansea.
The head of the household was now Ann Hosgood, aged 42, who was recorded as a widow and whose occupation was given as annuitant.
Living with her were Frederick Hosgood, aged 15; Ann Hosgood, aged 14; John Hosgood, aged ten; William Hosgood, aged eight; and Thomas Hosgood, aged six.
All were recorded as born in Swansea.
The presence of Frederick and Ann, whose names correspond with the two older children recorded in 1841, provides strong evidence that this was the same family.
Most importantly, the household included John Hosgood, aged ten, whose age is consistent with the unnamed baby boy recorded at Port Tennant ten years earlier.
The evidence strongly suggests that John Hosgood was the unnamed baby of 1841.
The 1851 Census also reveals an important change in the family's circumstances.
Frederick Hosgood, who was present in 1841, was no longer recorded in the household.
His wife Ann was described as a widow, suggesting that Frederick had died during the intervening decade.
A search of death registrations and burial records may help establish when this occurred.
The family had also moved from Port Tennant to Fabeans Bay, demonstrating how successive census records can reveal changes in both family circumstances and residence.
Two Names Recovered from the Past
The discoveries of Humphrey Thomas and John Hosgood demonstrate the importance of following families from one census to the next.
In 1841, both boys appeared as unnamed infants.
By 1851, their likely identities can be explored through the additional information recorded about their households.
The identification of Humphrey Thomas is promising, particularly because of the matching names of his parents, while the evidence for John Hosgood is especially strong because of the continuity of the wider household.
Neither identification should be regarded as conclusively proved until supporting birth or baptism records have been examined.
Nevertheless, these discoveries provide a fascinating example of how the 1851 Census can bring new meaning to entries recorded ten years earlier.
9. Four Babies Named Ace: Following Swansea's Children from 1851 to 1861
Our examination of the 1851 Census has uncovered another interesting group of young children living in Swansea and the surrounding Gower parishes.
Four babies, all recorded with the surname Ace and an indexed birth year of 1851, appear in different households across the Swansea registration district.
They were Abraham Ace of Rhossili, Ann Ace of Oystermouth, Mary Ace of Pennard and Richard Ace of Swansea.
Their census entries provide a fascinating glimpse into four families living in very different circumstances during the middle of the nineteenth century.
They also offer an opportunity to continue our research into the next census, taken in 1861, to discover what became of these children ten years later.
Abraham Ace of Middleton, Rhossili
 |
| The 1851 Census household at Middleton, Rhossili, Abraham Ace, aged three months, living with his parents and maternal grandparents. |
Abraham was just three months old when the 1851 Census was taken.
He was living in the household of his grandparents, Edward Beynon, aged 54, a blacksmith and farmer, and his wife Sarah Beynon, aged 50.
The household also included several Beynon children and Abraham's parents, Samuel Ace, aged 27, and Sarah Ace, aged 28.
Samuel was recorded as a mariner lodger, while Sarah was identified as a daughter of the household head.
Abraham's relationship to Edward Beynon was recorded as grandson.
The census therefore provides a valuable picture of three generations living together under one roof.
It also illustrates the close relationship between farming, skilled trades and maritime employment in the Gower communities surrounding Swansea.
1851 Census reference: HO107/2467, Folio 211, Page 17, Schedule 64.
Ann Ace of Village Lane, Oystermouth
 |
| The 1851 Census household of Thomas and Ann Ace Village Lane, Oystermouth, showing their infant daughter Ann. |
The census transcription gives her age as nine months, although the online record also assigns her a birth year of 1851.
Ann was the daughter of Thomas Ace, aged 29, a mariner born in Port Eynon, and his wife Ann Ace, aged 39, also born in Port Eynon.
The household contained several older children: Mary, Thomas, Philip and John Ace, together with Ellin Ace, aged 19.
The family illustrates the importance of maritime occupations in Oystermouth during the nineteenth century.
Thomas Ace's occupation as a mariner suggests that his working life was connected with the sea, while the family's recorded birthplaces show links between Port Eynon and Oystermouth.
