USING NEW JERSEY AS AN EXAMPLE : THE HISTORIC STATE : STATE CENSUS ADVENTURE #5

  Some of my ancestry lived in New Jersey. New Jersey is a rather difficult state due to privacy laws and such. I remember years ago sending money orders to New Jersey for the death and other records that would "prove" what I had come up with and they were returned. Basically, if I didn't already know the information, then I could not have that information. Other researchers have told me about dealing with New Jersey (as well as New Mexico) and basically this is why I check certain paid databases every few months to see what, if anything, has shown up.

Here is our list of state census.

New Jersey - 1855, 1865, 1875, 1885, 1895, 1905, 1915.

History of New Jersey : Lenape Native Americans first, then Dutch and Swedish settlements.

NJ GOV STATE ARCHIVES START PAGE

Excerpt: State Censuses (1855 – 1915)

 • Taken every 10 years on years that ended with a 5 (1855, 1865, and 1875 are incomplete).

 • Certain individual counties have been indexed: Hunterdon County in 1875; Monmouth County in 1875 (available on-line at the Monmouth County Archives web site); and 1885 Camden (excluding city)

• Searchable database for Atlantic and Passaic Counties in 1885 available on our web site. These counties are the only ones we search through the mail. 

• Complete 1895 State Census is available on www.ancestry.com.

• The indexes to 1885, 1905 and 1915 State Censuses are available on www.familysearch.com.

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OTHER RESOURCES FOR NEW JERSEY might be found through the genealogy activist group RECLAIM THE RECORDS:

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USING PENNSYLVANIA AS AN EXAMPLE : WHAT IS AVAILABLE AS CENSUS SUBSTITUTES? : STATE CENSUS ADVENTURE" #4

As we learned from the previous post on CALIFORNIA, what may be available when a state census is not available or the "state" was not a state when your ancestors lived there, could be birth/baptismal, marriage, or burial records. And from the previous post that lists the STATE CENSUS we read PENNSYLVANIA - No state census records are known to exist.

IS IT TRUE?

Historical research :  Dutch there 1641. Founded 1667 as a colony of England - British took control. 1681 Colony of William Penn; King Charles gave it to him as Province of Pennsylvania. 1776 Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia. December 1787 Pennsylvania ratified the United States Constitution and becomes the second state to join the United States.  FEDERAL CENSUS TAKEN WAS FROM 1790 and every ten years... but you will encounter the 1890 being lost. Note that the majority of the population was near the eastern seaboard - Philadelphia for some time. Also note that if you look at the maps of early Pennsylvania you'll see that the present map with the straight western line is not what Pennsylvania looked like at the time. There is no West Virginia and much of what is Western Pennsylvania today was Virginia. 

OK - so now what we are going to do is find out what, if anything, there is available. 

PENNSYLVANIA STATE ARCHIVES

Excerpt: There were some non-federal censuses, such as a colonial census in 1671 and taxpayer enumerations known as the Septennial Census Returns from 1779 to 1863, which are also held by the Pennsylvania State Archives.

Excerpt:  

Record Group 7: Records of the General Assembly

Septennial Census Returns, 1779-1863 - This series contains returns for a census conducted every seven years, enumerating taxpayers for the purpose of determining representation in the General Assembly. Only about 11% of the original records have survived and the only information provided in most of the surviving returns is the name of the taxpayer, though occasionally the occupation is also given. The style and details of enumeration varies for the different counties and in different periods of time. All counties have lists of "Taxable inhabitants" and "freemen", while others also include "inmates". Commencing in 1800, the age, name, gender and place of residence of each slave is also frequently given and occasionally the name of the slave's owner. Last names of slaves are usually not given because changes in ownership would have altered these over time. A few returns for Franklin County (1828, 1835, 1842), Columbia County (1821), Mifflin County (1821), and Philadelphia City (1863) provide the name, age and gender of deaf, dumb and blind inhabitants.

