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1881 Census - Guysborough County - District 8 - Roll: C-13167

Though a census had been taken in 1871, the 1881 Census marked the first regularly scheduled collection of national statistics. Both enumerations were managed by Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Joseph-Charles Taché, a politician and civil servant who had been highly critical of pre-Confederation censuses. According to Taché, earlier censuses had collected information in an inconsistent manner that made summaries difficult, overemphasized local differences, and led to unreliable statistics that were rarely compiled or published. In his role as deputy minister, Taché developed a census process that was frank and open and that made it possible for the public to use the national statistics sooner. A set of census questions focused on qualitative results gathered according to consistent standards that were developed through observational protocols; these results created data that was easier to analyze and upon which the government could reliably base decisions when the compiled results were made public. The 1871 Census was hailed as a breakthrough in the national collection of statistics, and consequently few changes were made for the collection of 1881 Census information. For the 1881 census each province was divided into census districts. These districts were subsequently divided into sub-districts. Districts were roughly equivalent to electoral districts, cities, and counties. Sub-Districts were based off of towns, townships, and city wards. I have also attempted to transcribe all the names with the common spellings used today.