| |
The
1870 census was begun on 1 June 1870. The enumeration
was to be completed within five months.
Questions Asked in the 1870 Census
The 1870 census form called for dwelling houses to be
numbered in the order of visitation; families numbered
in order of visitation; and the name of every person
whose place of abode on the first day of June 1870 was
with the family. The census further asked the age of
each individual at the last birthday. If a child was
under one year of age, months of age were to be stated
in fractions, such as 1/12. Additionally, the census
asked the sex, color, profession, and occupation or
trade of every male and female. There were also columns
for disclosure of value of real estate and personal
property.
The 1870 census asked for the place of birth, specifically
in which state or territory of the United States, or
in which country if foreign born (including the province
if born in Germany). The schedule provided space to
indicate whether or not the father and the mother of
the individual was foreign born, and if an individual
was born or married within the year, the month in which
the event occurred was to be entered. The census also
asked for those who had attended school within the year;
those who could not read; those who could not write;
and the deaf and dumb, blind, insane and the “idiotic”
to be identified. Finally, the schedules had space to
identify any male citizen of the United States of age
twenty-one and older, and any male citizen of the United
States age twenty-one and older whose right to vote
was denied or abridged on grounds other than rebellion
or other crime.
Other Significant Facts about the 1870 Census
The 1870 census may identify survivors of the Civil
War, thus suggesting that military records may be found.
Conversely, if an individual does not appear in the
1870 census as expected, it may be a clue that the person
was a casualty of the war. In the absence of so many
other records from the South for this era, information
from the 1870 census can be especially important. A
caveat, however, is found in Map Guide to the U.S. Federal
Censuses 1790–1920, in which it is stated that
“The 1870 census in the Southern States omits
a great many persons.”
Research Tips for the 1870 Census
The 1870 census is the first census in which parents
of foreign birth are indicated—a real boon in
identifying immigrant ancestors. Immigrants who were
naturalized and eligible to vote are identified, suggesting
follow-up in court and naturalization sources. Indications
of a person’s color that were intended to be more
precise—white (W), black (B), Chinese (C), Indian
(I), mulatto (M)—may be helpful in determining
individuals’ origins. (Also see “Non-Population
Schedules and Special Federal Censuses,” below.)
For a state-by-state listing of census schedules, see
The 1790–1890 Federal Population Censuses: Catalog
of National Archives Microfilm (Washington, D.C.: National
Archives Trust Fund Board, 1993). For boundary changes
and identification of missing census schedules, see
William Thorndale and William Dollarhide, Map Guide
to the U.S. Federal Censuses, 1790–1920.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information above is an excerpt from The Source:
A Guidebook of American Genealogy, edited by Loretto
D. Szucs and Sandra H. Luebking, Chapter 5, “Research
in Census Records,” by Loretto D. Szucs (page
115).
Note: Ancestry.com has made a database of AIS Census
Indexes available to site subscribers at: http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/census/ais/main.htm.
|