Manuscript Group 262: Special Collections Microfilm

United States Direct Tax of 1798: Tax Lists for the State of Pennsylvania - Compiled to facilitate the first federal tax based on wealth (Act of July 14, 1798), these lists and summary abstracts not only document property owners but also the number and types of buildings and slaves that they owned. The 1798 Act established nine divisions in Pennsylvania. The National Archives arranged the volumes by divisions and thereunder by district, county, township, or other subdivision.

HERE IS AN INTERESTING ARTICLE ON EARLY MAPPING OF PENNSYLVANIA

D HAYTON HAVERFORD EDU : MARKETING A COLONY WILLIAM PENN

This is going to be a SERIES of POSTS and so I'm going to designate a TAG that will (eventually) bring them ALL up!

The TAG WILL BE  "STATE CENSUS ADVENTURE"

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THE DEFINITIVE LIST OF STATE CENSUS' : WHAT STATES HAVE NEVER HAD A STATE CENSUS? : STATE CENSUS INSTEAD OF THE FEDERAL 1890 : STATE CENSUS ADVENTURE #3

UNITED STATES CENSUS BUREAU : LIST OF STATE CENSUS'  go to the full list which is referenced from the Ann S. Lainhart's Sate Census Records * book. I've highlighted where the census would bridge between the Federal 1880 and Federal 1900. However, I think if a state census is available, a researcher should look at every census that would provide information on the family.

These state census may help you determine WHERE AND WHEN A FAMILY MOVED ADDRESSES and, depending on the census may provide information that is interesting or important.

Again, do the historical research so you know WHEN THE STATE BECAME A STATE! 

And consider ALTERNATIVES TO FEDERAL OR STATE CENSUS: ie SPECIAL CENSUS

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Alabama - 1818, 1820, 1821, 1823, 1850, 1855, 1866, 1907.

Alaska - 1870, 1878, 1879, 1881, 1885, 1887, 1890-95, 1904-07, 1914, 1917.

Arizona - 1866, 1867, 1869, 1872, 1874, 1876, 1880, 1882.

Arkansas - 1823, 1829, 1865, 1911.

California - 1788, 1790, 1796, 1797-98, 1816, 1836, 1844, 1852.

Colorado - 1861, 1866, 1885.

Connecticut - No state census records are known to exist.

Delaware - 1782.

District of Columbia - 1803, 1867, 1878

Florida - 1825, 1855, 1866, 1867, 1868, 1875, 1885, 1895, 1935, 1945.

Georgia - 1798, 1800, 1810, 1827, 1834, 1838, 1845, 1852, 1853, 1859, 1865, 1879.

Hawaii - 1878, 1890, 1896.

Idaho - No state census records are known to exist.

Illinois - 1810, 1818, 1820, 1825, 1830, 1835, 1840, 1845, 1855, 1865.

Indiana - 1807, 1853, 1857, 1871, 1877, 1883, 1889, 1901, 1913, 1919, 1931.

Iowa - 1836, 1838, 1844, 1846, 1847, 1849, 1851, 1852, 1854, 1856, 1885, 1895, 1905, 1915, 1925.

Kansas - 1855, 1865, 1875, 1885, 1895, 1905, 1915, 1925.

Kentucky - No state census records are known to exist.

Louisiana - 1853, 1858.

Maine - 1837.

Maryland - 1776, 1778.

Massachusetts - 1855, 1865.

Michigan - 1837, 1845, 1854, 1864, 1874, 1884, 1888, 1894, 1904.

Minnesota - 1849, 1853, 1855, 1857, 1865, 1875, 1885, 1895, 1905.

Mississippi - 1801, 1805, 1808, 1810, 1816, 1818, 1820, 1822, 1823, 1824, 1825, 1830, 1833, 1837, 1840, 1841, 1845, 1850, 1853, 1860, 1866.

Missouri - 1797, 1803, 1817, 1819, 1840, 1844, 1852, 1856, 1860, 1864, 1876, 1880.

