CHAPTER FIVE
CENSUS Records are one source everyone uses at one time or another. The AIS (ACCELERATED INDEXING SYSTEM) was explained in the preceding chapter on FHCs (FAMILY HISTORY CENTERs). After finding your name in the AIS you will need to search that census. Remember indexes are not perfect. They are made by humans and are subject to error. If you do not find your ancestor in an index that simply means you will have to search the whole town or county, and maybe the surrounding counties, to make certain he is not really there.
Do not worry about the spelling of names. Remember most people were illiterate and there was no uniform spelling code. The census taker wrote what he thought he heard. A person of English background would write Carey if that is what he heard. A person of German extraction would write KAHRE for the same sound.. Then there was the census taker in Wisconsin who just wrote “a German man, a German woman,” and six times “a German child”. We just hope that isn’t the family for which you are looking.
FEDERAL CENSUSes were taken every ten years from 1790 onward.
The 1790 has been printed in book form. There is absolutely no need to search the original census for 1790.
The 1800 through 1840 censuses only list the head of the household by name and others in the household by slashes or numbers according to sex, age and station (slaves, both north and south). You should copy all the persons listed as living near your ancestor. Some of them will usually be relatives or inlaws. People tended to move where other relatives already were or went with them to settle a new place. This will often save you going back and re-searching a census
The 1850 is the first one to list all the people in the household, but one word of caution is needed here. The person listed second is not necessarily the spouse of the head of the household. The relationship is not given. Pay close attention to all columns. There is much to learn about your ancestors in these columns.
Starting in 1860 the relationships are given.
The 1870 differs little.
The 1880 census is the first one indexed by the United States government. See SOUNDEX below.
“Most of the 1890 population schedules were so badly damaged by fire in the Commerce Department Building in January 1921 they were disposed of.” The few remaining schedules are listed in the “Federal Population Censuses 1790-1890”, pgs 86-89 which includes the Civil War Union Veterans and Widows Schedules. Also some counties have duplicates of the 1890 census. We found some in Iowa. What a gold mine! But they are very rare indeed. Look for duplicates of the 1890 census in local archives, you just may get a surprise.
In 1900 the year and month of birth is also given as well as how long married and mother of how many children, plus how many still alive. Also listed is when arrived in USA, if foreign born and citizenship status.
It is safe to say that as censuses were taken the amount of information included became more generous. Be sure to look in the remarks column when there is one. Remarks like handicapped, blind, idiotic, etc. are often listed there. One remark we saw said, “the old lady was sure cross today.” We wonder what question he asked to set her off?
SOUNDEX is a system with which you need to become familiar. The US Government invented a system by which all names are reduced to a letter and 3 numbers. Page 90 of the above mentioned booklet gives the table for finding a Soundex number. You can find a copy of these Census booklets in most libraries. Tables to find Soundex numbers may also be found on the Internet. Once you have the Soundex number, a roll of film with that number on it for the proper state should be ordered. Under the Soundex number on the film , look alphabetically by first or given name disregarding the surname until locating the given name. When you have found the given name for which you are looking, then check the written surname until you find yours. Be sure and copy all information on the Soundex Card including E.D. ( Enumeration District) and the other three abbreviations followed by numbers in the upper right hand corner. They tell you exactly where to find this person on the roll of census film. It is really a simple system which when tried becomes easier to understand and saves lots of film searching.
The Soundex for 1880 was the first one. It only indexed households with persons 10 years of age and under whether they were related to the head of the household or not. This was done to help establish birth for persons applying for Social Security.
In 1900 Soundex started to include all households.
In 1910 Soundex/MIRACODE was used. Twenty one states were indexed using one or the other but not both.
Please refer to the published National Archives booklets for further information on Soundex and Miracode and the film numbers needed to see the actually records. They are available in all genealogical libraries and most public libraries. Film may be ordered from the National Archives, FHCs and some other Genealogical libraries.
There is other information listed on the censuses which we have not discussed here as it is of lesser importance but it should be copied also. To make copying easier, there are many sources for census forms. Census forms are a great help in reminding you to copy all information. The forms differ for each year except 1830-1840. Buying one of each and keeping them on hand to copy off more as needed is a good practice. Photo copies of film can also be made, but they have a tendency to fade with age. A hand or typewritten copy can be made to supplement the photo copy.
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO SEARCH CENSUSES FOR EVERY TEN YEARS. This establishes a migration or permanent status for other record searching.
There were /are also State/County censuses taken either on the five year or every year plan. There are also special Statehood censuses. When a territory wanted to be included as a state a special census had to be taken to prove there were enough people living in the territory to support a government. Most statehood seeking censuses quit after a certain number of people were enumerated. Five year censuses are those taken on the 05, 15, 25, 35 etc. basis. Many states took them. Every year censuses were usually on a county basis and often are called school censuses. They will be found usually in the local court house. They are invaluable because they list every child under 21, their birthdates and their parents. We have never seen an indexed school census, but we have seen them alphabetized. They are also fun to read. Of course these censuses start later than the Federal census. There had to be a local government to benefit from taking them.
REMEMBER IF YOU CANNOT FIND YOUR STATE IN THE CENSUS LISTING, PERHAPS IT WAS STILL A TERRITORY. Look under the surrounding States to see if it is included with them.