The 1851 census was particularly detailed. Of note, was the need for the government to assess the number of able bodied men in the Colony. Men were needed to maintain the defence militia of the Colony, as well as, perform the backbreaking physical labour needed for agriculture, fishing, construction and overall economic development.
Women, of course, laboured in the fields as well; and had the job of child rearing, and taking care of the home. However, these types of jobs, were considered the natural employment of female labour.
Also of note, was the need to enumerate the number of persons vaccinated and unvaccinated, as well as, those who already had and survived the dreaded smallpox disease. In 1851, the medical profession was largely unregulated. This was why those appointed as public vaccinators were government appointments. Especially for the Out Islands, these men were rarely doctors or even medically trained persons. What was given in 1851, was the cow pox vaccination to prevent the deadlier smallpox disease.
Life expectancy in 1851 was around 40 years old. The number of males over 42 years of age totalled 2,613 out of a total population of 27,519 — this equates to just under 10% or 0.0945%
What is particularly interesting, in this census, is the ratio of those claiming to be able to read, but could not write. Only half of those claiming to know how to read, were also able to write. The historical implications of this were substantial. Legal rights and the system of laws, were predicated on a person being able to fully understand and comprehend the outcomes of his actions.
Census categories were: males 13,747; females –13,772; males between 1 and 18 years of age – 6,570; males between 18 and 42 – 4,654; males over 42 years of age – 2,613; able to read – 8,124; able to write – 4,824; number of vaccinated – 13,071; number of not vaccinated – 14,073; and had smallpox – 375
New Providence – Total population 8,159
males – 3,819, females – 4,340, males between 1 and 18 years of age – 1,839, males between 18 and 42 years of age – 1,209, males over 42 years of age – 971, able to read – 2,811, able to write – 2,049, number of vaccinated – 5,771, number of not vaccinated – 2,144, and had smallpox – 244.
Harbour Island – Total population 1,840
males – 359, females – 905, males between 1 and 18 years of age – 471, males between 18 and 42 years of age – 320, males over 42 years of age – 144, able to read – 677, able to write – 423, number of vaccinated – 418, number of not vaccinated – 1,422, and had smallpox – 0.
Eleuthera – Total population 4,610
Almost twice as many people, in Eleuthera, were able to read, but could not write
males – 2,320, females – 2,290, males between 1 and 18 years of age – 1,211, males between 18 and 42 years of age – 706, males over 42 years of age – 403, able to read – 1,142, able to write – 656, number of vaccinated – 1,492, number of not vaccinated – 3,118, and had smallpox – not reported.
Rum Cay – Total population 858
Almost twice as many of those on Rum Cay could read but could not write.
males – 438, females – 420, males between 1 and 18 years of age – 225, males between 18 and 42 years of age – 145, males over 42 years of age – 68, able to read – 212, able to write – 101, number of vaccinated – 543, number of not vaccinated – 352, and had smallpox – 53.
Crooked Island including Acklins Island and Fortune Island – Total population 1,092
males – 554, females – 538, males between 1 and 18 years of age – 291, males between 18 and 42 years of age – 187, males over 42 years of age – 76, able to read – 304, able to write – 146, number of vaccinated – 623, number of not vaccinated – 469, and had smallpox – unreported.
San Salvador – Total population 1,828
males – 915, females – 913, males between 1 and 18 years of age – 501, males between 18 and 42 years of age – 290, males over 42 years of age – 124, able to read – 399, able to write – 124, number of vaccinated – 979, number of not vaccinated – 849, and had smallpox – unreported.
Exuma including Great Exuma, Little Exuma and Hog Cay- Total population 2,027
males – 1,032, females – 995, males between 1 and 18 years of age – 514, males between 18 and 42 years of age – 350, males over 42 years of age – 168, able to read – 357, able to write – 121, number of vaccinated – 1,485, number of not vaccinated – 537, and had smallpox – 5.
Long Island – Total population 1,477
males – 749, females – 728, males between 1 and 18 years of age – 330, males between 18 and 42 years of age – 332, males over 42 years of age – 87, able to read – 455, able to write – 293, number of vaccinated – 439, number of not vaccinated – 987, and had smallpox – 51.
Abaco – Total population 2,011
males – 998, females – 1,013, males between 1 and 18 years of age – 505, males between 18 and 42 years of age – 350, males over 42 years of age – 143, able to read – 791, able to write – 446, , number of vaccinated – 811, number of not vaccinated – 1,174, and had smallpox – 21.
Ragged Island – Total population – 347
males – 183, females – 164,, males between 1 and 18 years of age – 103, males between 18 and 42 years of age – 51, males over 42 years of age – 29, able to read – 108, able to write – 54, , number of vaccinated – 153, number of not vaccinated – 194, and had smallpox – unreported.
Andros – Total population- 1,030
males – 520, females – 510, males between 1 and 18 years of age – 282, males between 18 and 42 years of age – 107, males over 42 years of age – 131, able to read – 213, able to write – 42, , number of vaccinated – 321, number of not vaccinated – 708, and had smallpox – 1.
Grand Bahama – Total population – 922
males – 492, females – 450, males between 1 and 18 years of age – 187, males between 18 and 42 years of age – 141, males over 42 years of age – 164, able to read – 255, able to write – 208, number of vaccinated – 386, number of not vaccinated – 536, and had smallpox – 0.
Berry Islands (237), Bimini and Gun Cay (150), Watlings Island (384), Inagua (530), Green Cay (7) and Cay Sal (11) – Total population – 1,318
males – 792, females – 526, males between 1 and 18 years of age – 311, males between 18 and 42 years of age – 376, males over 42 years of age – 105, able to read – 400, able to write – 232, number of vaccinated – 742, number of not vaccinated – 575, and had smallpox – not reported.
