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Back to Genealogy Basics – The 1800’s Census, Part 2
Genealogists often divide the 1800 census records into 1850 and beyond and pre-1850 census records. Beginning with the 1850 census record, all members of the household were named. Census records from 1790-1850 only named the head of the household. Other family members were simply noted with a mark in an age category. So, what’s a genealogist to do? How do you find your ancestor hidden among the tic marks. Let’s take a look first at the head of households. Peruse an pre-1850 census list and you will find most of the names listed are men. You will, though, come across the names of women. This indicates the female is a…
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Back to Genealogy Basics – The 1800 Census Records
Part 1 Today we are going to talk about the 1800 census records. Like the 1900 census records, the 1800 census records are often a first go-to record. Back through the 1850 census, each individual of a household is listed. This is a great for the you as a genealogist. Beginning with the 1840 census and progressing back through the 1790 census (the first federal census), on the head of the household was named. Typically this was a male; however, your female ancestor may be named if she represented the head of household. Other members of the household, including slaves, were noted as tick marks in specific age groups. Determining…
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Back to Genealogy Basics: 1900’s Census Records
Census records are some of the first records genealogists go to when beginning their research. It is exciting to trace a family back generations by following them backward through the census records. In our excitement of finding our ancestors, though, we can miss important clues that are important to our current research projects, but also future genealogy research projects.
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Back to Genealogy Basics – Death Records
Death certificates can provide valuable information on your ancestor such as a full name, spouse’s name, parents’ names and more. Be sure to check when the recording of death certificates began in the area you are researching. Do not waste time looking for a death certificate when none were created. In North Carolina, death certificates did not begin until 1909 with a few being found. Another important point about death certificates needs to be considered. Death certificates are considered secondary sources. In other words, the information provided on the death certificate came from someone else who was reporting facts. This person may or may not have had first hand knowledge…