Archive for category Census Genealogy

Writing a Family History Using Census Records

Posted by on Saturday, 21 March, 2015

As a continuation of this a series of blog posts about how to write your family history, this post is about using the US Census to write snippets about your ancestor. One way to write about your ancestor’s life is to divide your writings into chapters. One chapter could be about places they lived and the census record gives you a good indication about that. City Directories (a topic for a future post about writing your ancestor’s life story) if available, provide even more details about where your ancestor lived if they are available.

For earlier posts in this series see the following;

Want to know how many people lived in your ancestors town during a census year? Do a search on ancestry.com with only the town listed for the census year in question and indicate it has to be an exact match. Combine the census data with historical references about the town and you have the beginning of a great chapter in your ancestor’s life. The following snippet is just a small sample of what you can write about your ancestor. You can add more details about the particular town in which he lived. Use the addresses from the Census record and get a photograph from today of the place your ancestor lived. Better yet, if you can find a photo near where your ancestor lived at the time your ancestor lived use that (with permission of course if it’s still under copyright).

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Residences of Edwin A Banks – Civil War Soldier
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In 1850 when the census was taken, The Town of Seneca in Ontario County, New York had about 8,500 people living there. A town that size would need a tailor or two and may have kept Edwin’s father busy, being that he was a tailor. At four years old, Edwin and his twin brother Edward would not have been old enough to go to school yet. They would have to wait another year or two.

While Seneca may have been a thriving larger sized town, Edwin’s early teenage years started in Newtown, Fairfield County, Connecticut. This was a much smaller town. Only about 3500 people were living in Newtown at the time the 1860 Census was taken. Three generations were living in the household. Edwin’s maternal grandparent Orrin and Sarah Shepard, Edwin’s mother Jane plus the twin boys Edwin and Edward. Orrin Shepard was a farmer and it’s likely that Edwin and his twin brother Edward worked a little on the farm.

Along some of the rivers which ran through Newtown, there were several small industries. Several small hat shops developed and larger hat factories were in the neighboring towns of Bethel and Danbury. Edwin’s mother Jane was a milliner and likely worked at a small hat shop in town or one of the larger factories in Bethel or Danbury.

After the civil war, which Edwin participated in, he lived in the thriving city of Hartford, Connecticut with more than 38,000 people living there when the 1870 Census was taken. This number would grow to more than 42,500 in within ten years. Edwin was living as an electrotyper in the 1870s. He must have been making a pretty good living for the time. The value of his personal state in 1870 was $1,500, which was more than the value of most other peoples family. In 1880 Edwin, his wife and their three children are living at 21 Harrison Ave. His mother-in-law Mary McKeown is also living with them.

1880 US Census, edwin banks

It is unclear what made Edwin and his family leave Hartford. In 1890 Edwin is living in Revere, Massachusetts. Revere is near Boston and was a small coastal town. With the completion of a railroad in town, Revere was rapidly growing in population. It had a population of about 5,500 residents in 1890.

Living in Brooklyn must have been like any other place Edwin lived at during his lifetime. By 1910, there are over 1.5 million people living there in 1910. He’s living at his son’s place at 2109 Pacific Street. Two grandsons, Alfred and George are also in the household as is the mother of his son’s wife Kate Wilson. He is still working as an elctrotyper and his son Alfred took up the same profession.

Fitch's Home for Old Soldiers Darien Connecticut

By 1920 Edwin is living in Darien, Connecticut. Darien is a small town in lower Fairfield County, Connecticut. There are a little over 4,000 people living there. He’s living at a home for old civil war soldiers.

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Sources
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1) “1850 United States Census”, database, http://www.ancestry.com, entry for Edwin Banks, Seneca, Ontario County, New York, accessed 2015
2) “1860 United States Census”, database, http://www.ancestry.com, entry for Edwin Shepard, Newtown, Fairfield County, Connecticut, accessed 2015
3) “1870 United State Census”, database, http://www.ancestry.com, entry for Edwin Banks, Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut, accessed 2015
4) “1880 United State Census”. database, http://www.ancestry.com, entry for Edwin Banks, Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut, accessed 2015
5) “1890 United State Veterans Census”, database, http://www.ancestry.com, entry for Edwin Banks, Revere, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, accessed 2015
6) “1910 United State Census”, database, http://www.ancestry.com, entry for Edwin Banks, Brooklyn, Kings County, New York, accessed 2015
7) “1920 United State Census”, database, http://www.ancestry.com, entry for Edwin Banks, Darien, Fairfield County, Connecticut, accessed 2015
8) Newtown Historical Society, Newtown in the Nineteenth Century , A Brief History of Newtown, by Dan Cruson
9) City of Revere Massachusetts Website, Brief Historical Background Revere Society for Cultural & Historic Preservation

Using Heritage Quest

Posted by on Sunday, 4 November, 2012

Most researchers who’ve been doing genealogy for some time have heard of Heritage Quest. Heritage Quest is available through a number of libraries. In Connecticut, we’re lucky to have the state library have a subscription to Heritage Quest. With this subscription, a Connecticut resident can access Heritage Quest for free at their own home with a library card from the state of Connecticut.