An interesting detail requires further investigation.
Ann's recorded age of nine months would normally suggest a birth around the middle of 1850, rather than 1851.
This discrepancy demonstrates why census ages and automatically calculated birth years should be checked carefully against original records.
1851 Census reference: HO107/2467, Folio 59, Page 13, Schedule 52.
Mary Ace of Sandy Lane, Pennard
 |
| The 1851 Census household of John and Mary Ace Sandy Lane, Pennard, showing their infant daughter Mary and her older sister Sophia. |
Mary was listed as aged zero, with a recorded birth year of 1851.
She was the daughter of John Ace, aged 30, a cordwainer, and his wife Mary Ace, aged 35.
A cordwainer was a skilled worker who made shoes, distinguishing the occupation from that of a cobbler, who was more commonly associated with repairing them.
John Ace was born in Oxwich, while his wife Mary was born in Bishopston.
Their older daughter, Sophia Ace, aged two, had been born in Pennard.
The household also included Mary Fry, aged 16, who was recorded as a servant.
The family's census entry provides a glimpse into the life of a skilled tradesman's household in rural Gower.
It also shows how the detailed birthplace information recorded in 1851 can help us follow a family's movements between neighbouring parishes.
1851 Census reference: HO107/2467, Folio 102, Page 16, Schedule 59.
Richard Ace of Williams Street, Swansea
 |
| The 1851 Census household of William and Catherine Ace Williams Street, Swansea, Richard Ace, aged eight months, with his siblings and cousin. |
Richard was aged eight months, according to the census transcription, although the online record gives his birth year as 1851.
His father was William Ace, aged 35, a cooper journeyman born in Devon, England.
His mother, Catherine Ace, aged 34, was born in Neath, Glamorgan.
The household also included three older children: Sarah, aged nine; William, aged five; and Mary, aged three.
Another member of the household was Jennet Rees, aged 16, described as a niece and recorded as a pauper.
William Ace's occupation as a cooper was particularly relevant to Swansea's industrial and maritime economy.
Coopers made and repaired wooden barrels and casks, which were essential for storing and transporting a wide range of goods.
The birthplaces of Richard's parents and older siblings also suggest that the family had moved between Devon, Neath, Cadoxton and Swansea before 1851.
Richard's age of eight months would ordinarily indicate a birth around 1850, rather than 1851, making his exact birth date another subject for further investigation.
1851 Census reference: HO107/2466, Folio 193, Page 57, Schedule 249.
10. Following Families Across Two Censuses
Comparing the 1841 and 1851 censuses can reveal changes that are not apparent when either return is examined alone.
A couple recorded with young children in 1841 may have a larger family ten years later.
Older children may have left home, entered employment, married or established their own households.
An elderly relative may have died, while a widowed parent might be living with adult children.
Families may also have moved between different parts of Swansea or left the area altogether.
For researchers, the most reliable approach is to compare several identifying details rather than relying on names alone.
A combination of approximate ages, occupations, birthplaces, family members and addresses can help establish whether two records relate to the same person.
The Thomas and Hosgood households illustrate the value of this approach.
In the Thomas family, the parents' names and children's ages suggest a possible connection, but further evidence is needed.
In the Hosgood family, the combination of distinctive household members and a child of the expected age provides a particularly convincing match.
11. Swansea's Oldest Residents: Were They Still Alive in 1851?
In our previous article about the 1841 Census, we discovered three remarkable individuals living in the Swansea area who were each recorded as being 100 years old.
They were John Mathew of Lan in Llandeilotalybont, Ruth Rees of Hafod Village and Morgan Williams of Cross Street, Swansea.
If their recorded ages were accurate, all three would have been born around 1741, during the reign of King George II.
By the time the next census was taken on Sunday, 30 March 1851, they would have been approximately 110 years old.
However, our searches of the 1851 Census have not identified any of these three individuals.
