Ancaster, Ontario (1861 census)
Ancaster was a census subdivision in Wentworth County, Ontario, recorded in the 1861 Census of Canada with a population of 5,043. The community is grounded to Wikidata Q488909. The administrative centroid was at approximately 43.204°N, 80.027°W.
Population
In 1861, Ancaster had a population of 5,043: 2,542 male and 2,501 female residents. Population density was 64.7 people per square mile.
Population trajectory across census years
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1851 | 4,653 |
| 1861 | 5,043 |
| 1871 | 5,005 |
| 1881 | 4,726 |
| 1891 | 4,098 |
| 1901 | 3,863 |
| 1911 | 4,136 |
| 1921 | 5,586 |
Cross-year identity established by spatial polygon overlap (SAME_AS chains across the Canadian Census Subdivision boundary files).
Neighbouring Census Subdivisions in 1861
In the 1861 census, Ancaster shared boundaries with:
Full census record, 1861
The 1861 census recorded 410 measurements for this Census Subdivision across 7 categories. Tables below are collapsible.
Population & families (29 variables)
| Variable | Value |
|---|---|
| Female members of the family who are present | 2,261 |
| Females present who are not members of the family | 240 |
| Male members of the family who are present | 2,236 |
| Males present who are not members of the family | 306 |
| Number of adult females unable to read or write | 39 |
| Number of adult males unable to read or write | 71 |
| Number of blind males | 1 |
| Number of deaf and dumb females | 2 |
| Number of deaf and dumb males | 4 |
| Number of female births in the past year | 83 |
| Number of females | 2,501 |
| Number of females attending school | 402 |
| Number of lunatic females | 3 |
| Number of lunatic males | 1 |
| Number of male births in the past year | 100 |
| Number of males | 2,542 |
| Number of males attending school | 459 |
| Number of married females | 771 |
| Number of married males | 798 |
| Number of persons at sea | 2 |
| Number of single females | 1,635 |
| Number of single males | 1,692 |
| Number of widowed females | 95 |
| Number of widowed males | 52 |
| POP FX N.1 | 2,501 |
| POP MX N.1 | 2,542 |
| POP TOT | 5,043 |
| POP XX N.1 | 5,043 |
| Total population | 5,043 |
Age structure (59 variables)
| Variable | Value |
|---|---|
| Number of females age 3 to 4 | 84 |
| Number of females aged 1 to 2 | 97 |
| Number of females aged 2 to 3 | 79 |
| Number of females aged 4 to 5 | 74 |
| Number of females aged 5 to 10 | 360 |
| Number of females of unknown age | 10 |
| Number of males aged 1 to 2 | 93 |
| Number of males aged 2 to 3 | 90 |
| Number of males aged 3 to 4 | 79 |
| Number of males aged 4 to 5 | 72 |
| Number of males aged 5 to 10 | 350 |
| Number of males of unknown age | 15 |
| Number of married females aged 15 to 20 | 30 |
| Number of married females aged 20 to 30 | 259 |
| Number of married females aged 30 to 40 | 213 |
| Number of married females aged 40 to 50 | 138 |
| Number of married females aged 50 to 60 | 85 |
| Number of married females aged 60 to 70 | 32 |
| Number of married females aged 70 to 80 | 12 |
| Number of married females aged 80 to 90 | 2 |
| Number of married males aged 15 to 20 | 2 |
| Number of married males aged 20 to 30 | 165 |
| Number of married males aged 30 to 40 | 251 |
| Number of married males aged 40 to 50 | 174 |
| Number of married males aged 50 to 60 | 111 |
| Number of married males aged 60 to 70 | 72 |
| Number of married males aged 70 to 80 | 19 |
| Number of married males aged 80 to 90 | 4 |
| Number of single females aged 10 to 15 | 309 |
| Number of single females aged 15 to 20 | 300 |
| Number of single females aged 20 to 30 | 180 |
| Number of single females aged 30 to 40 | 34 |
| Number of single females aged 40 to 50 | 5 |
| Number of single females aged 50 to 60 | 10 |
| Number of single females aged 60 to 70 | 8 |
