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 babies first encountered in 1851 and traced into the 1861 Census. New records from 1871 now offer a fascinating glimpse of their lives as young adults, including the skilled trade of coopering, domestic service and the continuing importance of maritime employment.
The census also introduces two remarkable elderly women: Ann Davies of Craft Street and Ann Roger of Trewyddfa, both recorded as aged 100.
At the other end of the age range, our research has now identified 2,453 babies in the 1871 census search results, compared with 1,165 in 1841. This provides another perspective on Swansea's changing households over thirty years.
Together, these discoveries remind us that behind the population statistics were individuals whose lives spanned some of the most dramatic changes in Swansea's history.
1. The Eighth National Census
The 1871 Census was taken on Sunday, 2 April 1871.
Like the 1851 and 1861 censuses, it recorded individuals by name, together with their relationships to the head of household, marital condition, ages, occupations and birthplaces.
The census also included columns relating to certain disabilities, using historical descriptions that are now considered outdated.
The original records for England and Wales are preserved at The National Archives under the reference series RG 10.
| Census | Archival reference series |
|---|---|
| 1841 | HO 107 |
| 1851 | HO 107 |
| 1861 | RG 9 |
| 1871 | RG 10 |
These records allow researchers to follow individuals across successive decades. However, changes of address, surname, occupation and household composition can make identification challenging.
The original census images remain particularly important when checking details supplied by online indexes.
2. Population Growth in England and Wales
The population of England and Wales continued to increase substantially during the nineteenth century.
The 1871 Census recorded 22,712,266 inhabitants, compared with 20,066,224 in 1861.
This represented an increase of 2,646,042 people, approximately 13.2 per cent.
Population of England and Wales, 1801–1871
| Census year | Population | Increase since previous census |
|---|---|---|
| 1801 | 8,892,536 | — |
| 1811 | 10,164,256 | +1,271,720 |
| 1821 | 12,000,236 | +1,835,980 |
| 1831 | 13,896,797 | +1,896,561 |
| 1841 | 15,914,148 | +2,017,351 |
| 1851 | 17,927,609 | +2,013,461 |
| 1861 | 20,066,224 | +2,138,615 |
| 1871 | 22,712,266 | +2,646,042 |
Between 1801 and 1871, the population increased by 13,819,730 people. The population had therefore grown to more than two and a half times its size at the beginning of the century.
Industrial development, urban expansion, improved transport and migration continued to shape the population of Victorian Britain.
The increase between 1861 and 1871 was the largest recorded during any ten-year interval since the beginning of the census.
3. The Population of the United Kingdom
The census also reveals how population growth differed between the countries of the United Kingdom.
Population Comparison, 1861–1871
| Country | 1861 | 1871 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| England and Wales | 20,066,224 | 22,712,266 | +2,646,042 |
| Scotland | 3,062,294 | 3,360,018 | +297,724 |
| Ireland | 5,798,967 | 5,412,377 | −386,590 |
| United Kingdom | 28,927,485 | 31,484,661 | +2,557,176 |
The population of the United Kingdom increased by approximately 8.8 per cent.
However, this growth was not evenly distributed. England, Wales and Scotland experienced substantial increases, while Ireland's population continued to decline following the Great Famine and subsequent emigration.
The figures combine the census populations for the constituent countries. Contemporary published totals may differ according to the treatment of military personnel, shipping and other enumeration categories.
4. Glamorganshire: Seventy Years of Population Growth
Glamorganshire experienced some of the most dramatic population growth in nineteenth-century Wales.
The county's industrial development attracted workers and families from across Britain and Ireland. Coal mining, iron production, copper smelting and maritime commerce all contributed to its expansion.
Population of Glamorganshire, 1801–1871
| Census year | Population | Increase |
|---|---|---|
| 1801 | 70,879 | — |
| 1811 | 85,067 | +14,188 |
| 1821 | 102,073 | +17,006 |
| 1831 | 126,612 | +24,539 |
| 1841 | 171,188 | +44,576 |
| 1851 | 231,849 | +60,661 |
| 1861 | 317,752 | +85,903 |
| 1871 | 397,859 | +80,107 |
Between 1861 and 1871, Glamorganshire gained 80,107 inhabitants, an increase of approximately 25.2 per cent.