There are six main areas of research available on Heritage Quest;

  • Census
  • Books
  • PERSI
  • Revolutionary War
  • Freedman’s Bank
  • U.S. Serial Set

In this blog post, we will explore a few tips for using the Census on Heritage Quest and how to get the most out of it. Although Ancestry.com has the census as well, you may be able to find that ellusive census record on Heritage quest which you weren’t able to on Ancestry. Heritage Quest has a different index than Ancestry and there are some tricks you can try on Heritage. When you click on Heritage Quest, go to the advance tab. Here are few tips I’ve used on Heritage Quest to varying degrees of success.

  • FIRST NAME SEARCH: You don’t need to include a last name. If your ancestor, his wife or one of his/her children have an unusual name, try to find you ancestor with just the unusual first name. In order to limit the results, you’ll have to include the year, state, county and a location.
  • IMMIGRANT ANCESTOR?: For immigrate ancestors, you may not need either the first name or the last name. I’ve been able to find some ellusive census records, including just the birthplace, state, county and location.
  • LAST NAME VARIATIONS Heritage Quest doesn’t have a soundex index so you’ll have to try variaions of your ancestors names. For example, my Fraher’s have been indexed as Fryher, Friher, Fraher, Fraher and Frayer to name a few.
  • SORT YOUR RESULTS In Heriatge Quest, a result set will only come back if you have 1,000 or fewer hits. You can page through the list looking for your ancestor, or you can choose to sort it various ways. If your ancestors first letter of his last name has been transcribed incorrectly, you might not look under “Boyle” if your ancetsors last name is actually “Doyle”

If you’ve had trouble finding a census record on ancestry.com, take a look at Heritage Quest. You might find that hidden genealogy record.

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Christmas Gift Idea: How about a gift subscription to a great genealogy website.


www.onegreatfamily.com

Census Genealogy

Posted by on Sunday, 19 February, 2012

Are you ready for the 1940 US Census?

The 1940 United States Census will be released to the public this coming spring. Are you ready for what will be revealed? Perhaps it’s time to revisit what you can glean from the already released United States Censuses. But first, see how well you know the Census and take our quiz.

Take our Census Quiz – NO PEEKING AHEAD

How well do you know the census? Answer the following ten questions and see how you do. Don’t peek ahead in this blog. The answers will be revealed later.

  • What article and section of the US Constitution dictates a census be taken periodically?
  • How often is the US Census taken?
  • In what year was the first US Census taken?
  • In what year did everyone by name, except slaves start to be enumerated on the US Census?
  • In what year did the freed slaves start to be enumerated on the US Census?
  • Which part of the legislature body is apportioned based upon the US Census?
  • As of 2012, how many seats are in the US House of Representatives?
  • What mathematical formula is use to calculate the number of seats apportioned to each state?
  • What was the first year that the relationship to the head of household was captured on the census?
  • Which census year was almost completely burned during a fire?

US Census



Every ten years the United States takes a population census. One of the main purposes of this census is to determine the number of seats each state gets in the House of Representatives. Since there are 435 seats in the House, to determine how many seats each state gets, take the population of the state divided by the population of the entire United States and then multiple by 435. Since a fraction of an individual can’t serve, these numbers need to be rounded. Also each state is guaranteed at least one member in the House.

Often Overlooked Questions on the US Census by Year

Many facts and information are often overlooked on the census, not just names and dates. In this post we will look at some of the often overlooked facts. Most years the questions on the census changed. The later census records collected more data than the earlier ones. Many people, including myself have often overlooked some pieces of data collected. Let’s examine the data collected which can be overlooked.

1790 US Census

The 1790 US Census was the first census taken by the United States Government. There were not very many questions on this first census. It also listed only the heads of households. However there is one question, when and if filled out could be overlooked.

  • What type of information, if any did you find in the column for “dwellings / other information”?

1800 – 1810 US Census

The 1800 and 1810 US Census also listed only the heads of households and very little information. One question which might be overlooked on this census is listed below.

  • “All other free persons except Indians not taxed”. Who were these individuals? Would they be slaves who were freed?

1820 US Census

The 1820 census started breaking out the age brackets a lot more than the three previous census. It also asked 4 questions which might be overlooked if you are not careful.

  • Foreigners not naturalized
  • Persons engaged in Agriculture
  • Persons engaged in Commerce
  • Persons engaged in Manufacture

1830 – 1840 US Census

The 1830 and 1840 US Census both had two parts. The first part was the same in both the 1830 and 1840 Census. These census still listed only the heads of households. The breakout of the ages groups within this census was a lot more detailed. There are a few questions in part 2 which can be overlooked.

