Unlocking US Census Secrets for Your Family Tree (1790-1950)

[@TomCooper]

My most satisfying moment with the census was totally unexpected. I FINALLY found my grandmother in the 1910 census. But wait...that's her signature at the top! At 18 years old, she was going door to door as the local census taker! 😀 Always read the whole page!

[@GenealogyTV]

Holy census taker Batman. Great find.

[@batya7]

Great story! As a 2020 census enumerator, I can assure you this is not possible anymore. We entered info into handheld devices.

[@MadameGina-q6u]

I thought the census had stopped for a moment and maybe some files got burned up and they had just started back. Did they ever stop at any point? Please

[@TomCooper]

@MadameGina-q6u the US Federal Census is required by the constitution. It has never been stopped or skipped. However, the 1890 census was in the basement of the Commerce Department building when the building burned. The census records were not burned, but they were soaked with water, and with all but a few counties, they could not be saved or restored.

[@garyhab2339]

Very helpful video. Thanks!

[@kathyastrom1315]

I have fallen in love with browsing through smaller community census records from 100+ years ago! In looking through the ones from 1850-1900 for the rural township I grew up in, and where my mom’s family farm was, I traced the influx of Irish immigrants between 1850 and 1860. I found that the juvenile care facility for troubled youths we have now is located where the “poor farm” was from the 1860s to my mother’s youth in the 1950s, so that land has always been the township’s. I discovered that a nearby farm was owned by the actor Nick Offerman’s ancestors-Mom told me she knew his family, but I didn’t know how close their family farm was to our own. I also browsed through the records from 1910 and 1920 for the gold-mining area where my great-great-grandmother Carrie lived in central Montana. I loved seeing the variety of countries residents there were from, including a small contingent from China. I think that was the first time I’d seen an Asian country on the same record of one of my Midwestern ancestors, although I am sure if I browsed the 1900 Chicago census record behind the page that Carrie was on, I’d find many more.

[@GenealogyTV]

I think you’ve been bitten by the bug.

[@kathyastrom1315]

@@GenealogyTV Definitely! I also started going through the census records from 1880 Deadwood, Dakota Territory, where a 4th great-grandfather lived while roaming the country after his Civil War service (it looks like he suffered from severe PTSD). I originally had been confused because his wife was listed as living there, too, but in reality, she was on the farm back home in upstate New York. I still don’t know if the woman he said was his wife in Deadwood was just in his head and he was imagining her there, or if she was someone who was living with him and he just gave his wife’s name to the census taker.

[@jamieaasen7285]

Thanks for sharing the states' census' list! Those census records are very interesting. Enjoyed watching.

[@GenealogyTV]

Glad you like them!

[@DeniseMSimpson]

I found a confirmation of my great uncle’s death date in his residence town Annual Report in 2013 for Northfield, NH. It led me to the death certificate and I just ordered his ground marker so his ashes and grave will be laid to rest. So much good can come from doing genealogy. Thank you for your videos - I’m watching them from the 1st one forward, and as they published.

[@GenealogyTV]

Excellent. Enjoy the journey.

[@talentonboard2456]

I just got this handout. This will be helpful to have for reference to make sure I checked everywhere possible. Never knew about the codes. Thank you so much for this!

[@GenealogyTV]

Glad it was helpful!

[@varon52]

This was V E R Y informative. It clarified in one place the functions of the schedules. I never understood that until tonight. Now I can go back to look at your videos on each of those to get even a better grasp of the subject. T H A N K you!

[@GenealogyTV]

Glad it was helpful!

[@batya7]

Thank you, Connie.

[@kymberly3173]

Thank you for helping me learn how to do my geneology. I learned many tricks and tips. I have discovered that I am not African American , but many races. I ave also found over 300 years of Indigenous ancestors and Warrior Chiefs.

[@GenealogyTV]

Wonderful!

[@kathythompson4950]

QUESTION: at the 4:30 spot on the video you have a map on the left of the screen and the census on the right that you are comparing it to. Where did you find a map that aligns with the census where the ancestors lived at the time? Great info, thank you.

[@GenealogyTV]

The map was an 1885 map from the WY state archives. Then I use the census record and compared names and found the names and created the video. They don’t always work out that conveniently. Long story short check your state archives for maps. it was not a census map.

[@CharlotteFairchild]

My grandfather’s family went to Clio, Al, in 1823. The 200th anniversary was 2023, so I made 19 short videos. They came from Mt. Carmel Presbyterian Church in NORTH CAROLINA. In 2026 the Mt. Carmel Presbyterian Church will be 250 years old. It was started in 1776. They sent people to Clio, Alabama in 1823. Pea River Presbyterian in Clio, Alabama has hundreds of copies of the church history and 3000 people buried there. Mt. Carmel Presbyterian Church has one copy of their history!