Since 1801, the county's population had grown by 326,980 people.
These figures demonstrate the extraordinary scale of industrialisation in South Wales.
For family historians, this expansion helps explain why ancestors may suddenly appear in Glamorganshire census records after being born in another county or country.
Employment opportunities drew people towards industrial communities, often bringing entire families with them.
5. Swansea's Population in 1871
Swansea continued to expand during the decade between 1861 and 1871.
The published historical figures record 51,702 inhabitants within Swansea's municipal borough in 1871, compared with 41,606 in 1861.
This represented an increase of 10,096 people, approximately 24.3 per cent.
Swansea's Population, 1831–1871
| Census year | Swansea Town and Franchise | Municipal Borough and surrounding districts |
|---|---|---|
| 1831 | 13,256 | 19,894 |
| 1841 | 16,787 | 24,604 |
| 1851 | 21,586 | 31,461 |
| 1861 | 27,161 | 41,606 |
| 1871 | 33,481 | 51,702 |
The population of Swansea Town and Franchise increased by 6,320 people, approximately 23.3 per cent, between 1861 and 1871.
The wider municipal borough gained 10,096 inhabitants.
These figures demonstrate how Swansea's growth extended beyond its older town centre into surrounding communities.
The figures also reveal that the population of the wider borough had more than doubled since 1841.
This remarkable growth reflected the continued expansion of industry, shipping, commerce and housing.
6. Comparing Swansea Census Search Results, 1841–1871
Alongside the official census population figures, our research has produced online database search results for Swansea and its historical geographical divisions.
These figures provide an interesting comparison across four successive censuses.
Swansea Census Search Results
| Search location | 1841 | 1851 | 1861 | 1871 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swansea | 38,612 | 46,564 | 48,301 | 67,380 |
| Swansea Higher | 838 | 380 | 649 | 0 |
| Swansea Town and Franchise | 154,085 | 238,258 | 310,196 | 458,618 |
| Swansea Higher and Lower | 154,085 | 238,258 | 310,196 | 458,618 |
The Swansea search category returned 67,380 results in 1871, compared with 48,301 in 1861. This represents an increase of 19,079 search results, approximately 39.5 per cent.
The Swansea Town and Franchise category returned 458,618 results in 1871, compared with 310,196 in 1861. This represents an increase of 148,422 results, approximately 47.8 per cent.
Changes Between 1861 and 1871
| Search location | 1861 | 1871 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swansea | 48,301 | 67,380 | +19,079 |
| Swansea Higher | 649 | 0 | −649 |
| Swansea Town and Franchise | 310,196 | 458,618 | +148,422 |
| Swansea Higher and Lower | 310,196 | 458,618 | +148,422 |
The Swansea search category increased from 38,612 results in 1841 to 67,380 in 1871, a difference of 28,768 results, approximately 74.5 per cent.
However, an important distinction must be made.
These are online census search-result totals, not official population figures.
Modern databases may use different geographical categories, and search results may include overlapping areas or records associated with wider administrative districts.
The zero returned for Swansea Higher in 1871 does not mean that nobody lived there. It may reflect differences in the database's geographical indexing or available search categories.
Similarly, the 458,618 results returned for Swansea Town and Franchise should not be interpreted as the population of that historical area.
The official population of Swansea's municipal borough in 1871 was 51,702.
Keeping these two types of figures separate is essential for accurate historical research.
7. Understanding Swansea's Historical Boundaries
One of the difficulties facing researchers is that the name Swansea referred to several different geographical areas.
The town, municipal borough, parliamentary borough, registration district, hundred and surrounding parishes did not always share the same boundaries.
Consequently, different census tables can produce different population totals without necessarily contradicting one another.
A person living in Morriston, St Thomas, Oystermouth or another nearby community might appear under a different administrative description depending upon the source.
For family historians, it is important to examine the precise geographical area covered by each census return.
The published census reports provide the most reliable basis for historical population comparisons, while online indexes are valuable for identifying individual people and households.
8. Swansea in 1871: Industry and Everyday Life
By 1871, Swansea was firmly established as one of the leading industrial centres of Wales.
Copper smelting remained central to its economy, particularly along the Lower Swansea Valley.
The copperworks depended upon coal, imported copper ores, shipping and extensive transport networks.