  • On the 1830 census part 2 besides the additonal breakouts of slaves and freed colored persons, there’s a question for foreigners not naturalized.
  • On the 1840 census part 2 besides the additonal breakouts of slaves and freed colored persons, there’s columns for people engaged in a number of vocations including (mining, agriculture, commerce, manufacturing and trades, ocean navigation, canal, lake, river navigations, learned profession & engineers)
  • On the 1840 census part 2, there’s also columns for revolutionary or military service pensioners

1850 US Census

The 1850 US Census was the first United States Census to list everyone by name in the household. Often overlooked columns on this census include;

  • “Married within the year”
  • “Value of Real Estate Owned” – How did your ancestors value of real estate compare to those living in the same area?
  • Don’t forget to look at the Slave Census for 1850

1860 US Census

The 1860 US Census offered a few more questions for each individual on the census then the 1850 Census did. Some of the often overlooked questions on the 1860 questions are the same as on the 1850 census.

  • “Married within the year”
  • “Value of Real Estate Owned” – How did your ancestors value of real estate compare to those living in the same area?
  • “Value of Personal Estate Owned” – How did your ancestors value of personal estate compare to those living in the same area?
  • Don’t forget to look at the Slave Census for 1860

1870 US Census

The 1870 US Census started to ask a signifcant number of questions for each individual.

  • “Month born within the year”
  • “Month married within the year”
  • “Value of Real Estate Owned” – How did your ancestors value of real estate compare to those living in the same area?
  • “Value of Personal Estate Owned” – How did your ancestors value of personal estate compare to those living in the same area?
  • Don’t forget to look at the Slave Census for 1860

1880 US Census

The 1880 Census was the first United State Census which indicated the relationship to the head of household. There are also a few other questions which were asked which are often overlooked.

  • Two questions which were asked included “Mother of how many children” and “# of these children living”. Use this information to try and find children who were born and died in between census years?
  • Immigration questions included “Year of immigration”, “# years in US” and “Naturalized Citizen”.
    Have you used this information to find naturalization papers? What about finding a ships manifest?

1890 US Census

Everyone knows the 1890 US Census was almost completely destroyed during a fire. However did you know that half of the special 1890 US census of civil war pensionairres survived?

1900 US Census

1900 US Census

  • The 1900 census had the same two questions about a mothers children which were asked on the 1880 census. These included “Mother of how many children” and “# of these children living”.

    Use this information to try and find children who were born and died in between census years?

  • The 1900 census had the same three questions about immigration which were asked on the 1880 census. Immigration questions included “Year of immigration”, “# years in US” and “Naturalized Citizen”

    Have you used this information to find naturalization papers? What about finding a ships manifest?

  • This is the only census which asked for the month and year of birth.

1910 US Census

1910 US Census

  • The 1910 census had the same two questions about a mothers children which were asked on the 1880 & 1900 census. These included “Mother of how many children” and “# of these children living”.

    Use this information to try and find children who were born and died in between census years?

  • Civil War Veteran

1920 US Census

1920 US Census contined to ask a signifcant number of questions about each individual.

  • “Speaks English” – If your ancestor came from a different country and spoke a different language, did he/she learn to speak English?

1930 US Census

1930 US Census today is the latest census to have been released to the public. However, earl y this spring the 1940 Census will be released.

  • Veteran (yes/no) and if so of what war?

Getting to Know the Neighborhood

More than just the questions which were specifically asked on the census you should try to look at the census in more detail. Really study the census about your ancestors. Look at other families in the neighborhood. You can find how well off you family was and whether your young ancestors had other children in the area to play with.

  • Was the neighborhood where your ancestor lived mostly from the same native country as your ancestor?
  • Were your ancestors neighbors young families with lots of children? Perhaps a number of these children were good friends with your ancestors growing up.
  • Some census years asked about value of real estate and personal estate. Was your families properties value higher than your neighbors, about the same or perhaps lower?
  • Starting with the 1880 US Census, the street address was given. If you live near where your ancestors were born, drive by thier old neighborhood. If you don’t live near the area, use Google Maps. You might be able to see how the street looks today or you can view a satelite image of the location.

Answers to the US Census Quiz

  • Article 1, Section 2
  • every ten years
  • 1790
  • 1850
  • 1870
  • House of Representatives
  • 435
  • Population of the state / population of the country * 435 or Population of the state / ( Population of the country / 435 )
  • 1880
  • 1890

How well did you do on our census quiz? How many of the questions from prior census records did you overlook? Take the time now to revisit your census records. Take your time and really study them and the neighborhood. You will learn a lot more about your ancestor if you do.

Preview for next week – Photo Genealogy Part 2

Dont forget to check back next Sunday 2/26. It will be a continuation of last week’s post about Photo Genealogy. Follow the progress of how some pictures of a 19th century photo album were identified.