Census Schedules - U.S. Federal

    The Mortality Schedules

    In 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880, census enumerators were directed to secure, in addition to the usually required census data, information as to all persons dying within the 12 months preceding the census taking. These lists became known as the "Mortality Schedules". See pages 252 and 253 of "Genealogical Research Standards" by Derek Harland for a list of places to find these schedules.

    Limitations of the Census Schedules

    1. Time.
      1. No census was taken before 1790 in the U.S.
      2. Earlier schedules contain less information than later ones.
    2. Incompleteness
      1. Some families were missed, due to the length of time it took to take the census, or people were away visiting relatives, or some families lived in multi-dwelling units and were overlooked, etc.
      2. Parts of the censuses were lost or destroyed.
    3. Indifferent enumerators
      1. Many enumerators were not well qualified.
      2. Instructions were not followed (i.e. initials only, no birth places listed, etc.)
      3. Some families were not home so enumerator got information from small children or neighbors or guessed the answers himself.
      4. Padded population.
    4. Incorrect information given by family members:
      1. Memory might be poor (most people did not read or write)
      2. Unfamiliar abbreviations and ditto marks (i.e. Conn., Ct., Cn., Cnct. were all used for Connecticut).
      3. Poor quality paper and ink
      4. Difficulty in reading microfilm copies (due to poor photography, double papers or pages filmed, making writing too small, etc.). Also filmer might miss a page by accidentally turning 2 pages.
    5. Place of residence must be known
      1. If census has not been indexed then at least the county must be known to start a search, except in 1880 and 1900 censuses - the soundexes can be used.
      2. If your ancestor lived in a large city, you will have to know which part of the city or"ward" he lived in, in order to search the census.

    Where to Find a Census

    1. 1790-1890 - on loan from the LDS Genealogy Department to branch LDS Libraries. Some branch libraries can get them on loan from the Federal Archives and Record Center also.
    2. 1790-1900 - available for use at Federal Archives Center in San Bruno, Calif (and other regional centers).
    3. 1790-1840 for all states available on film at Santa Clara Public Library. They also have California census through 1880.
    4. Sutro Library has some and will loan out through inter-library loan with your local library.
    5. Oakland LDS library and San Jose LDS Library have quite a few on hand (1790-1890) for use in their libraries.

    General Points to Note

    1. 1790 census - earliest one taken. Only heads of families named, parts missing.
    2. 1800, 1810, 1820 - parts missing. Use tax lists to fill in.
    3. 1840 census - shows Revolutionary War pensioners and ages
    4. 1850 census - first census naming everyone living in family, and the place of birth.
    5. 1870 census - shows details of parentage - if of foreign birth
    6. 1880 census - first showing relationship; birthplace all parents, soundex made.
    7. 1890 census - 99% destroyed by fire. Use Veterans Schedules to fill in.
    8. 1900 Census - available only at National Archives (in 1979), much information, Soundex made
    9. 1940 and since (72 year confidentiality law)
    10. May be State census years between Federal censuses.
    11. Mortality schedules: 1850, 1860, 1870 & 1880 census.

    Census Data 1790-1900

    1790
    Name of head of family; address; number of free white males of 16 years and up, including heads; free white males under 16; free white females including heads; all other free persons; number of slaves.

    1800
    Name of head of family; address; number of free white males and females under 10 years of age, 10 and under 16, 16 and under 26, 26 and under 45, and 45 years and upward; all other free persons, except Indians not taxed; number of slaves.

    1810
    Name of head of family; address; number of free white males and females under 10 years of age, 10 and under 16, 16 and under 26, 26 and under 45, and 45 years and upwards; all other free persons, except Indians not taxed; number of slaves.