The industries supported many different occupations, including miners, engineers, labourers, carpenters, coopers, blacksmiths, masons, merchants and railway workers.
Shipping continued to be particularly important. Swansea's docks connected the town with ports across Britain and overseas.
However, industrial growth also created problems. Smoke from the copperworks, pollution, overcrowded housing and sanitation were major concerns in Victorian industrial communities.
The census records allow us to examine the people who lived and worked within this changing environment.
9. Swansea and Gower: Town and Countryside
While Swansea expanded as an industrial town, the surrounding communities of Gower retained many of their rural and maritime traditions.
Villages such as Rhossili, Pennard, Oystermouth, Oxwich, Bishopston, Llangennith and Llanrhidian continued to depend upon agriculture, fishing, shipping and local trades.
The 1861 Census provides useful population figures for several of these communities.
Selected Gower Parishes in 1861
| Place | Population |
|---|---|
| Oystermouth | 2,460 |
| Pennard | 1,406 |
| Oxwich | 328 |
| Bishopston | 418 |
| Ilston | 295 |
| Llangennith | 384 |
| Llanrhidian, entire parish | 1,993 |
These figures illustrate the contrast between Swansea's expanding urban population and the smaller settlements of Gower.
The 1871 Census provides an opportunity to investigate whether these communities experienced similar growth or remained relatively stable.
10. The Four Ace Children: Following Their Lives from 1851 to 1871
One of the most rewarding discoveries in our Swansea census investigations has been following four children named Abraham Ace, Ann Ace, Mary Ace and Richard Ace across three successive censuses.
First encountered as infants in 1851, they were traced into their school years in 1861. The 1871 Census now provides further evidence of their lives as young adults, revealing new occupations, changing family circumstances and the continuing importance of Swansea's maritime and industrial economy.
Abraham Ace: From Schoolboy to Cooper
 |
| 1871 Census |
The 1871 Census reveals that Abraham was still living in Madoc Street, but his circumstances had changed considerably. Now aged twenty, he was employed as a cooper, a skilled craftsman who made and repaired wooden barrels and casks used in shipping, trade and industry. The household was headed by his mother, Sarah Ace, aged 48, who was working as a grocer, while his younger brother Samuel, aged eighteen, was also living at home, with no occupation recorded.
One important change was the absence of Abraham's father, Samuel Ace, who was no longer listed in the household. As Samuel senior had previously worked as a mariner, his absence may have been connected with employment at sea, although further research is needed to establish what had happened to him.
Abraham's occupation is particularly interesting because coopering was an important trade in a busy port such as Swansea, where barrels were essential for transporting and storing goods. His journey from a baby in rural Rhossili to a skilled tradesman in Swansea illustrates the changing opportunities available to young people during the Victorian period.
1871 census reference: RG 10/5453, Folio 18, Page 29, Schedule 141.
Ann Ace: A Young Woman in Oystermouth
 |
| 1871 Census |
Ten years later, in 1861, Ann was aged ten and attending school in Mumbles, while her father and older brother Thomas were both working as mariners. Her childhood had therefore been spent in a community where maritime employment played an important part in everyday family life.
A promising 1871 census entry places Ann Ace, aged twenty, at Ponds Steps, Oystermouth, where she was recorded as a daughter, with no occupation stated. The same household included Thomas Ace, aged fifty, who was working as a dredger, Margaret Ace, aged 48, and David Williams, aged 22, who was also employed as a dredger.
This provides an interesting picture of a household connected with maritime work, although several details require further investigation. In particular, Ann's mother was named Ann in the earlier censuses, whereas Margaret Ace appears in the 1871 household. The online transcription also gives some unusual relationships, including Thomas and Margaret being described as boarders.
These differences should be checked against the original census image before the family connections are treated as certain. Nevertheless, the matching name, age, birthplace and location make this a promising candidate for the Ann Ace who had grown up in Oystermouth. Her apparent continued residence in Mumbles contrasts with the movement of other young people towards Swansea's expanding industrial centre.
1871 census reference: RG 10/5460, Folio 83, Page 65, Schedule 343.
Mary Ace: From Pennard Schoolgirl to Domestic Servant?
 |
| 1871 Census |
By 1861, Mary was ten years old and attending school at Stone Mill Village, Pennard, alongside her siblings Sophia, Ruth and John. Her father was still working as a shoemaker, and the family remained connected with the villages of southern Gower.