This may suggest that they had died during the intervening decade, although their absence from the census does not provide conclusive evidence.
Death registrations, burial records and contemporary newspapers may help establish what happened to them.
Anne John: Swansea's Centenarian in the 1851 Census
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| 1851 Census record for Anne John, aged 100, widowed household head recorded as blind, living at Gendross, Cwmbwrla, Swansea. |
The 1851 Census records Anne John, a widow aged 100, living at Gendross, in the hamlet of Cwmbwrla, Swansea.
Her household was situated within the parish of St Mary's Higher Division of Swansea, in Glamorganshire.
According to the census index, Anne was born around 1751, approximately ten years after the estimated birth years of the three Swansea residents recorded as aged 100 in 1841.
Her birthplace was recorded as Glamorgan, Wales.
The record identifies Anne as the head of the household, rather than a lodger or dependent relative.
Another significant detail is that she was recorded as blind.
This information offers a glimpse into the circumstances of an elderly woman living in Swansea during the middle of the nineteenth century.
If her recorded age was accurate, Anne would have been born during the reign of George II and lived through the reigns of George III, George IV and William IV before reaching the Victorian period.
She would have witnessed considerable changes in Swansea, from its eighteenth-century development to its emergence as an internationally important copper-smelting centre.
1851 Census reference: HO107/2465, Folio 543, Page 6, Schedule 23.
Mary Wilson: A Woman Recorded as 110 Years Old in 1851
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| 851 Census record for Mary Wilson, widow aged 110, living at Great Yarmouth Workhouse, Norfolk. |
Mary Wilson, a widow living at Great Yarmouth Workhouse in Norfolk, was recorded as 110 years old.
According to the census index, she was born around 1741 in Suffolk, with her birthplace transcribed as Halework.
Her status was recorded as pauper, and her occupation as Nil.
If her age was accurate, Mary would have been born in approximately the same year as John Mathew, Ruth Rees and Morgan Williams, the three Swansea residents recorded as 100 in 1841.
Unlike Anne John, Mary Wilson was living in an institutional setting, providing an interesting contrast between the circumstances of two exceptionally elderly women.
1851 Census reference: HO107/1806, Folio 825, Page 7.
Comparing the Oldest Residents of 1841 and 1851
Our search has identified one person recorded as aged 100 in Swansea in the 1851 Census: Anne John.
Mary Wilson, aged 110, provides an additional example from elsewhere in England.
These figures describe the individuals identified in the searches undertaken for this article; they should not be treated as a definitive count of all centenarians in either census.
Were Their Ages Accurate?
Although these records are fascinating, ages of 100 or more in nineteenth-century census returns should be treated with caution.
A census entry confirms the age that was recorded, but it does not independently establish the person's exact date of birth.
Parish baptism registers, marriage records, burial records and other surviving documents may help verify these exceptional ages.
Anne John's entry is especially interesting because it identifies her as a widowed household head, records her disability and provides a specific location within Swansea.
Further investigation may reveal whether she was born in Cwmbwrla or moved there later in life, whether other relatives lived nearby, and when she died.
The 1851 Census has therefore introduced us to another remarkable Swansea resident whose life deserves further investigation.
12. The Importance of Original 1851 Census Images
As with the 1841 Census, original images are essential when interpreting the 1851 records.
Online indexes can contain errors in names, ages, occupations and places of birth.
Welsh place names and surnames may be particularly vulnerable to transcription mistakes.
The original image may also reveal information that is difficult to appreciate in an index, including the order of household members and the location of neighbouring families.
For each individual, researchers should record the census reference, including the HO107 piece number, folio and page.
These details make it easier to return to the original entry and allow other researchers to verify the evidence.
The records of Humphrey Thomas, John Hosgood, the four Ace children and Anne John provide useful examples of why original documents should be consulted before drawing firm conclusions.
13. Using Birth, Marriage and Death Records
Civil registration had been operating in England and Wales since July 1837.
By 1851, it had been in place for almost fourteen years.
