Number of children
The 1900 census (column 11) and 1910 census (column 10) indicate how
many children were born to each woman. The 1900 census (column 12) and
1910 census (column 11) indicate how many of those children were still
living. These clues can help determine whether the researcher has
identified all children in a given family, and whether any were deceased
when either census was taken. Immigration
The 1900 census (column 16), 1910 census (column 15), and 1920 census
(column 13) each indicate the person's year of immigration to the United
States. This information should help in locating a ship passenger
arrival list. Naturalization
The 1870 census (column 19) has a check mark for "Male Citizens of the
U.S. of 21 years of age and upwards." If the person was a foreign-born
citizen, this means that he had become naturalized by 1870. The 1900
census (column 18), the 1910 census (column 16), and the 1920 census
(column 14) indicate the person's naturalization status. The answers are
"Al" for alien, "Pa" for "first papers," and "Na"
for naturalized. The
1920 census (column 15) indicates the year in which the person was
naturalized. These clues may lead to naturalization records; see
Naturalization Records for more information. Foreign-born parents
The 1870 census (columns 11-12) have check marks if the person's parents
were "of foreign birth." The 1880 census (columns 25-26), 1900 census
(columns 14-15),
1910 census (columns 13-14), and 1920 census (columns 21 & 23), indicate
the person's parents' birthplaces.
Service in Union or Confederate Army or Navy
The 1910 census (column 30) indicates whether the person was a "survivor
of the Union or Confederate Army or Navy." The answers are "UA" for
Union Army, "UN" for Union Navy, "CA" for Confederate Army, and
"CN" for
Confederate Navy. These clues lead to military service and pension
records; see Civil War Records and Confederate Pension Records for more
information.
A word of caution: columns 30-32 are often "overwritten" with numbers
like 2-1-0-0 or 6-9-0-0. These numbers are not the answers for columns
30-32, but were data summaries used by Census Bureau tabulators in
Washington, DC, to compile statistical data.
Real property
The 1850 census (column 8), 1860 census (column 8), and 1870 census
(column 8) indicate the value of real property (land) owned by each
person.
The 1900 census (column 25), 1910 census (column 26), and 1920 census
(column 7) indicate whether the person owned ("O") or rented ("R")
the
home or farm.
The 1900 census (column 26), 1910 census (column 27), and 1920 census
(column 8) indicate whether home and farm owners owned their property
with a mortgage ("M") or free of mortgage ("F").
These clues should lead researchers to the county recorder's office or
equivalent agency for deeds, mortgages, and property tax records.
Economic data.
The 1850 census (column 7), 1860 census (column 7), 1870 census (column
7), and 1880 census (column 13) all indicate the person's occupation. If
the answer is "farmer," the researcher should look for information about
the farmer's land ownership, crops, and livestock in the agricultural
census schedules. If the person was a saw or grist miller, cheese maker,
or other "manufacturer," the researcher should check the manufacturing
census schedules.
Agricultural census schedules exist for 1850-1880; manufacturing census
schedules exist for 1820 and 1850-1880.
For more information and suggestions, see Claire Prechtel-Kluskens, "The
Nonpopulation Census Schedules," The Record, Vol. 2, No. 1 ( Sept.
1995): 9, 25.
For nonpopulation census schedules available as NARA microfilm
publications, see listings in Record Group 29, Records of the Bureau of
the Census, in Microfilm Resources for Research: A Comprehensive Catalog
of National Archives Microfilm Publications (Washington, DC: National
Archives and Records Administration, 1996).
Conclusion.
Researchers who use these and other clues in census records will be more
successful--and thorough--in their genealogical research.
This essay is adapted from "Clues in Census Records, 1850-1920," The
Record, Vol. 4, No. 3 (Jan. 1998): 26-27.
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