Census (1841) Census of Prince Edward Island for 1847. The original is in the PAC; there is a microfilm copy in the P.E.l. PARO (Reels M-896 and M-897), and in the Robinson Library, UPEI [P.E.l. HA 747.P71841].

In the summer of 7841, on the direction of the government of the island, a full census of the colony was taken. The original census books survive for 42 of the 6 7 townships (the missing townships are 1—6, 7 I, 73-20, 24, 32, 33, 38-43 and 56). Each census-taker was responsible for collecting the information from five or so townships, and at the end of the standard form for each township, he was to add comments on the general state of the township, including the quality of its land, the condition and extent of its roads, and its access to markets. The few comments that have any relevance to the forests have been extracted below.

REFERENCES:

The Acts of the General Assembly of Prince Edward Island 7835-7842. James D. Haszard, Printer to the Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty, Charlottetown.

Dale, J. (1879) The censual genealogist. The Island Magazine, 6: 38—42.

Swamps Lot 7: The greatest part of this Township is comprised of extensive barrens Cedar, ’77 LOT 7. Juniper and Ash swamps. Lot 9: A road is much wanted to open the communication to the main western Hardwood Road, which would go through this Lot and Lot No. 10 distance about 3 miles, all in Lot 9- dry hard wood land, which would connect it with the Road described on Lot 8, and open a direct communication through Lots 10, 9, and 8 to the Westward. Barrens and swamp Lot 12: This Township is supposed to contain about 5,000 acres of good land the in Lot 72. residue was Barren and Swamp.

Young men in the Mirimichi.

Bears in Lot 62.

Young men in the ship yards.

[Census Taker: Joseph Higgins of Egmont Bay]

Lot 57: Several of the young men belonging to the District are at Mirimichi and other places in the neighbouring provinces, so that, although they are now absent, they might justly be regarded as part of the population. Nearly twenty of these have returned since the census was taken. They are not however included in the census.

Lot 62: The people frequently lose many of their cattle and sheep by the predations of the Bear as well as other casualties.

A few of the young men employed in the shipyards belong to other parts of the country, though they have been resident in the District for the last 8 or 9 months.

[Census Taker: name not given]

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