| Number of single females aged 70 to 80 | 2 |
| Number of single males aged 10 to 15 | 239 |
| Number of single males aged 15 to 20 | 280 |
| Number of single males aged 20 to 30 | 253 |
| Number of single males aged 30 to 40 | 57 |
| Number of single males aged 40 to 50 | 32 |
| Number of single males aged 50 to 60 | 18 |
| Number of single males aged 60 to 70 | 9 |
| Number of single males aged 70 to 80 | 3 |
| Number of single males aged 80 to 90 | 2 |
| Number of widowed females aged 20 to 30 | 4 |
| Number of widowed females aged 30 to 40 | 15 |
| Number of widowed females aged 40 to 50 | 15 |
| Number of widowed females aged 50 to 60 | 19 |
| Number of widowed females aged 60 to 70 | 19 |
| Number of widowed females aged 70 to 80 | 16 |
| Number of widowed females aged 80 to 90 | 7 |
| Number of widowed males aged 30 to 40 | 6 |
| Number of widowed males aged 40 to 50 | 14 |
| Number of widowed males aged 50 to 60 | 12 |
| Number of widowed males aged 60 to 70 | 7 |
| Number of widowed males aged 70 to 80 | 9 |
| Number of widowed males aged 80 to 90 | 1 |
| Number of widowed males aged 90 to 100 | 3 |
Ethnic origin (21 variables)
| Variable | Value |
|---|---|
| Number of female negroes or coloured persons | 20 |
| Number of French Canadians | 27 |
| Number of male negroes or coloured persons | 31 |
| Number of negroes or coloured persons | 51 |
| Number of persons native to Canada, not of French origin | 3,435 |
| Number of persons originating in all other places | 1 |
| Number of persons originating in England or Wales | 334 |
| Number of persons originating in France | 10 |
| Number of persons originating in Germany or Holland | 67 |
| Number of persons originating in Guernsey, Jersey, or other British islands | 4 |
| Number of persons originating in Ireland | 429 |
| Number of persons originating in New Brunswick | 4 |
| Number of persons originating in Newfoundland | 4 |
| Number of persons originating in Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island | 5 |
| Number of persons originating in Scotland | 465 |
| Number of persons originating in Spain or Portugal | 1 |
| Number of persons originating in Sweden or Norway | 1 |
| Number of persons originating in Switzerland | 2 |
| Number of persons originating in the East Indies | 2 |
| Number of persons originating in the United States | 243 |
| Number of persons whose origin is unknown | 7 |
Agriculture (81 variables)
| Variable | Value |
|---|---|
| Acres of barley | 1,532 |
| Acres of buckwheat | 485 |
| Acres of corn | 256 |
| Acres of farmland held by townspeople who are not farmers | 442 |
| Acres of farmland in gardens | 498 |
| Acres of farmland in pasture | 4,795 |
| Acres of farmland in woodland or forest | 13,294 |
| Acres of farmland under crops | 24,019 |
| Acres of farmland under cultivation | 29,312 |
| Acres of land in farms | 42,606 |
| Acres of mangel wurtzel | 13 |
| Acres of oats | 3,038 |
| Acres of peas | 1,835 |
| Acres of potatoes | 505 |
| Acres of rye | 18 |
| Acres of spring wheat | 1,751 |
| Acres of turnips | 260 |
| Acres of winter wheat | 5,020 |
| Barrels of beef produced in the past year | 260 |
| Barrels of pork produced in the past year | 1,489 |
| Bushels of barley produced in the past year | 45,589 |
| Bushels of beans produced in the past year | 121 |
| Bushels of buckwheat produced in the past year | 12,148 |
| Bushels of carrots produced in the past year | 30,828 |
| Bushels of clover, timothy, or other grass seed produced in the past year | 380 |
| Bushels of corn produced in the past year | 10,832 |
| Bushels of mangel wurtzel produced in the past year | 7,542 |
| Bushels of oats produced in the past year | 103,447 |
| Bushels of peas produced in the past year | 42,025 |
| Bushels of potatoes produced in the past year | 54,928 |
| Bushels of rye produced in the past year | 375 |