The 1871 Census contains a possible record for Mary Ace, aged twenty-two, working as a servant at West Cross Road, Oystermouth, in a household headed by George B. Strick, aged 49, an ironmaster. His wife Catharine, aged 47, was also present, together with a visitor named Anne Jones, a coachman named Robert Bish, members of the Bish family and another servant, Margaret Davies.
If this is the same Mary Ace, her circumstances had changed significantly since childhood, as she had left her parents' household and entered domestic service. Such employment was common among young women in Victorian Britain, particularly in households able to employ servants.
However, this identification remains provisional. The 1871 Mary was recorded as aged twenty-two, approximately two years older than expected, and her birthplace appears in the online transcription as “Cy?lch”, rather than the birthplace details previously associated with the Pennard family.
These discrepancies need to be investigated through the original census image and other records. The entry is therefore an interesting lead rather than conclusive proof that the Mary Ace found in 1851 and 1861 had entered service at West Cross Road.
1871 census reference: RG 10/5460, Folio 30, Page 2, Schedule 136.
Richard Ace: The Family Trade of Coopering
 |
| 1871 Census |
By 1861, the family had moved to 12 Gower Street, where Richard, aged eleven, was attending school. His older brother William, aged fourteen, had already begun working as a cooper alongside their father, while their sister Sarah was employed as a pupil teacher.
The 1871 Census reveals that Richard had followed the family trade and was now living at Welcome Street, Swansea, aged twenty and employed as a cooper. The household was headed by his father William Ace, aged 55, who continued to work as a cooper, while his mother Catherine was aged 52.
Richard's older brother William, aged 24, was also employed as a cooper, meaning that three members of the same household were working in the same skilled trade. Richard's younger sister Mary, aged seventeen, was working as a dressmaker, and Jennet Rees, aged forty, was recorded as a niece and annuitant.
Jennet may be the Janet Rees who appeared as a relative in the family's 1861 household, although the relationship and age should be checked against the original records.
Richard's story provides a particularly clear example of occupational continuity within a Victorian family. From his father's work as a cooper in 1851 to the employment of both sons in the same trade by 1871, the census records reveal how practical skills and livelihoods could be passed from one generation to the next.
1871 census reference: RG 10/5455, Folio 29, Page 1, Schedule 3.
Twenty Years in the Lives of Four Swansea Children
The four Ace investigations illustrate how much could change between childhood and adulthood in Victorian Swansea.
Abraham had moved from rural Rhossili to Swansea and become a cooper, while his mother supported the household through her work as a grocer.
Ann appears to have remained in Oystermouth, where maritime occupations continued to shape family life.
A possible record for Mary suggests employment in domestic service, although further evidence is required to confirm her identity.
Richard had entered the same skilled trade as his father and older brother, demonstrating the importance of family occupations in nineteenth-century Swansea.
The Four Ace Children Across Three Censuses
| Name | 1851 | 1861 | 1871 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abraham Ace | Infant, Middleton, Rhossili | Scholar, Madoc Street | Cooper, Madoc Street |
| Ann Ace | Infant, Village Lane, Oystermouth | Scholar, Mumbles | Possible match: Ponds Steps, Oystermouth |
| Mary Ace | Infant, Sandy Lane, Pennard | Scholar, Stone Mill Village | Possible match: servant, West Cross Road |
| Richard Ace | Infant, Williams Street | Scholar, Gower Street | Cooper, Welcome Street |
These records also show why following individuals through successive censuses requires careful comparison of names, ages, birthplaces, occupations and household relationships.
Abraham and Richard can be linked particularly confidently to their earlier families, while the proposed identifications of Ann and Mary still require verification.
What began in 1851 as a search for four babies has developed into a continuing investigation of family life, employment and social change across twenty years of Victorian Swansea.
11. Swansea's Oldest Residents: Two Women Aged 100 in 1871
One of the most fascinating discoveries in our investigation of the 1871 Census concerns two elderly women who were both recorded as having reached the remarkable age of 100 years.
Their names were Ann Davies and Ann Roger.
Both were apparently born around 1771, when George III was king and Swansea was still a relatively small town.