This means that many children appearing in the 1851 Census should have corresponding birth registrations.
For the children discussed in this article, birth registrations and parish baptism records may help confirm names, ages and family relationships.
This is particularly important for the four Ace babies, two of whom have indexed birth years that appear inconsistent with their ages in months.
Marriage records can help identify adult children who had left their parental households, while death registrations and burial registers may explain why someone recorded in 1841 cannot be found in 1851.
Combining these sources provides a stronger foundation for family history research.
14. Newspapers and the Changing Population of Swansea
Contemporary newspapers provide an important source of background information about Victorian Swansea.
In our previous article, we examined the population figures published in The Cambrian on 27 November 1841.
Those figures showed the remarkable growth of Glamorganshire during the first half of the nineteenth century.
The county's population increased from 126,612 in 1831 to 171,188 in 1841, according to the figures reproduced in the newspaper.
This growth reflected the increasing importance of industrial employment and migration.
The 1851 Census offers the opportunity to examine how these developments continued during the following decade.
Newspapers may also contain notices of deaths, marriages, shipping movements, industrial accidents, court proceedings and other events involving individuals found in the census.
Such reports can add valuable detail to the lives of ordinary Swansea residents.
15. Researching the 1851 Census
When searching for Swansea ancestors in 1851, it is useful to begin with the information already established from the 1841 Census.
Researchers should consider possible variations in surnames, approximate ages and geographical descriptions.
It is also important to remember that a family may have moved during the intervening decade.
A person who cannot be found in Swansea might appear elsewhere in Glamorganshire, another Welsh county or England.
The 1851 Census is especially helpful because its more detailed birthplace information may provide clues about earlier family origins.
Researchers should also examine original census pages and record the full archival references.
16. Useful Websites and Research Resources
General Register Office
https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/
FreeBMD
https://www.freebmd.org.uk/
West Glamorgan Archives
https://www.swansea.gov.uk/archives
National Library of Wales
https://www.library.wales/
Welsh Newspapers Online
https://newspapers.library.wales/
The National Archives
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/
Early British Census Project
https://ebc.byu.edu/Home/About
A Vision of Britain Through Time
https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/
These resources can assist with census research, civil registration, parish records, local history, historical newspapers and population statistics.
Conclusion: Ten Years in the Lives of Swansea Families
The 1851 Census provides a valuable opportunity to return to the families recorded in Swansea ten years earlier.
Its additional information about household relationships, ages, occupations and places of birth makes it one of the most useful sources for studying Victorian family history.
For Swansea, the census captures a community continuing to experience industrial expansion, migration and social change.
The official population figures reveal the remarkable growth of Glamorganshire, whose population increased by more than 60,000 people between 1841 and 1851.
The national occupational tables provide further context, illustrating the enormous variety of trades and industries supporting Victorian society.
Our examination of Swansea's youngest residents identified 1,532 online records with a birth year of 1851, including ten babies whose Christian names were recorded without surnames.
We have also made progress in tracing two of the unnamed babies discovered in the 1841 Census.
Humphrey Thomas, living at Daniel Court in 1851, may have been the unnamed baby recorded at Greenfield Row ten years earlier.
John Hosgood, aged ten and living with his widowed mother Ann at Fabeans Bay, appears highly likely to have been the unnamed baby recorded at Port Tennant.
The discovery of Abraham, Ann, Mary and Richard Ace provides another opportunity to follow Swansea families into the next decade.
These four children will form part of our investigation of the 1861 Census, when we hope to discover where they were living and how their families had changed.
At the other end of the age range, the 1851 Census introduced us to Anne John of Gendross, Cwmbwrla, recorded as 100 years old, while the remarkable entry for Mary Wilson of Great Yarmouth, aged 110, offers a wider comparison.
These discoveries demonstrate how census research can reveal both the continuity and the changes experienced by families over a single decade.
The 1841 Census introduced us to these individuals. The 1851 Census has begun to reveal what happened next, while the 1861 Census promises to continue their stories.
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