| Bushels of spring wheat produced in the past year | 30,764 |
| Bushels of turnips produced in the past year | 127,076 |
| Bushels of winter wheat produced in the past year | 72,250 |
| C18 WHT FALL AC | 5,020 |
| C19 WHT FALL BU | 72,250 |
| C20 WHT SP AC | 1,751 |
| C21 WHT SP BU | 30,764 |
| C22 BAR AC | 1,532 |
| C23 BAR BU | 45,589 |
| C24 RYE AC | 18 |
| C25 RYE BU | 375 |
| C26 PEA AC | 1,835 |
| C27 PEA BU | 42,025 |
| C28 OAT AC | 3,038 |
| C29 OAT BU | 103,447 |
| C30 BWT AC | 485 |
| C31 BWT BU | 12,148 |
| C34 POT AC | 505 |
| C35 POT BU | 54,928 |
| C43 HAY TONS | 5,850 |
| C47 WOOL LBS | 16,504 |
| C63 BEEF BAR | 260 |
| C64 PORK BAR | 1,489 |
| Gallons of cider produced in the past year | 23,502 |
| HRS ov03 V | 96,325 |
| Number of bulls, oxen, or steers | 224 |
| Number of calves and heifers | 1,283 |
| Number of horses aged 3 years and under | 391 |
| Number of horses aged over 3 years | 1,436 |
| Number of milk cows | 1,718 |
| Number of occupants of farms | 414 |
| Number of persons living on farms between 10 and 20 acres | 21 |
| Number of persons living on farms between 100 and 200 acres | 106 |
| Number of persons living on farms between 20 and 50 acres | 78 |
| Number of persons living on farms between 50 and 100 acres | 172 |
| Number of persons living on farms over 200 acres | 25 |
| Number of persons living on farms under 10 acres | 12 |
| Number of sheep | 5,152 |
| Number of swine | 2,880 |
| Pounds of cheese produced on farms in the past year | 10,799 |
| Pounds of flax or hemp produced in the past year | 1,315 |
| Pounds of homemade butter | 111,781 |
| Pounds of hops produced in the past year | 37 |
| Pounds of maple sugar produced in the past year | 14,038 |
| Pounds of wool produced on farms in the past year | 16,504 |
| Tons of hay produced in the past year | 5,850 |
| Value of all livestock | 194,128 |
| Value of farm implements in dollars | 77,094 |
| Value of farms (dollars) | 2,085,430 |
| Value of garden and orchard crops produced in the past year | 11,280 |
Manufacturing & industry (6 variables)
| Variable | Value |
|---|---|
| Number of carriages for hire | 2 |
| Number of carriages for pleasure | 405 |
| Value of carriages for hire (dollars) | 80 |
| Value of carriages for pleasure (dollars) | 26,498 |
| Yards of flannel produced in the past year | 5,623 |
| Yards of fulled cloth produced in the past year | 1,047 |
Deaths & mortality (29 variables)
| Variable | Value |
|---|---|
| Deaths in the past year among females aged 1 to 2 | 2 |
| Deaths in the past year among females aged 10 to 15 | 2 |
| Deaths in the past year among females aged 15 to 20 | 2 |
| Deaths in the past year among females aged 2 to 3 | 1 |
| Deaths in the past year among females aged 20 to 30 | 1 |
| Deaths in the past year among females aged 30 to 40 | 1 |
| Deaths in the past year among females aged 40 to 50 | 2 |
| Deaths in the past year among females aged 5 to 10 | 1 |
| Deaths in the past year among females aged 50 to 60 | 1 |
| Deaths in the past year among females aged 60 to 70 | 1 |
| Deaths in the past year among females aged 70 to 80 | 2 |
| Deaths in the past year among females aged 80 to 90 | 1 |
| Deaths in the past year among females aged 90 to 100 | 1 |
| Deaths in the past year among females of all ages | 24 |
| Deaths in the past year among females of unknown age | 3 |
| Deaths in the past year among females under age 1 | 3 |
| Deaths in the past year among males age 3 to 4 | 1 |
| Deaths in the past year among males aged 20 to 30 | 3 |
| Deaths in the past year among males aged 30 to 40 | 3 |
| Deaths in the past year among males aged 40 to 50 | 1 |
| Deaths in the past year among males aged 5 to 10 | 1 |
| Deaths in the past year among males aged 50 to 60 | 3 |
| Deaths in the past year among males aged 60 to 70 | 1 |
| Deaths in the past year among males aged 70 to 80 | 3 |