[@RoxxiRed]

I also like the 1880 census best

[@MadameGina-q6u]

Thanks... I have had success in finding some relatives on all four sides; both sides of my parents. Some of these people I have never heard of or met, but they were kind of closely related; such as my mom's first cousins that I guess she did not choose to keep in touch with for one reason or another. I'm kind of figuring out why... However, having gone through this and being able to find people that are a part of my bloodline has made me feel like helping others. Do you have any idea how I can learn to do this? Any suggestions???? I came across you guys channel and I wasn't able to look at it yet because I've been a little busy. My mom passed away so I'm just going through changes.

[@GenealogyTV]

Keep watching here. I also have the Genealogy TV Academy at GenealogyTV.org/academy

[@hyacinth4368]

I love the 1900, 1910 censuses, as they are full of information. I was able to solve a question about my GG grandfather's oldest son because GG grandma couldn't have been his mother. Beside the marital status M there was a 2. So I found ancestor's 1st marriage and much more info about him.

[@janetpuckett1750]

I'm just hoping you have faired reasonably well during your recent terrible weather. I'm in CO., so I have no idea what it's like. Take care.

[@GenealogyTV]

Thank you. We're fine here near the coast. The mountains got hit really hard though.

[@Bad_Artist_]

At the start of your video, you mentioned the DDD schedules, and that made me think. According to my late sister, we had a grandmother who spent the end of her life in a mental institution. Truly, I find the term mental institution dehumanizing, although, I'm pretty sure that would have been the commonly accepted phrase in the 1940s. It was either Taunton or Worcester State Hospital in Massachusetts. Since learning that sad fact, I've often wondered whether she may have been treated humanely (or inhumanely) in that facility. Have you ever produced a video on this topic, or do you have a related link you could share about it? Thanks, Connie, for all your informative videos about genealogy!

[@GenealogyTV]

Thanks and I agree about your comment of it being dehumanizing. No videos specific to this topic.

[@annw1395]

I had an ancestor who died in an insane asylum, HOWEVER she was only there bc she needed long-term care. (She had a stroke or cancer.) So your grandmother was not necessarily a mental patient. Just FYI.

[@Bad_Artist_]

@@annw1395 Thanks for that information! I do not know any details regarding her reason for being there. But I wish I could at least find a record somewhere.

[@sharontabor7718]

I worry about future genealogists with minimum information on the census, the Short Form vs Long Form for census reports the past few enumerations, s, and the inability to read cursive writing. It's always a good idea to look at the census at Ancestry and FamilySearch for the same family. Intrepation of handwriting can be different between the transcriptions.

[@GenealogyTV]

Handwriting recognition is coming along. I’m not worried..

[@skip2mylu-stories]

Great video, Connie thanks! Here's a question for you; my grandfather served in the CCC in the early 1900's. They started as a military organization so wouldn't there be records on him?

[@GenealogyTV]

Try Fold3

[@kristinenorth9983]

This was so helpful but I can't seem to find the handout. I'm an Academy member, can you tell me where to find this handout? Thanks!

[@GenealogyTV]

Hi Kristine. Login to the GTV website > Academy Access tab > 2024 You Tube Lessons > Scroll to the bottom > Next Page > bottom of the list. I'll try to put a link on the bulletin board too to get you there faster.

[@kristinenorth9983]

@@GenealogyTV Got it! Thanks!!

[@bluekimchiandrea4476]

Did you get your channel back!? ❤❤❤

[@GenealogyTV]

Yes

[@DeniseMSimpson]

For the population schedules Census records, my relatives had a servant living with them, and also at 15yo and 16yo in the 1860s distant cousins were living with other families in a small town in NY. 1. Do I need to create a person for the servant and track any information under the Speare household? (I don’t believe it’s a family member from another town, but an Irish teen of 16 yo, probably immigrated. 2. I’m tracking the teenagers as their own person’s recording the census information - should I add any people for the hiring Household or just make notes in my family’s records that they worked for someone else on a nearby farm? Interestingly, it’s a 27yo woman with a 2 yo daughter in 1850 who hired my cousin to farm, but no mention is made of where her husband is… away for the Civil War perhaps? I haven’t researched this angle yet. Thank you for any suggestions you have on how to make my census information notated correctly in my tree. ❤

[@GenealogyTV]

I typically keep track of the fan club members in my research notes. I don’t always add them to my ancestors profile however, I do add them as floaters. Search my genealogy channel for floating trees. You’ll see what that’s all about.

