Introduction

The census contains the names of Roman Catholics belonging to St. Dunstan‘s Parish. This parish included not only Catholics living within the city limits, but also those of such outlying communities as Southport, East and West Royalty, parts of Lots 48 and 49 as well as North River and Cornwall. The enumerator was, in all likelihood, one or more of the priests serving the parish at that time. Resident priests were Rev. Alfred E. Burke, Rev.Angus J. MacIntyre and Rev. Francis Xavier Gallant.

The enumerator ofien used ditto marks next to each family member's name to indicate that this person had the same last name as the person leading the list at that address — but not always. He sometimes drew a line ( _) instead. Readers should decide for themselves in these cases whether or not the persons were family members. Under the Remarks column sometimes poor, poor condition, or good condition or just good are found. These seem to refer to the monetary condition of the individual. Also found in this column are Big Convent or Big C. Both refer, no doubt, to Notre Dame Convent to distinguish it from St. Joseph's Convent which was smaller. The street names are sometimes confusing and although many of these names are in existence today, some require comment. Alley’s Lane is probably the Alley Street of today running cast off University Avenue (then Malpeque Rd). West Bog was the area now occupied by the Provincial Government administrative buildings. This area housed many of the poorest of Charlottetown‘s poor, including some black families. Gaytown is the area east of the Malpeque Road just outside the city limits. It seems to be so named because of bootlegging and other such activities which are reported to have taken place there. Being outside the city limits, the city police did not have jurisdiction there.

People attempting to trace their family history using this census are advised to also refer to the census of 1881 as well as the 1890 Roman Catholic Census of P.E.I. Other helpful sources are McAlpine’s Charlottetown City Directory 1887-88 and Frederick's P.E.I. Directory [889-1890. All are available at both the RBI. Archives and Record Office and the U.P.E.I. Robertson Library

Charlottetown in 1886

A description of Charlottetown around the time of the census is presented in Frederick’s P.E.I. Directory 1889-1890. Although written'two years later, it helps to depict the city at the time of the census.

The city contains about thirteen thousand inhabitants. Its civic government comprises a mayor and ten councillors... On Queen Square stands the Dominion and Provincial buildings. This square of late summers has through the exquisite taste, judgement and