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Mish J Holman @mishjholman.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Hello #AncestryHour just to let you know I'm organising this free event to coincide with my book release. Hope you can join me.

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Mish J Holman @mishjholman.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Free event for A History of the Census Takers! Come and join the party.

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Mish J Holman @mishjholman.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Yet another kind review of A History of the Census Takers. ##Ancestry #Genealogy #GenHour

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Mish J Holman @mishjholman.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Come join me on 30 October for A History of the Census Takers chat party. Please come along and share your stories, talk about the book, and ask questions - www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/a-history-...

An advert for A History of the Census Takers Chat Party on 30 October 2026 at 7pm. Bring snacks, drink, your census stories, and your questions. Via Zoom. The session will be recorded and uploaded to my YouTube channel @Talesof Britain

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Mish J Holman @mishjholman.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

I'm thrilled with this review of A History of the Census Takers from Leah. It is particularly meaningful that she was able to reframe her work after reading the book. #genealogy #ancestors www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/A-History-of...

A review from LinkedIn of A History of the Census Takers from Leah Wade: With my research both MSc and PhD focusing heavily on analysing census data, I saw this recent book release and had to have a read.

I thought I would share my thoughts as it is a valuable read for anyone with an interest in family history.

This book has given me a deeper understanding of the census records I use so often as a historian and genealogist. Holman brings the people behind those records to life, exploring their experiences and the practical challenges of census taking.

I particularly appreciated the discussion of enumerators as interpreters and shapers of information. I had already considered how misunderstandings, unfamiliar names and accents could lead to errors, but this book encouraged me to think more carefully about whose interpretation appears in an entry, especially when describing household relationships. That insight has been particularly useful in my research into childhood and family care.

The individual stories make this an engaging read, and the care taken to understand the people involved comes through clearly. A thoughtful book that I would warmly recommend to family historians, academic researchers and anyone working with historical census records.

Congratulations Mish Holman on this beautiful book. Your passion for the subject and the human lives involves shines through.

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Mish J Holman @mishjholman.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

That's so kind. Thank you so much.

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Mish J Holman @mishjholman.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Thanks so much. It seems strange that after years of work and many personal trials to see it finally in print. Somebody said to me it was gorgeous to look at and I agree, the designer did a fantastic job. All credit to them.

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Mish J Holman @mishjholman.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

If you have your copy, let me know what you think? I'd love to hear your thoughts. 'A History of the Census Takers' - find out about the men and women who took the census and how your ancestors felt about them and the process of filling out the schedule. #Ancestry #Genealogy #GenHour

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Mish J Holman @mishjholman.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

During the census, newspapers were interested in the more unusual occupations. They reported there was one John Williams, a Black British subject, born in Barbados, who was an elephant tamer. They changed his name from Robert to John and 61-year-old Robert can be found in 1901. #GenHour #Ancestry

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Mish J Holman @mishjholman.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

17th century middle class families.

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Mish J Holman @mishjholman.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Yes it's often a headache to distinguish them when they overlap, particularly when they shared occupations. In my example there was well-known Essex family who had 3 Johns: Elder John, Middle John and John the Younger. This happened in my family too. Seems to have been a thing among/

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Mish J Holman @mishjholman.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

And they named three sons Walter all of whom lived...

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Mish J Holman @mishjholman.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

For more stories like Frederick's, plus an in-depth look at your favourite officials, the enumerators, read A History of the Census Takers - #Genealogy #Ancestry #GenHour

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Mish J Holman @mishjholman.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

I watch The Challenge, but I forward wind through all the vacuous stuff other people seem to enjoy just to get to the actual challenges. Take all that out and I'm left with a 15 minute episode.

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Association of Professional Genealogists (APG) @apgenealogists.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

APG is proud to be a Gold Sponsor of All About That Place, a free online event 7-16 October. Learn how local history can help family history research. More: sog.org.uk/welcome-to-a...

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Mish J Holman @mishjholman.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

I'm working on my Notion templates today. I hope to have them ready for purchase at some point. If people prefer this type of note system for recording their genealogy research, then I would like to hear your thoughts. #Genealogy #Ancestry #GenHour

A screenshot of a database in Notion, setup for recording ancestry with date fields Death place, Burial place, Occupation, and colour coded family lines.