[@DeniseMSimpson]

@@GenealogyTV Oh so that’s a good use of floaters! I watched how you added the person then immediately edited the relationship deleting the parents so the apprentice/servant/lodger wont show up as a child. Will watch again. My research notes will be more robust! Thank you Connie.

[@ravenmccall5486]

How do you think the "Quick link" on Ancestry going away next month will impact our research?

[@GenealogyTV]

I am not aware it is going away. Perhaps I missed something.

[@annw1395]

Where can I find the mortality schedules? I've never seen those. I always check the original images for lots more information, as well as to see if the record was transcribed correctly. Often spelling errors were made due to the census taker's handwriting. I also pay attention to the address, bc you may find it on other records (if they haven't moved), and that can be a way to confirm that's your relative, vs someone else with the same name. I like that the 1900 US census gives the birth month. Censuses are enormously useful.

[@GenealogyTV]

Ancestry has the mortality schedules. I think FamilySearch does too.

[@DeniseMSimpson]

Is recording for a lodger any different than recording for a servant - or do I ignore them because they are not on my tree? (Sorry, a newbie here).

[@GenealogyTV]

NP. Any non-family members considered a fan club member meaning friends, associates, and neighbors. It’s good to keep track of the fan club because they often will show up other records. Therefore it helps you tie records and people together.

[@kathyastrom1315]

I was wondering -my third great-grandfather was working on the Isabella Reservation in Michigan in 1860, managing the sawmill. I can’t find him in the census for the nearby township, so I think he might have been living on the reservation even though he was not Native American. Was there a separate enumeration of those living on reservations in 1860?

[@GenealogyTV]

You can try the census Indian rolls, but I’m not sure they would have your group. Not all tribes were in the census rolls.

[@kathyastrom1315]

@@GenealogyTV I’ll give them a try-thanks! I have reached out to the researcher at the reservation, but it’s been a while. The article where I found out about his employment (published 25 years after the fact) said that he was well-liked by the reservation’s residents, so much so that they requested he become the new supervisor in 1861. But, since he was a Democrat and the Lincoln administration was the one handing out such appointments, he didn’t get the job. I had asked the researcher if she knew where I might find that request to the reservation’s agent, but haven’t heard back from her. Time to follow up!

[@rebeccaoliver7977]

Does anyone have information on Connie and how she's doing with the hurricane? I'm sending you thoughts and prayers, Connie. I hope you and yours are safe.

[@GenealogyTV]

Thank you. We're fine here near the coast. The mountains got hit really hard though.

[@ClownCash]

If a foreign born great grandmother is listed as AL in 1920, married an American in 1921, and then listed as NA in the 1930 census, will I find an actual certicate? I’m new to this and have heard because naturalization was automatic upon marriage and being female there might not be a document. Is this true? Hoping these documents are grouped in the same place in order to get a thorough search.

[@GenealogyTV]

Yes. You will likely not find any naturalization records because the became naturalized upon her marriage to a US Citizen.

[@Emy53]

The census is great, only if those filling them out, are reporting accurate information. I have heard of certain families reporting all their children, but half of them were not living in their household. For economic reasons, the children were living with other family members. Those family members also listed them as living in their household as dependents. To me, the children were counted twice. Were the census corrected?

[@SusanSteckov]

🤣 New England 1630 here, and had my family not kept stringent family 'pride' records, the states my family took root in, had no record keeping otherwise!

[@Emy53]

I was so happy when I found my 3 siblings in the 1950. They were born in 1946, 47 & 49. I might not live long enough to ever see the 1950's census. I was born Aug 53. By the time that census is released, I will be gone.

[@GenealogyTV]

You can order it from the census bureau

[@choppergirlfpv]

KZbin nvked one of my channels out of the blue for spam. That's code for their tech bros didn't like your con-Y T comments you made on other videos. Fortunately it had only 25 videos on it and was not my main channel either. That was my own wake up call. After that, I downloaded all my videos and all my thumbnails across all my channels, created a backup channel with zero views, and now I'm doing my best to get Od y see to automatically replicate most of my content. For them to do that your extra channels have to have over 100 subscribers, and I'm still working towards that on them.

[@choppergirlfpv]

But I recommend you go through all your videos start to finish and download them and the thumbnails, and maybe the video descriptions if you think they are important. Do 30 at a time per day, just slog your way through it. I gave each of mine a serial / VIN while I was at it. I skipped on backing up the video descriptions, and just backup up the finished videos and the thumbnails, even though I have project folders for all my videos... it's better to make sure you get one folder with all your finished stuff that got uploaded.