History & Genealogy
Books & eBooks
|
|
|
|
Family Tree Maker
2012 for PC
Family Tree Maker
For Mac
|
|
|
Census Records Have Always Been A Great Tool For Genealogists
Column published: 26 February 2010
By: Shirley Gage Hodges Biography & Archived Articles
Census records have always been a great tool for the genealogist. In the U.S., census records are released after 72 years so we eagerly await the release of each census. Our descendants will not have some of the advantages that we have enjoyed. Our 2010 United States census is about to be taken. This year there will only be 10 questions asked. Our descendants will not be able to learn a lot of information about us from this census.
2010 United States census questions are as follows:
- How many people were living or staying in this house, apartment or
mobile home on April 1, 2010?
- Were there any additional people staying here April 1, 2010 that you did
not include in Question 1?
- Is this house, apartment, or mobile home owned by you, or someone in
the house with a mortgage? Owned without payment of rent?
- What is your telephone number (number to call if an answer is unclear)?
- Names of the individuals living in the home.
- Sex of the individual inhabitants of the home.
- Ages and dates of birth of the individual inhabitants of the home.
- Are any of the individuals living in the home of Hispanic, Latino or
Spanish origin?
- The race of the individual inhabitants of the home.
- Do any of the individuals live or stay somewhere else?
We will, of course, have some good information on this census but it lacks the possibility of learning lots of juicy tidbits about individuals. In the past years we have learned some very interesting things about our ancestors. Some were fascinating and some really made us cringe.
One of the things that I have found fascinating was the tendency among females to be inconsistent about their ages. As someone has said "women have been chiseling on their ages ever since the stone age." Apparently this was fairly common.
The historical records revealed some quirks. For instance, Abraham Lincoln's wife, Mary, reported growing only seven years older between the 1850 and the 1860 census.
(Census Year: 1850; Census Place: Springfield, Sangamon Co., Illinois; Roll: M432_127; Page: 120; Image: 243.)
(Census Year: 1860; Springfield, Sangamon, Illinois; Roll: M653_226; Page: 140; Image: 139.)
Census records include a wealth of information that is obviously useful to researchers, as well as hidden clues that are less obvious but equally useful.
It is difficult to construct our family's histories with the brief entries that we find. When I look at the census I am always humbled by how little I will actually ever know about the lives categorized in the census records of long ago. It is always a challenge to try and find out more about those lives, whether in little snippets found within the census itself or in other sources that they have lead me too.
In future articles we will examine some of the other types of things that we learn from the census.
Until next time :)
Shirley Hodges shirley@globalgenealogy.com
To read back issues of Shirley Hodges' articles, visit her biography & archived Articles
Editor's Note: Shirley Hodges is the author of the popular Guide to United States Census, 1790-1930:
BOOK - Guide to United States Census, 1790-1930
By Shirley Gage Hodges
Published by Global Heritage Press, Milton
Guide to the United States Census, 1790-1930 explains what the United States census records are, what information they contain and how to use each census. Each individual year of the Federal Census between 1790 and 1930 (census were compiled every 10 years) is explained in detail. This guide is designed to help the census novice and intermediate researcher come to grips with this valuable genealogical research tool. Experts will also find this guide useful.
ISBN 978-1-897446-01-0
More information
Check out the resources at GlobalGenealogy.com:
History & Genealogy Books, Maps, & CDs...
History and genealogy books, maps, CDs from a wide selection of publishers, including Global Heritage Press. Browse resources listed by country, location or topic.
|
|
GHP eBooks & Vital Records on CD
Searchable, electronic versions of Global Heritage Press books and vital records provided on CD Rom for both PC and Mac users. A cost-effective way to grow your personal research library while saving shelf-space.
|
Genealogy Software
Family Tree software helps you research, record and share your family history. |
|
Acid-Free & Artifact Preservation Products
Acid-free storage and display products to preserve and safely store your family heirloom documents and artifacts.
|
Family Tree Charts & Census Forms
Poster-size blank family tree charts, plus a variety of free blank letter-size charts and census forms
|
|
|
|
|
French & Native North American
Marriages & Genealogical Records Series,
Vol. 1 to Vol. 6
Author and compiler Paul Brunnell, a descendant of Hurons from Ontario and Quebec, has published his many years of French, Native, Mi'kmaq, and Metis research into the six volumes that you find here. In his own words Mr. Bunnell says......
Read on...
The Roman Catholic Parish
of "Our Lady of The Angels"
Moose Creek,Ontario Baptisms,
Marriages and Burials 1882-1925
NOW ON CD
The content is organized alphabetically by surname. There is also an index to help researchers find others who are mentioned in the transcriptions, such as witnesses, named relatives, etc.....
Read on...
Research Guide To
Loyalist Ancestors
(Updated and Revised)
This updated research aid lists most of the locations where United Empire Loyalist records may be found throughout the world, and.......
Read on...
The New Loyalist Index
Vol. 1 to Vol. 7
Author and compiler Paul Brunnell, UE has researched United Empire Loyalists for more than 30 years, publishing his findings into the seven volumes that.....
Read on...
Trimming Yankee Sails:
Pirates and Privateers
of New Brunswick
Pirates and privateers sailed from New Brunswick ports throughout the 19th century, but their exploits began in earnest during the War of 1812. Amid tales of battles at sea and fortunes lost and won......
Read on...
New Brunswick and the Navy:
Four Hundred Years
In 1881, the new Dominion of Canada chose New Brunswick as the base for its naval operations. This the story of New Brunswick's contribution to Canada's storied naval heritage......
Read on...
Family Tree Maker for Mac 2
(version 2012)
Makes organizing, researching and sharing your family history easier than ever, whether you're just getting started or already an expert........
Read on...
Methodist Obituaries
From The
Christian Guardian,
1891 to 1895
This 11th volume from D.A. McKenzie provides carefully transcribed obituaries for Methodist deaths across Canada with Ontario most heavily represented, Scroll down to Vol. 11 after clicking.......
Read on...
|
|
|
| |
