UK censuses are taken every ten years, starting from 1841. Before that you have to wade through the Parish Records to get any information. The censuses available at present are up to 1901 for an annual subscription from Ancestry and Find My Past, and 1911 for a separate subscription (or pay-per-page) at Find My Past.

We'll start from the 1841, then the 1851, and finish with the 1861 census. Jonathan Pickering will be our main character. In 1841 he was 15 and still living at home.

1841 census @ Swalcliffe, Banbury, Oxfordshire.
William Bennett     65  Weaver.  Born in County. (Banbury, Oxfordshire).
Fanny     “         52                            Not Born in County.
Jonathan Pickering  15  Weaver's Apprentice.         “   “    “
Henry     “         14     “         “               “   “    “
Caroline  “         11                               “   “    “
Thomas    “         19  Baker.                       “   “    “
Mary Ann  “         19                               “   “    “

Now let's 'read' this census:- At first glance it looks like the Pickering children have become orphans, and have been adopted by the kindly, or maybe otherwise, Bennetts. Now there's the start of a story!

But, no, they are not orphans! Fanny Bennett is really their mother. In 1821 (taken from the Parish Records) she had married William Pickering. so all the children are his, and of course, hers. William is the brother of Jane Pickering, who's the mother of George (of George and Harriett Jeffery fame).

William died sometime in the early 1830's, I haven't been able to find out the date—yet! Fanny then married William Bennett in 1836, becoming Fanny Bennett, the children deciding not to take the name Bennett, but to stay as Pickerings.

In the 1841 census, where the person was born, was only ticked 'yes' if they came from that county, so if they came from elsewhere, you had no way of knowing their place of birth. From the 1851 census onwards 'place of birth' has been an accepted heading. If you are able to find the same family in the 1851 census, then their places of birth should become known. Don't rely on this totally, as sometimes the place names are written down incorrectly. You really do have to double check everything, and a dash of common sense quite often comes in handy!

Looking again at the children, you would be forgiven for thinking that Thomas and Mary Ann (both aged 19), were twins. Another fault of the 1841 census – no relationships were shown, looking just at the census, you have no idea (especially with them both the same age, and so young), that they were in fact just married. They went on to live long and produce more than ten children!

To find any births, marriages, or deaths after 1837 go to the free site freeBMD, so long as you have enough basic information you should be able to find the person you are looking for. Before 1837 it's back to the Parish Records.

Let us now move on to the 1851 census and the marriage of Jonathan Pickering!