By 1871, they had lived through the expansion of the copper industry, the arrival of the railways and the transformation of Swansea into a major industrial centre.
Although their recorded ages have not yet been independently verified, their census entries provide an extraordinary glimpse into the lives of elderly women in Victorian Swansea.
The Two Women Recorded Aged 100
Ann Davies: A Centenarian Living in Craft Street
 |
| 1871 Census |
The household contained eight people. It was headed by William Davies, aged 46, who was born in Swansea and whose occupation was not recorded in the online transcription. His wife, Ann Davies, aged 47, was employed as a laundress. The remaining household members included the elderly Ann Davies and five children.
The Davies Household, Craft Street, 1871
The presence of three people named Ann Davies in the same household is particularly interesting. There was Ann Davies, aged 100; Ann Davies, aged 47; and Ann Davies, aged thirteen. This illustrates how family names were frequently passed between generations.
The elderly Ann was recorded as the mother, although the relationship column alone does not establish whether she was William's mother or another family member described in relation to the household. Her birthplace in Llangyfelach also provides a connection between Swansea's industrial town and the surrounding parish communities.
The household presents a striking picture of family life. A woman recorded as having reached her hundredth year was living alongside children aged thirteen, eleven, eight, four and two.
The youngest child, Margaret, had been born around 1869, almost a century after the elderly Ann's estimated birth.
The record also reveals the importance of women's employment. Ann Davies, aged 47, worked as a laundress, an occupation that could involve demanding physical labour.
The family therefore combined paid employment, children's education and the presence of an elderly relative within one household.
Census reference: RG 10/5454, Folio 52, Page 6, Schedule 33.
Ann Roger: A Centenarian at Trewyddfa, Llangafelach
 |
| 1871 Census |
She was recorded as the mother within a household headed by David Roger, aged 55, a labourer. His wife, Ann Roger, was aged 52. The household also included younger members of the Roger family and Catherine Daves, aged 22.
The original occupation or description of the elderly Ann requires further examination. The online transcription reads “Comn gelly ?”, but this is uncertain and should not be interpreted without consulting the original census image.
Like Ann Davies, Ann Roger was living within an extended household containing several generations.
The family also demonstrates the variety of employment found in the surrounding communities of Swansea. David Roger, aged 55, was a labourer, while his nineteen-year-old son David was employed as a shoemaker.
The younger daughters Elizabeth and Hannah were recorded as scholars.
The presence of an elderly mother within this household illustrates how family networks could provide accommodation and support for older relatives.
Census reference: RG 10/5447, Folio 89, Page 28, Schedule 131.
Two Anns, Two Households, One Remarkable Age
The discovery of two women named Ann, both recorded as aged 100, provides an interesting comparison.
Ann Davies lived in Craft Street, within Swansea itself. Ann Roger lived at Trewyddfa, in Llangafelach.
Both were recorded as mothers within larger households, and both lived alongside younger generations.
Both had apparently been born around 1771, more than seventy years before the first detailed household census of 1841.
Their lives would have spanned an extraordinary period of historical change. When they were born, Swansea was a much smaller town. By 1871, its municipal borough contained more than 51,000 inhabitants.
Their census entries provide a reminder that the history of industrial Swansea was also the history of individual families and their experiences across generations.
Comparing Swansea's Centenarians, 1841–1871
Our earlier census investigations have identified several other people recorded as aged 100.
| Census | People identified as aged 100 |
|---|---|
| 1841 | John Mathew, Ruth Rees, Morgan Williams |
| 1851 | Anne John |
| 1861 | Elizabeth Jones, Ellen McCarthy, John Thomas |
| 1871 | Ann Davies, Ann Roger |
Across these four censuses, our research has now identified nine entries for people recorded as aged 100.
These are the individuals discovered in our searches so far, rather than a verified exhaustive count of everyone aged 100 or over.
Their ages should also be treated with appropriate caution. A census entry stating that someone was 100 years old does not necessarily establish their true date of birth.
Baptismal records, earlier census returns, burial records and other evidence may help verify these exceptional ages.
Nevertheless, the two 1871 entries provide a valuable addition to our continuing investigation of Swansea's oldest residents.
12. Swansea's Youngest Residents: Babies in the Census, 1841–1871
One of the most interesting discoveries in our Swansea Family History census investigations has been the increasing number of babies appearing in the records.
