Every ten years since 1841 a census has been taken of households in the country. Here is a short account by one enumerator working in East Ham, taken from the Stratford Express, 18th May 1901:

EXPERIENCES OF A CENSUS ENUMERATOR

The great increase of population throughout the West Ham division and the East Ham sub-division induced us to "look up" a "Census man," and ascertain from him something respecting the alleged overcrowding with any other items of interest. Although somewhat reticent at first, fearing to incur the pains and penalties of "divulging" or affording information, he eventually "opened out" avoiding names of persons or streets.

"Twas a poorly paid job," he said, "in fact not yet paid for, and nothing would induce me to 'hook on' again. However, as I had secured an appointment there was nothing left for me but to carry out my contract to the best of my ability. I knew my district thoroughly, and was also pretty well known, and this fact made the work of delivering the schedules somewhat easier than it would otherwise have been. Children at play in the streets would rush in to their parents, calling out, 'Mother here comes Mr.----- he is giving everybody blue papers and writin' sumfin on it.' This brought many folks to the doors and saved delay."

To say it was all plain sailing would however be incorrect, many persons considering it impertinence or impudence on the part of the local authorities to pry into their affairs. It was difficult to convince them that those papers were anything but a ruse to catch the unwary.