I find the sheet invaluable for highlighting 'missing persons' between one decade and the next, and for giving a 'consensus view' of recorded ages when there are inconsistencies across the decades. When the younger generation marry, it is easy to cross-reference them to their new household Record Summary. Notes of this nature can be entered by dragging across a number of cells, and hitting the 'merge and centre' icon on the toolbar.
I put names in bold, where members of the household are ancestors (as distinct from relatives).
Sample Sheet
The sheet has coloured lozenges, representing Birth, Marriage and Death certificates. These can be copied and placed against the respective members of the household, as a useful reminder that their certificates are on file. To use these, place your cursor over the appropriate lozenge until the 'cross-arrows' appear, then right click and select 'Copy' from the pop-up menu. Then right click next to the name of the appropriate person on you sheet, and select paste. You can drag the copied lozenge around to wherever you want it.
The blank 'Master' is in 'Read Only' format (to avoid inadvertently corrupting it), and should be filed as such. If you want to try filling one in, call up the Master, and then 'Save As' (say) 'Census Record Summary, Joe Bloggs, ID 43,' I find it useful to include the ID number that is created within FH, to avoid confusion where there are two or three people of the same name. In such circumstances, I also include the year of birth in the file name. The new file is no longer 'write-protected' and can be altered in any way you choose. For example, I went for six years in order not to be too cramped for width, but of course you may want to enter some 1841 data or, if we live long enough, some 1911 data. You can edit the column headings to suit the circumstances (e.g. 1841 to 1891), on the basis that the longevity of most households (as distinct from individuals) can be accommodated.
You can only enter the recorded occupations of the head of household over the decades, but of course the occupations of other members of the household are on the individual census records.
If anything isn't clear, just drop an email to paul.baines1@virgin.net, and I'll try to help.
Download the file
