r Did you know that besides the population schedules, there are several other types of Federal censuses available which include the U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules, 1850-1885, the 1880 Schedules of Defective, Dependent, and Delinquent Classes, the 1890 Veteran’s schedules, the U.S. Special Census on Deaf Family Marriages and Hearing Relatives, 1888-1895, the U.S, Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 and the U.S. Selected Federal Census Non-Population Schedules, 1850-1880?
The U.S. Federal Censuses from 1850-1880 included a mortality schedule enumerating the individuals who had died in the previous year between the preceding June 1 to May 31 of the census year. In addition to the Federal mortality schedules, Ancestry’s database also includes mortality schedules from three state censuses taken in 1885 – Colorado, Florida, and Nebraska. The information requested included the deceased’s name, gender, age, color (white, black, mulatto), marital status, place of birth, the month that death occurred, profession, occupation, or trade, disease or cause of death, number of days ill, parents’ birthplaces (added in 1870), place where disease was contracted and how long the deceased was a resident of the area (added in 1880).
The 1880 Schedules of Defective, Dependent, and Delinquent Classes included different forms to enumerate the following classes of individuals: insane, idiots, deaf-mutes, blind, paupers and indigent persons, homeless children and prisoners. In addition to the individual’s name, their race, gender, age and residence were also included. Individuals with mental or physical illness were asked questions regarding their medical history; the homeless children answered questions about their parents; for the prisoners, details regarding their imprisonment were asked including the reason for incarceration.
The 1890 Veterans Schedule is an index to individuals enumerated in the 1890 special census of Civil War Union veterans and widows of veterans available at Ancestry.com. Although this schedule was to be used to enumerate Union veterans, Confederate veterans and their widows were listed as well. The following information was recorded: names of surviving soldiers, sailors, and marines, or their widows; rank; name of regiment or vessel; date of enlistment; date of discharge, length of service; post office address; whether a disability incurred; and miscellaneous remarks. The Veterans schedules are often used as a partial substitute for the 1890 federal census, which was destroyed by fire.
Next month the benefits of the U.S. Special Census on Deaf Family Marriages and Hearing Relatives, 1888-1895 and the U.S. Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 will be discussed.
