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Race Codes on Census Records"White", "Black", "Mulatto", "Indian", "Free Colored", etc.Prior to the late 1800's, the Federal Government seemed to officially recognize only four "races": White, Black, Mulatto and Indian. (Also see my Ethnic Origins page for more information on this subject). Later they added categories for "Chinese" and others. (W) White generally meant a person of Anglo or European origin with light skin color. The main columns of data on the 1790 through 1840 census records were for "Free Whites". In 1850 and later census records, "White" people had a race code of "W" in the "Color" column (or left blank in 1850 and 1860). (B) Black generally meant a person of African origin with dark skin. In the early days, most blacks in America were held in slavery, though not all were. The 1790 through 1840 census included columns for "Slaves" as well as columns for "Free Colored" (or "Other" in 1790). In 1850 and later census records, "Black" people were listed with a race code of "B" in the "Color" column. (M) Mulatto technically means a person of mixed race, part black and part white. Someone even came up with different "levels" based on how much black blood a person had (Quadroon for a 1/4 black, for example). Generally speaking, a "Mulatto" is someone of medium dark skin, or even "yellow" skin as described on some old records. However, in the early years of the census, there were not enough race codes to cover every possible race, so many people were listed as "Mulatto" who were of some other origin. So keep in mind that those listed as Mulatto could be mixed Black-White, White-Indian, Black-Indian, or a combination of all three (Black, Indian and White, also called "Tri-Racial"). This doesn't even account for those who might be dark skinned but of some other origin (Melungeon, "Black Dutch", North African Moors, Sephardic Jews, etc). As you can imagine, this was a "catch-all" category on the early census records. In 1790, anyone considered "Mulatto" would have been listed in the "Other" columns. In 1800 through 1840, they would have been included in the "Free Colored" columns. In 1850 and later, they would have been listed with a race code of "M" in the "Color" column. In many cases you'll find these same people listed as "White" on some census records, so it makes you wonder what the census taker based it all on. (I) Indian refers to those Native Americans or aboriginal peoples who were in America prior to the European and African arrivals. The Federal Census records included very clear instructions that Indians were not to be listed, and in most cases that was adhered to. Some early census takers (in 1850 in Western North Carolina for example) made exceptions, and listed Indians under race code of "I". Later census records included special schedules just for Indians. You will not find Indians listed on the 1790 through 1840 census, though you might find some who were only part-Indian. If they were listed at all those years, they would be in either the "White" columns, or in the "Free Colored" columns. "Free Colored" was used as a category on the 1790 through 1840 census (actually listed as "Other" in 1790). As I mentioned above under the "Mulatto" section, "Free Colored" could mean almost anything. The census taker used his own discretion to determine who fit in this category, so it is hard to say what the dividing line was between "White" and "Colored" in his mind. A "Free Colored" person could be a black person who was not a slave, or it could be person who had some black blood and some white blood, or it could be someone of some other origin, but who had dark skin or in some other way did not fit the census takers idea of what "white" was. Here are some of the most likely possibilities for identities of "Free Colored" persons in these records:
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