| Deaths in the past year among males aged 80 to 90 | 1 |
| Deaths in the past year among males of all ages | 21 |
| Deaths in the past year among males of unknown age | 1 |
| Deaths in the past year among males under age 1 | 3 |
| Total number of deaths in the past year | 45 |
Other recorded variables (185 variables)
| Variable | Value |
|---|---|
| All other Places | 1 |
| At Sea | 2 |
| C01 TOTAL | 414 |
| C02 OCC UNDR 10 | 12 |
| C03 OCC 10 TO 20 | 21 |
| C04 OCC 20 TO 50 | 78 |
| C05 OCC 50 TO 100 | 172 |
| C06 OCC 100 TO 200 | 106 |
| C07 OCC OVR 200 | 25 |
| C08 HELD | 42,606 |
| C09 UNDR CULT | 29,312 |
| C1 Males | 2,542 |
| C10 Deaths under 1 year M | 3 |
| C10 UNDR CROP | 24,019 |
| C102 Between 90 and 100 years Widowers M | 3 |
| C107 Between 90 and 100 years Deaths F | 1 |
| C11 Deaths under 1 year F | 3 |
| C11 UNDR PAST | 4,795 |
| C116 Ages not given M | 15 |
| C117 Ages not given F | 10 |
| C118 Ages not given Deaths M | 1 |
| C119 Ages not given Deaths F | 3 |
| C12 GARDENS | 498 |
| C12 Under 2 Years M | 93 |
| C120 Married M | 798 |
| C121 Single M | 1,692 |
| C122 Widowed M | 52 |
| C123 Total M | 2,542 |
| C124 Married F | 771 |
| C125 Single F | 1,635 |
| C126 Widows F | 95 |
| C127 Total F | 2,501 |
| C128 Grand Total | 5,043 |
| C129 Deaths M | 21 |
| C13 Under 2 Years F | 97 |
| C13 WOOD WILD | 13,294 |
| C130 Deaths F | 24 |
| C131 Deaths Total | 45 |
| C134 Negroes M | 31 |
| C135 Negreos F | 20 |
| C136 Attending School M | 459 |
| C137 Attending School F | 402 |
| C138 Adults unable to read or write M | 71 |
| C139 Adults unable to read or write F | 39 |
| C14 CASH FARM | 2,085,430 |
| C140 Deaf and Dumb M | 4 |
| C141 Deaf and Dumb F | 2 |
| C142 Blind M | 1 |
| C144 Lunatics M | 1 |
| C145 Lunatics F | 3 |
| C15 CASH IMP | 77,094 |
| C15 Deaths under 2 years F | 2 |
| C16 GARDN VALUE | 11,280 |
| C16 Under 3 years M | 90 |
| C17 LAND HELD | 442 |
| C17 Under 3 years F | 79 |
| C19 Deaths under 3 years F | 1 |
| C2 Females | 2,501 |
| C20 Under 4 years M | 79 |
| C21 Under 4 years F | 84 |
| C22 Deaths under 4 years M | 1 |
| C24 Under 5 years M | 72 |
| C25 Under 5 years F | 74 |
| C28 Between 5 and 10 Years M | 350 |
| C29 Between 5 and 10 years F | 360 |
| C3 Total | 5,043 |
| C30 Deaths between 5 and 10 years M | 1 |
| C31 Deaths between 5 and 10 years F | 1 |
| C32 INDN CRN AC | 256 |
| C33 Between 10 and 15 years Single M | 239 |
| C33 INDN CRN BU | 10,832 |
| C35 Between 10 and 15 years Single F | 309 |
| C36 TUR AC | 260 |
| C37 Between 10 and 15 years Deaths F | 2 |
| C37 TUR BU | 127,076 |
| C38 Between 15 and 20 years Married M | 2 |
| C38 CAR BU | 30,828 |
| C39 Between 15 and 20 years Single M | 280 |
| C39 MAN WURT AC | 13 |
| C4 Members of Family M | 2,236 |
| C40 Between 15 and 20 years Married F | 30 |
| C40 MAN WURT BU | 7,542 |
| C41 BEN BU | 121 |
| C41 Between 15 and 20 years Single F | 300 |
| C42 CLV TIM GRA | 380 |
| C43 Between 15 and 20 years Deaths F | 2 |
| C44 Between 20 and 30 years Married M | 165 |
| C44 HOP LBS | 37 |
| C45 Between 20 and 30 years Single M | 253 |
| C45 MPL SGR LBS | 14,038 |
| C46 CID GAL | 23,502 |
| C47 Between 20 and 30 years Married F | 259 |
| C48 Between 20 and 30 years Single F | 180 |
| C48 FLLD CLOTH YRDS | 1,047 |
| C49 Between 20 and 30 years Widows F | 4 |
| C49 FLAN YRDS | 5,623 |
| C5 Members of Family F | 2,261 |
| C50 Between 20 and 30 years Deaths M | 3 |
| C50 FLX HEM LBS | 1,315 |
| C51 Between 20 and 30 years Deaths F | 1 |
| C52 Between 30 and 40 years Married M | 251 |
| C52 BULLS OX STEERS | 224 |
| C53 Between 30 and 40 years Single M | 57 |
| C53 MILK COWS | 1,718 |
| C54 Between 30 and 40 years Widowers M | 6 |
| C54 CALVES HEIFERS | 1,283 |
| C55 Between 30 and 40 years Married F | 213 |
| C55 HORSES | 1,436 |
| C56 Between 30 and 40 years Single F | 34 |
| C56 HORSES VAL | 96,325 |