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Alan Lester @alanlester.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

1/2 We have vastly improved data now on British slave-owners (www.ucl.ac.uk/lbs/search/) and slave-traders (britishslavetraders.org). Wonderful that this research has persisted despite all the fury of the nationalist right wing backlash.

britishslavetraders.org

The Register of British Slave-Traders

The Register of British Slave-traders compiles and presents information on all known slave-traders in Britain who invested in the trafficking of captive Africans from 1563 to 1807.

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Mish J Holman @mishjholman.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Do you have your copy yet? A History of the Census Takers - find out about the men and women who took the census and how your ancestors felt about them and the process of filling out the schedule. #Ancestry #Genealogy #GenHour

A book jacket on a dark grey background for A History of the Census Takers by Mish J Holman. Available this September from Pen and Sword, Waterstones and Amazon.

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Mish J Holman @mishjholman.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

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Mish J Holman @mishjholman.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Some parents had not yet decided on a name for their child when the the census came. Robert and Ethel Evans came up with the novel name 'XYZ' for their child. Elsewhere, parents were told they could use 'Baby' or 'Tootsie'! Find out more in 'A History of the Census Takers' - #GenHour #Ancestry

On a dark grey background, the book cover for 'A History of the Census Takers' and the words 'Discover More Stories...' Also in the frame is a clipping from the 1901 Census showing Robert and Ethel Evans including their children and young son XYZ Evans.

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Mish J Holman @mishjholman.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

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Mish J Holman @mishjholman.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Well, if you can, join me for my chat party in October (I don't have a date yet). I might have some news... 😜

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Mish J Holman @mishjholman.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Thank you Tara. I'm sad to say there is no Ireland in this - I ran out of room!

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Mish J Holman @mishjholman.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

The cover artist did a wonderful job. I sent my thanks by way of my editor.

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Mish J Holman @mishjholman.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Thank you. Yes I was very pleased when the publishers said it would be this imprint. #GenHour

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Mish J Holman @mishjholman.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

I hope you find it useful and it helps you with your research. It certainly made me think differently about things. ##GenHour

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Mish J Holman @mishjholman.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

That's good because you get to see them as human beings with their own life journey rather than grey faceless officials.

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Mish J Holman @mishjholman.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

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Alison Spring @acspring.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

It's here! I'm excited to get started @mishjholman.bsky.social 😀

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Mish J Holman @mishjholman.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

😯 I'm so glad it's arrived! Let me know what you think.

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Mish J Holman @mishjholman.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

I'm getting my copies today, so some of you might also be getting yours too. #Ancestry #Genealogy

Dark grey background. Heading: A History of the Census Takers by Mish J Holman. Accompanied by a photo of the book jacket showing an enumerator visiting an encampment. Second title: Available this September from Pen & Sword, Waterstones & Amazon.

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Áine ní Donnghaile 🍃🌳 ⚾ 🫖 💙☘ 🍷💉🌊 @ainedonnghaile.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

#Genearosity #FamilyHistory #Genealogy I'm back at my #FamilySearch Affiliate Library for a few hours this afternoon (Saturday, 5 Sep) if any genie needs a limited-access record copy. #PayItForward #SpreadTheWord

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Brian Groom @groomb.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

A UK-wide wave of strikes by schoolchildren started on this day 1911. It began when pupils in Llanelli, Wales walked out in sympathy with a boy disciplined by a deputy headmaster. Walkouts spread to at least 62 towns and cities. Came at time of widespread industrial unrest.

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Mish J Holman @mishjholman.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

A big thank you to @emmajolly.bsky.social for her review of A History of the Census Takers and the interview. Do visit her website - www.emmajolly.co.uk/blog/2026/09... #Ancestry #Genealogy

emmajolly.co.uk

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Mish J Holman @mishjholman.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Interested? I'm planning the party for October. www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Recording-th... #ancestry #genealogy

An advert on a grey background for A History of the Census Takers showing a book jacket and the words: Join me for a Q&A and Census Takers chat party. Coming to you on Zoom soon!

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Mish J Holman @mishjholman.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Yes I understand that. With books similar to mine I always prefer the feel of it in my hands, but sometimes for pragmatic reasons I have to go for ebook version.

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Mish J Holman @mishjholman.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Ah that's a shame. I'm glad you were able to dl your books before the changes. I will enquire about the ebook with the publishers - it's in my contract so it will available at some point. #AncestryHour

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