Montana - No state census records are known to exist.

Nebraska - 1854, 1855, 1856, 1865, 1869, 1885.

Nevada - 1862, 1863, 1875

New Hampshire - No state census records are known to exist.

New Jersey - 1855, 1865, 1875, 1885, 1895, 1905, 1915.

New Mexico - 1790, 1823, 1845, 1885.

New York - 1790, 1825, 1835, 1845, 1855, 1865, 1875, 1892, 1905, 1915, 1925.

North Carolina - 1786.

North Dakota - 1885, 1915, 1925.

Ohio - No state census records are known to exist.

Oklahoma - 1890, 1907.

Oregon - 1842, 1843, 1845, 1849, 1850, 1853, 1854, 1855, 1856, 1857, 1858, 1859, 1865, 1870, 1875, 1885, 1895 1905.

Pennsylvania - No state census records are known to exist.

Rhode Island - 1774, 1777, 1782, 1865, 1875, 1885, 1905, 1915, 1925, 1935.

South Carolina - 1825, 1839, 1869, 1875.

South Dakota - 1885, 1895, 1905, 1915, 1925, 1935, 1945.

Tennessee - 1891.

Texas - 1829-1836.

Utah - 1856.

Vermont - No state census records are known to exist.

Virginia - 1782, 1783, 1784, 1785, 1786.

Washington - 1856, 1857, 1858, 1860, 1871, 1874, 1877, 1878, 1879, 1880, 1881, 1883, 1885, 1887, 1889, 1891, 1892, 1898.

West Virginia - No state census records are known to exist.

Wisconsin - 1836, 1838, 1842, 1846, 1847, 1855, 1865, 1875, 1885, 1895, 1905.

Wyoming - 1875, 1878.

***

We're going to look at some states from here forwards! 

* Genealogy Angel

The TAG FOR THIS SERIES IS  "STATE CENSUS ADVENTURE"

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STATE CENSUS ADVENTURE ! #1 WHAT STATE CENSUS ARE AVAILABLE SINCE THE 1890 IS MOSTLY GONE?

Over the years many people have asked me how to start their research but also, some have come to me because they are blocked in their research.  It happens to me too but I love trying to figure out how to break that block or go around it and am often successful. Often it's simply knowing how to find the resources. - Christine

You may know the saying "The United States Census (meaning FEDERAL) is the BACKBONE of AMERICAN GENEALOGY."  While we wait and wait and wait for the 72 years that must pass before the 1960 census is revealed (April 1, 1960) to the public for the first time because we DO respect privacy (back in the day when privacy rights were understood as rights very few people lived past 72 years old) we can look back on previous census...

It's true that the FEDERAL CENSUS is the BACKBONE... though the 1890 barely exists... But it depends on what state and county you're researching too. The very LAST United States STATE CENSUS WAS IN 1985, and in Massachusetts. 

State census' certainly can help "fill the gap" when the 1890 census that you need is missing forever. 

So first, let's go to the NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF THE UNITED STATES for the definitive statement about what happened and what still exists! 

Here is the general consensus on that 1890! : fragments (that offer only a small percentage of the original data) are surviving for specific counties and townships in the states of Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, South Dakota, and Texas, plus a special schedule for Civil War veterans and widows. 

NATIONAL ARCHIVES RESEARCH CENSUS This is in more detail...

Excerpt: On January 10, 1921, a fire in the Commerce Department building, Washington, DC, resulted in the destruction of most of the 1890 census, to the woe of researchers ever since.

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If you're researching KENTUCKY or OKLAHOMA you have half a chance! But, interestingly, the census of CIVIL WAR widows and some items of interests to Native Americans and African Americans are available. Forget WEST VIRGINIA! There has never been a state census in that state!

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This is going to be a SERIES of POSTS and so I'm going to designate a TAG that will (eventually) bring them ALL up!

The TAG WILL BE  "STATE CENSUS ADVENTURE"

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