| C57 Between 30 and 40 years Widows F | 15 |
| C57 COLTS FILLIES | 391 |
| C58 Between 30 and 40 years Deaths M | 3 |
| C58 SHEEP | 5,152 |
| C59 Between 30 and 40 years Deaths F | 1 |
| C59 SWINE | 2,880 |
| C6 Not Members of Family M | 306 |
| C60 Between 40 and 50 years Married M | 174 |
| C60 TOT VALUE | 194,128 |
| C61 Between 40 and 50 years Single M | 32 |
| C61 BUTTER LB | 111,781 |
| C62 Between 40 and 50 years Widowers M | 14 |
| C62 CHEESE LB | 10,799 |
| C63 Between 40 and 50 years Married F | 138 |
| C64 Between 40 and 50 years Single F | 5 |
| C65 Between 40 and 50 years Widows F | 15 |
| C66 Between 40 and 50 years Deaths M | 1 |
| C67 Between 40 and 50 years Deaths F | 2 |
| C68 Between 50 and 60 years Married M | 111 |
| C68 CAR PLEASURE | 405 |
| C69 Between 50 and 60 years Single M | 18 |
| C69 VALUE DOL P | 26,498 |
| C7 Not Members of Family F | 240 |
| C70 Between 50 and 60 years Widowers M | 12 |
| C70 CAR HIRE | 2 |
| C71 Between 50 and 60 years Married F | 85 |
| C71 VALUE DOL H | 80 |
| C72 Between 50 and 60 years Single F | 10 |
| C73 Between 50 and 60 years Widows F | 19 |
| C74 Between 50 and 60 years Deaths M | 3 |
| C75 Between 50 and 60 years Deaths F | 1 |
| C76 Between 60 and 70 years Married M | 72 |
| C77 Between 60 and 70 years Single M | 9 |
| C78 Between 60 and 70 years Widowers M | 7 |
| C79 Between 60 and 70 years Married F | 32 |
| C8 Births in 1860 M | 100 |
| C80 Between 60 and 70 years Single F | 8 |
| C81 Between 60 and 70 years Widows F | 19 |
| C82 Between 60 and 70 years Deaths M | 1 |
| C83 Between 60 and 70 years Deaths F | 1 |
| C84 Between 70 and 80 years Married M | 19 |
| C85 Between 70 and 80 years Single M | 3 |
| C86 Between 70 and 80 years Widowers M | 9 |
| C87 Between 70 and 80 years Married F | 12 |
| C88 Between 70 and 80 years Single F | 2 |
| C89 Between 70 and 80 years Widows F | 16 |
| C9 Births in 1860 F | 83 |
| C90 Between 70 and 80 years Deaths M | 3 |
| C91 Between 70 and 80 years Deaths F | 2 |
| C92 Between 80 and 90 years Married M | 4 |
| C93 Between 80 and 90 years Single M | 2 |
| C94 Between 80 and 90 years Widowers M | 1 |
| C95 Between 80 and 90 years Married F | 2 |
| C97 Between 80 and 90 years Widows F | 7 |
| C98 Between 80 and 90 years Deaths M | 1 |
| C99 Between 80 and 90 years Deaths F | 1 |
| CD NAME | Wentworth |
| Colored Persons | 51 |
| East Indies | 2 |
| England and Wales | 334 |
| France | 10 |
| Guernsey Jersey and other British Islands | 4 |
| Ireland | 429 |
| Natives of Canada French Origin | 27 |
| Natives of Canada Not of French Origin | 3,435 |
| New Brunswick | 4 |
| Newfoundland | 4 |
| Not Known | 7 |
| Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island | 5 |
| Prussia German States and Holland | 67 |
| Scotland | 465 |
| Spain and Portugal | 1 |
| Swedan and Norway | 1 |
| Switzerland | 2 |
| United States | 243 |
Identifiers
- TCP UID:
ON104001— year-scoped identifier from the Canadian Census Subdivision boundary file - Persistent place ID:
PLACE_ON153001— computed from spatial-overlap chains across census years - Wikidata: Q488909
- Wikipedia (EN): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancaster,_Ontario
Sources
Census tabulations from the 1861 Census of Canada, transcribed and georeferenced by the Canadian Peoples / TCP project, hosted at the HGIS Lab, University of Saskatchewan. Persistent place identity computed from spatial-overlap chains across all available census years (1851–1921). Identity grounding to Wikidata performed via the HGIS Canada Knowledge Graph project's MCP-assisted disambiguation pipeline. See the About / Methodology page for the full data pipeline.
Cite this page
Clifford, J. (2026). "Ancaster, Ontario (1861 census)" in HGIS Canada Knowledge Graph. Retrieved from https://jimclifford.ca/hgiscanada/places/on/ancaster-on104001-1861/.