Our research has now identified 1,165 babies in 1841, 1,532 in 1851, 1,936 in 1861 and 2,453 in 1871, providing a fascinating comparison across thirty years of Victorian Swansea.
Babies Recorded in Swansea Census Searches, 1841–1871
| Census year | Babies identified | Increase | Percentage increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1841 | 1,165 | — | — |
| 1851 | 1,532 | +367 | +31.5% |
| 1861 | 1,936 | +404 | +26.4% |
| 1871 | 2,453 | +517 | +26.7% |
Between 1841 and 1871, the number of babies identified in our census searches increased by 1,288 records, approximately 110.6 per cent. In other words, the number of indexed babies more than doubled over thirty years.
This increase is particularly interesting when considered alongside Swansea's industrial expansion. As the copperworks, docks, railways and surrounding industries developed, families continued to settle in Swansea and its neighbouring communities.
The growing number of infants appearing in the census searches offers another perspective on this period of population growth.
Each census provides a snapshot of the youngest members of Swansea's households. The 1841 Census was taken on 6 June, the 1851 Census on 30 March, the 1861 Census on 7 April and the 1871 Census on 2 April.
Babies indexed as born in those census years would therefore have been only a few weeks or months old when enumerated.
These records are particularly valuable because they allow family historians to identify parents, older siblings, occupations and household addresses.
They may also reveal infants who had not yet been given a Christian name, continuing one of the interesting discoveries made during our investigation of the 1841 Census.
An important distinction must be made: these figures represent online census search results, not the total number of births registered in Swansea during each year.
They are affected by the database's geographical coverage, indexing methods and estimated birth years. Because the censuses were taken on different dates, the figures are not directly comparable as annual birth statistics.
Nevertheless, the discovery of 2,453 babies in the 1871 Census search, compared with 1,165 in 1841, provides an interesting addition to our continuing investigation of Swansea's youngest residents.
13. Missing 1871 Census Records
An important difficulty affects parts of Swansea and Gower in the 1871 Census.
Some original census returns are missing, including records associated with RG 10/5444 and RG 10/5463.
The affected areas include parts of Llangyfelach, Penderry and Llandeilotalybont, together with several Gower parishes such as Port Eynon, Oxwich, Penrice, Nicholaston, Penmaen, Reynoldston, Llanddewi and Knelston.
This is particularly important when investigating families who cannot be found in the 1871 Census.
An unsuccessful search does not necessarily mean that a person had moved away or died. Their household may have appeared on a census page that has not survived.
Alternative sources, including parish registers, civil registration records, newspapers and later censuses, may help bridge these gaps.
14. Following Families Across Four Censuses
The 1871 Census allows researchers to follow families over thirty years.
A child recorded in 1841 might now be married with children of their own. A young couple in 1851 might have become grandparents.
An elderly relative might have died, leaving evidence in burial registers or civil registration records.
Successive census returns reveal these changes through the composition of individual households.
However, a reliable identification requires more than a matching name. Ages, birthplaces, occupations, relatives and addresses should all be considered.
The four Ace children provide an excellent example of how this method can be applied across generations.
The households of Ann Davies and Ann Roger also demonstrate how census records can reveal connections between older and younger family members.
15. Children, Education and Employment
The transition from childhood to adulthood was an important period in Victorian life.
In 1861, all four Ace children were attending school. Other members of their families had already entered employment.
Richard Ace's older brother William was working as a cooper at fourteen, while Ann Ace's brother Thomas was employed as a mariner at seventeen.
By 1871, the younger children would themselves have reached working age.
Abraham and Richard Ace were both employed as coopers, while a possible match for Mary Ace was working in domestic service.
The newly identified households of Ann Davies and Ann Roger also reveal children attending school.
In Craft Street, Ann Davies, David Davies, Catherine Davies and Mary Davies were recorded as scholars.
At Trewyddfa, Elizabeth Roger and Hannah Roger were also scholars.
These entries provide useful evidence of education within Swansea families during the period.
16. Swansea's Maritime Families
Maritime employment continued to play an important role in Swansea and Gower.
Our earlier investigations identified Samuel Ace and Thomas Ace as mariners.
The younger Thomas Ace had also entered maritime employment by 1861.
