Has Anyone Advice re Census on Microfilm?

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Lili2
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Has Anyone Advice re Census on Microfilm?

Post by Lili2 »

Hi, Im about to order some more microfilms. Since the cost has gone up considerably I want to be careful about what I order. Im after some advice about the Census that are available on microfilm from the Family History Library.
There are several towns Im now looking at in Sicily ie Fiumefreddo, Piedimonte Etneo, Mascali, Ficarra and Giampilieri. There are Census records available for 1811, 1815, 1764 etc. But for 1811 alone in one town there are 10 rolls of film. Why so many? Do I have to order all of them? Some years have Indexes but do they give much info? Are they in Surname Alphabetical order?
What information does the Census give?
Just wondering what experience you've had with Census on microfilm and if you have any advice to keep the cost down.
Thanks, Liliana
My family are from Sicily: Fiumefreddo, Ficarra, Giampilieri, Cumia, Messina and Carmela Zagami,Argentina.
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maestra36
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Re: Has Anyone Advice re Census on Microfilm?

Post by maestra36 »

I only once rented an 1811 census record for the town of Sortino in Siracusa Province Sicily. It was supposed to have indexes on it, but it didn't. I found only 1 direct line ancestor listed on the entire roll of microfilm and the only information for him was the number of mules he owned on which he was being taxed. He was a tenant farmer and the others listed on the same page were as well. They must have owned small plots of land which bordered on his. None of the names were even related to him. It was a complete waste of money and I never again rented any of the census records for any of my Sicilian towns. I know others have had success in getting listings for entire families, but this film was nothing like that.
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Lili2
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Re: Has Anyone Advice re Census on Microfilm?

Post by Lili2 »

Thanks for your response....sounds like I should just try one to start with. Still wondering why there are so many films for just one year?
Does anyone know why there are so many or how the information was set out?
Lili
My family are from Sicily: Fiumefreddo, Ficarra, Giampilieri, Cumia, Messina and Carmela Zagami,Argentina.
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Italysearcher
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Re: Has Anyone Advice re Census on Microfilm?

Post by Italysearcher »

The census in Italy is not really like those in USA. There is no standard, each town seems to do its own thing. I think it depends on the reason for the census. I have found census of sheep and goats because they wanted to collect a tax on them. Even on chestnut trees.
Others are so detailed they are like the US version but then they were updated for the next 50 years and become more of a family history!
Ann Tatangelo
http://angelresearch.net
Dual citizenship assistance, and document acquisition, on-site genealogical research in Lazio, Molise, Latina and Cosenza. Land record searches and succession.
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ktann32
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Re: Has Anyone Advice re Census on Microfilm?

Post by ktann32 »

i know with my towns in italy there is usually an index you can look on....not really in any order but it helps!
Families are forever
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