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Researching the 1870 Census
Research Tips
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.
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.
Research Tips/Questions for Specific Census Years
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