THE CENSUS (March 2010)
Oh the wonders of the internet! I believe the 2010 census is to begin this month, and because this is a census year all the newsletters will be focused on what I can find in the census about our ancestors. Years ago, in order to research all the census records, I had to go either to the big public library in San Antonio or to the Salt Lake City LDS library, which I did in three trips to the latter and many times, too many to count, to the former. And now, lo and behold, I can research many years just by going on the internet. How much easier it is for us, the genealogists of today, than it was in years past. What does my generation do without a computer?
Not only can the census be traced for almost all the states up through 1930; many of the vital records of the states are also online. I’m laughing to myself when I think of all the years Nana fudged about her age; today it would be impossible, for I have tracked almost everyone in the family. It is impossible to lie even if the employer doesn’t ask for a birth certificate because there it is, on the internet, in black and white up to 1930. Every 72 years a past census is made public, which means the 1940 census will be available in 2012.
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Historically, it was President Washington who signed the first census act in 1790. It only asked for head of the household, number of free white males of 16 or older, number of free white females, number of all other free persons, and number of slaves. Unfortunately for us the 1790 census of the Elsons in Virginia was burned during the war of 1812. Only 11 of the original 13 states survived and records have been created from those who paid taxes. (Fire also destroyed the 1890 census.) Enumerators, those who took the census, were required to make only one copy.
For me, the family genealogist, the history of the census is very pertinent. For example, in today’s story on the Elsons, Richard’s move from Maryland to Virginia is difficult to prove. As I said, the 1790 census for Virginia was burned during the War of 1812. I’m trying to trace Richard’s wife, Mary Turner, and find that there are two Mary Turners, one of them from a very prominent family and one from a very ordinary family. So you can see my dilemma.
In the earlier censuses, one has to remember that good penmanship was not required and some of the years are very difficult to read. Not only that, but in many years there was no requirement for any kind of education, only reading and writing ability. So many names were misspelled. For example, in our census of the William Free family of 1860, I found it under the name Freeze in Jersey County, Illinois. Since William had many family members they were all Frees! Finding the family in Jersey County was very difficult.
Over the years different questions were asked on the census form. In the 1850 census, registered dates and places of birth, education, parents’ birthplaces, and in some states citizenship helped genealogists a lot.
Due to the lack of transportation (horse and buggy) some people were skipped, so sometimes the enumerator had to guess or get their information from neighbors. We are cautioned to be aware specifically of all those issues I have mentioned - spelling of names, ages, etc. Nevertheless, researching the censuses of the family has been lots of fun.
For the 2010 census, as I understand it, there will be only ten questions so information will be limited for genealogists when this year’s census is released in 72 years.
For me, the family genealogist, the history of the census is very pertinent. For example, in today’s story on the Elsons, Richard’s move from Maryland to Virginia is difficult to prove. As I said, the 1790 census for Virginia was burned during the War of 1812. I’m trying to trace Richard’s wife, Mary Turner, and find that there are two Mary Turners, one of them from a very prominent family and one from a very ordinary family. So you can see my dilemma.
In the earlier censuses, one has to remember that good penmanship was not required and some of the years are very difficult to read. Not only that, but in many years there was no requirement for any kind of education, only reading and writing ability. So many names were misspelled. For example, in our census of the William Free family of 1860, I found it under the name Freeze in Jersey County, Illinois. Since William had many family members they were all Frees! Finding the family in Jersey County was very difficult.
Over the years different questions were asked on the census form. In the 1850 census, registered dates and places of birth, education, parents’ birthplaces, and in some states citizenship helped genealogists a lot.
Due to the lack of transportation (horse and buggy) some people were skipped, so sometimes the enumerator had to guess or get their information from neighbors. We are cautioned to be aware specifically of all those issues I have mentioned - spelling of names, ages, etc. Nevertheless, researching the censuses of the family has been lots of fun.
For the 2010 census, as I understand it, there will be only ten questions so information will be limited for genealogists when this year’s census is released in 72 years.