The 1901 census results provide a snapshot of Stourmouth at the dawn of the 20th century. There were 72 households enumerated - 139 females and 148 males. The largest number of persons in one household was twelve--this was at Poulders Farm. An indication of the vitality of the community can, perhaps, be found in the fact that 55 per cent of the population was aged twenty-nine and under. For those interested in statistics:
0-9 age group 22%
10-19 age group 19%
20-29 age group 14%
30-39 age group 14%
40-49 age group 12%
50-59 age group 10%
60-69 age group 7%
70-81 age group 2%
Ten years earlier, Stourmouth had the same number of households but 43 more people living in them. I transcribed--from microfiched copies of the enumerator's work--the 1891 census of Stourmouth. There were 168 females and 162 males, with only four households consisting of just one person. Nearly 50 per cent of the population was aged nineteen and under. Here are the statistics:
0-9 age group 26%
10-19 age group 23%
20-29 age group 12%
30-39 age group 13%
40-49 age group 11%
50-59 age group 8%
60-69 age group 3%
70-79 age group 3%
80-89 age group 1%
Some of the same people were enumerated in Stourmouth ten years earlier, as recorded in the 1881 census which lists 321 persons as inhabitants. That's not to say that they hadn't moved around--looking at the birthplaces given for children indicates just how mobile the agricultural population was!
In 1881, Stourmouth's population was comprised of fewer females (156) than males (165), with three households consisting of just one person. The largest number of persons in one household was twelve--the Dowkers at Lower Street were ten in number (plus a son visiting in Sandwich at the time of the census) besides two servants. Some 59 per cent of the population was aged twenty-nine and under. Again, here are the statistics:
0-9 age group 27%
10-19 age group 21%
20-29 age group 11%
30-39 age group 12%
40-49 age group 11%
50-59 age group 7%
60-69 age group 8%
70-89 age group 3%
In the 1861 census there were 72 households in Stourmouth comprised of 168 females and 162 males - and four houses contained a solitary occupant. The statistics are:
0-9 age group 26%
10-19 age group 23%
20-29 age group 12%
30-39 age group 12%
40-49 age group 11%
50-59 age group 8%
60-69 age group 3%
70-89 age group 5%
In 1841 the first detailed census, available to researchers today, was undertaken. It lists 253 persons as inhabitants, in just 51 households, and a good many of those individuals form part of my family tree. Stourmouth's population was comprised of fewer females (123) than males (130), with eight households consisting of just two persons. The largest number of persons in one household was eleven--the Lasletts at Ferry House.
The ages of adults enumerated in 1841 were supposed to be rounded up, but some were done incorrectly. In any event, 60 per cent of the village was younger than thirty. Here are the statistics:
0-9 age group 21%
10-19 age group 20%
20-29 age group 19%
30-39 age group 13%
40-49 age group 10%
50-59 age group 6%
60-69 age group 9%
70-85 age group 2%
I'm more than happy to provide details of any of the people listed in the abovementioned indices. In time, I will transcribe the 1871 and 1851 census records, and post them to this site.