The possible 1871 household of Ann Ace at Ponds Steps also includes two men recorded as dredgers, demonstrating another form of employment connected with the coastal environment.
Sailors present at sea or in other ports on census night may have been enumerated away from their families.
Consequently, an absent husband, father or son should not automatically be assumed to have died.
Crew lists, shipping registers, newspapers and maritime records can provide additional evidence.
17. The Importance of Original Census Images
Online indexes are valuable research tools, but original census images remain essential.
Names may be mistranscribed, ages misread and occupations incorrectly interpreted.
The original page can also reveal neighbouring households and other details omitted from an index.
The uncertain occupational description recorded for Ann Roger provides a particularly useful example.
Similarly, the unusual household relationships in Ann Ace's possible 1871 record and the uncertain birthplace of Mary Ace require further investigation.
For the 1871 Census, researchers should record the RG 10 piece number, folio and page.
These references make it possible to locate the record again and verify the evidence.
18. Using Birth, Marriage and Death Records
Civil registration and parish records provide important evidence alongside the census.
Birth records can help confirm ages and family relationships.
Marriage records may explain changes of surname or the formation of new households.
Death registrations and burial records may help establish why an individual is absent from a later census.
These sources are particularly important when investigating exceptionally elderly residents.
For Ann Davies and Ann Roger, baptismal records and earlier census returns may provide clues to their actual dates of birth.
They may also help resolve questions surrounding the Ace families, including the absence of Abraham's father from the 1871 household.
19. Newspapers and the Changing Life of Swansea
Historical newspapers can reveal details that do not appear in census returns.
Shipping reports, industrial accidents, court proceedings, marriages, deaths and public events can help reconstruct the lives of Swansea families.
The Cambrian remains a particularly valuable source for nineteenth-century Swansea research.
Newspaper reports may also provide evidence about individuals who cannot be located in the census.
For exceptionally elderly residents, death notices and local reports may contain information about their ages, families and lives.
20. Useful Websites and Research Resources
The National Archives — Census Records
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/census-records/
General Register Office
https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/
FreeBMD
https://www.freebmd.org.uk/
FreeCEN
https://www.freecen.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/
A Vision of Britain Through Time
https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/
Conclusion: The Next Generation of Victorian Swansea
The 1871 Census provides another opportunity to explore the changing lives of Swansea's inhabitants.
Thirty years after the detailed household census of 1841, Swansea had grown into a major industrial and maritime centre.
The municipal borough's population had increased from 24,604 in 1841 to 51,702 in 1871.
Across Glamorganshire, the population had reached 397,859, reflecting the extraordinary development of industry and settlement during the nineteenth century.
Our online census searches also reveal how the number of indexed results associated with Swansea changed over the same period. The Swansea search category increased from 38,612 results in 1841 to 67,380 in 1871.
Although these search results are not official population totals, they provide a useful record of the geographical categories encountered during our research.
The investigation into Swansea's youngest residents has produced another interesting comparison. In 1841, our search identified 1,165 babies, while the 1871 search identified 2,453, an increase of approximately 110.6 per cent.
These figures are not annual birth totals, but they offer a valuable perspective on the changing numbers of infants appearing in Swansea's census records.
At the other end of the age range, the discovery of Ann Davies and Ann Roger, both recorded as aged 100, has added another fascinating dimension to our investigation.
Their households reveal how elderly relatives lived alongside younger generations in Victorian Swansea and its surrounding communities.
Both women had apparently been born around 1771, before the beginning of the national census, and their lives spanned a period of extraordinary industrial and social change.
Our continuing investigation of the four Ace children has also revealed how their lives were changing as they entered adulthood.
Abraham Ace had become a cooper in Swansea, while Richard Ace had followed his father and older brother into the same skilled trade.
Ann Ace appears to have remained in Oystermouth, and a possible record for Mary Ace suggests employment in domestic service.
These discoveries demonstrate how the census can reveal individual experiences within the wider history of Swansea's industrial and maritime development.
The next stage of our research will be to follow these families into the 1881 Census, when another decade of changes may reveal new marriages, occupations, children and addresses.
The 1841 Census introduced us to the people of Victorian Swansea. The 1851 Census helped us discover their families. The 1861 Census followed their changing lives. Now the 1871 Census reveals the next generation entering adulthood.
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