    1820
    Name of head of family; address; number of free white males and females under 10 years of age, 10 and under 16, 16 and under 26, 26 and under 45, and 45 years and upward; number of free white males between 16 and 18 years; foreigners not naturalized; male and female slaves and free colored persons under 14 years, 14 and under 26, 26 and under 45, and 45 and upward; all other free persons, except Indians not taxed; number of persons (including slaves) engaged in agriculture, commerce, and manufactures.

    1830
    Name of head of family; address; number of free white males and females in 5-year age groups to 20, 10 year age groups from 20 to 100, and 100 years old and over; number of slaves and free colored persons in six broad age groups; number of deaf and dumb under 14, 14 to 24, and 25 years and upward; number of blind; foreigners not naturalized.

    1840
    Name of head of family; address; number of free white males and females in 5 years age groups to 20, 10 year age groups from 20 to 100, and 100 years old and over; number of slave and free colored persons in six broad age groups; number of deaf and dumb; number of blind; number of insane and idiotic in public or private charge; number of persons in each family employed in each of seven classes of occupations; number of schools and number of scholars; number of white persons over 20 who could not read and write; number of pensioners for Revolutionary or military service.

    1850
    Name; address; age; sex; color(white, black or mulatto) for each person; whether deaf and dumb; blind, insane or idiotic; all free persons required to give value of real estate owned; profession, occupation, or trade for each male person over 16; place of birth whether married within the year; whether attended school within the year; whether unable to read and write for persons over 20; whether a pauper or convict.

    1860
    Name; address age; sex; color (white, black, or mulatto) for each person; whether deaf and dumb; blind, insane or idiotic; all free persons required to give value of real estate and of personal estate owned, profession, occupation, or trade for each male and female over 15; place of birth (State, Territory, or country); whether married within the year, whether attended school within the year; whether unable to read and write for persons over 20; whether a pauper or convict.

    1870
    Address; name; age; sex; color (including Chinese and Indian); citizenship for males over 21; professions, occupation, or trade; value of real estate; value of personal estate; place of birth; whether father and mother were foreign born; born within the year; married within the year; attended school within the year; for persons 10 years old and over whether able to read and write; whether deaf and dumb, blind, insane, or idiotic.

    1880
    Address; name; relationship to head of family; sex; race; age; marital status; born within the year; married within the year; professions, occupation, or trade; number of months unemployed during census year; whether person is sick or temporarily disabled so as to be unable to attend to ordinary business or duties; if so, what is the sickness or disability; whether blind, deaf and dumb, idiotic, insane, maimed, crippled or bedridden; attended school within the year, ability to read and write, place of birth of person, father, and mother.

    1890
    Address; number of families in house; number of persons in house; number of persons in family; name; whether a soldier, sailor, or marine during Civil War (Union or Confederate) or widow of such person; relationship to head of family; white, black, mulatto, quadroon, octoroon, Chinese, Japanese, or Indian; sex; age; marital status; whether married during year; mother of how many children, and number now living; place of birth of person, father, and mother; if person is foreign born, number of years in the U.S.; whether naturalized; whether papers have been taken out; profession, trade or occupation; months unemployed during census year; ability to read and write; ability to speak English; if not, language or dialect spoken; whether suffering from acute or chronic disease, with name of disease and length of time afflicted; whether defective in mind, sight, hearing, or speech, or whether crippled, maimed, or deformed, with name of defect; whether a prisoner, convict, homeless child, or pauper; home rented, or owned by head or member of family; if owned by head or members, is it free from mortgage; if head of family is a farmer, is farm rented or owned by him or member of his family; if owned, is it free of mortgage; if mortgaged, give post office address of owner.

    1900
    Address; name; relationship to family head; sex; race; age; marital status; number of years married; for women, number of children born and number now living; birthplace of person and parents; if foreign born, year of immigration, and whether naturalized; occupation; months not employed; school attendance; literacy, ability to speak English; whether on a farm; home owned or rented; if owned, whether mortgaged. Supplemental schedules for the blind and for the deaf.

    Written and contributed by LaVona L. Ness



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