Non-population schedules benefit the genealogy researcher by providing an opportunity to learn more an ancestor and their role in the community.
Genealogy Research,  How To Trace Your Family Tree

31 Days of “Out of the Box” Genealogy Tips – Non-Population Schedules

What are those U.S. Census Non-Population Schedules?

July is completely focused on providing you with genealogy tips that are …..well,….”out of the box”.

Welcome to DAY 18 of the 31 Days of “Out of the Box” Genealogy Tips series! Need to start at the beginning of the series or catch up? Start here.

DAY 18 – Explore U.S. Census Non-Population Schedules 

Non-population schedules of the U.S. census were created along with the 1850-1880 census and used to gather data on unique segments of the population. The purpose of the special schedules was to determine the types of resources the government needed, how to allocate them, as well as looking at public health issues.

1850 Agriculture Schedule
1850 Agriculture Schedule (Source: Ancestry.com)

If your ancestor appears on one of the U.S. census non-population schedules, you have a unique opportunity to learn more about them as individuals and their role in their community. In addition, the information you learn from a non-population schedule can point you to new clues and record sources not previously searched.

Six types of non-population schedules were created:

  1. Agriculture – A good place to find information on your ancestor’s farm including land, livestock, and types of crops.
  2. Manufacturing/Industrial – Enumerates those in manufacturing/industrial businesses including “sideline businesses”.
  3. Defective, Dependent and Delinquent of 1880(Note: The name is the official name of the record at that time.) Enumerates individual with physical and mental handicaps as well as paupers and prisoners. 
  4. Mortality – Day 17 talked about mortality schedules specifically!
  5. Slave – Included in the 1850 and 1860 U.S. census.  Slave schedules do not provide the name of the enslaved. They were enumerated under the owner’s name.  
  6. Social Statistics – This schedule is just that – stats.  You will not find specific information on your ancestors here. You can learn discern social history aspects.

1880 DDD schedule
1880 DDD Schedule [Source: Ancestry.com]
Find these non-population schedules most places you would access the regular census records such as Ancestry.com, FindMyPast and MyHeritage. FamilySearch has a few state non-population schedules as well.

Now It’s Your Turn!

Explore one or more of the non-population schedules for your ancestor(s).

Check out previous posts in the 31 Days of Out of the Box Genealogy Tips:

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

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Find your ancestors in the often overlooked US census non-population schedules. Learn what genealogy information you could be missing. #genealogy #genealogytips #familyhistory #areyoumycousin #ancestors

 

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