The 1840 Census
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Introduction | The Columns of Data | Where to find Census Records
The 1840 census was the 6th Census of the United States. The data collected by the census takers was not comprehensive, but it is of great value to researchers. They obtained the name of each "Head of Household", and then a numerical enumeration of all of the other family members by age and sex.
Only the head of each household was listed by name, everyone else was only included by category. This means that you can't view the 1840 census and immediately know who everyone in each household was. However, you can use the data and compare it to data obtained from other records, and analyze the numbers and make educated assumptions about who was in the family. Of course, this is a hit and miss proposition with varying degrees of success.
For example, consider the household of a fictional "John Miller". He was listed with one male age 30-39, two males under 5, and 1 female 20-29, and 1 female under 5. From this we can assume that he was the male over age 30-39, and that the two males under 5 were his sons, and that the female 20-29 was his wife, and the younger one was his daughter. However, while this is often a safe assumption to make, it is quite possible that all three children were grandchildren instead, or orphaned nephews and nieces that they were raising. From this record alone, it can not be positively determined who was who in a 1840 census household. However, if you have a family bible record showing that John Miller had two sons, one born 1836, and another born 1839, then you can be reasonably sure they were the two boys with him in 1840. If the bible record also shows he had a daughter born 1837, then you can be fairly sure she is the younger female with him in 1840, and the other one is probably his wife. As you can see it takes some analysis to figure out how to interpret this record.
The 1840 census was taken state by state, and county by county, and in some cases the counties were further divided by districts (such as townships, companies, etc.). Some records were left in the original order the census taker visited each household, whereas others were alphabetized before being turned in. The ones in original order are very useful to determine who a persons neighbors were. If you see three Johnson families listed side by side, you can reasonably assume they are somehow related.
Some researchers scoff at census records as not being very useful, but they are missing out on one of the most valuable set of records available. They can be frustrating to use, but also very rewarding. There are certainly various problems with the census. Check out my list of Common Census Errors.
There are a couple of excellent products that can be very helpful with census research. I have most of these and highly recommend them:
A Guide to
Using Federal Census Records (1790-1930) for Genealogy - by Marty Grant.
AniMap
Plus County Boundary Historical Atlas v. 2.5 (Win) - Excellent software
program with maps showing all county line changes, creation dates, etc.
CensusMate - A free worksheet (Excel or PDF) that helps you analyze and compare early census data.
The 1840 Census was almost identical to the 1830 census, but it added several columns including the most important one (for genealogy anyway) of those who were Revolutionary War Pensioners. I will explain what each column represents in detail below.
The census was as of 1 Jun 1840, meaning all data collected (even if collected months after that date) was supposed to reflect the families condition on 1 Jun 1840, meaning all ages were to be listed how they were back on June 1st, even if it was three months later when the census taker asked. It isn't know if the census taker adhered to this rule or not, but that is what they were supposed to do.
The "page number" that I use on my published census abstracts are normally the stamped page number. Each "page" of the 1840 census was quite wide, and is generally viewed as two pages, but with one page number. The first page contains the name and the ages for the white families, and page two contains free colored and slaves and other data.
1840 Census Columns:
- Names of Heads of Families. This is usually the husband. If a woman is listed as head of household, she was usually a widow, or a single mother, or a single person raising younger siblings.
- Free White Males Under 5. (i.e. age 0-4, or born ca 1835/1840)
- Free White Males 5 and under 10. (i.e. age 5-9, or born 1830/1835)
- Free White Males 10 and under 15. (i.e. age 10-14, or born 1825/1830)
- Free White Males 15 and under 20. (i.e. age 15-19, or born 1820/1825)
- Free White Males 20 and under 30. (i.e. age 20-29, or born 1810/1820)
- Free White Males 30 and under 40. (i.e. age 30-39, or born 1800/1810)
- Free White Males 40 and under 50. (i.e. age 40-49, or born 1790/1800)
- Free White Males 50 and under 60. (i.e. age 50-59, or born 1780/1790)
- Free White Males 60 and under 70. (i.e. age 60-69, or born 1770/1780)
- Free White Males 70 and under 80. (i.e. age 70-79, or born 1760/1770)
- Free White Males 80 and under 90. (i.e. age 80-89, or born 1750/1760)
- Free White Males 90 and under 100. (i.e. age 90-99, or born 1740/1750)
- Free White Males 100 and upwards. (i.e. age 100 and older, or born before 1740)
- Free White Females Under 5. (i.e. age 0-4, or born ca 1835/1840)
- Free White Females 5 and under 10. (i.e. age 5-9, or born 1830/1835)
- Free White Females 10 and under 15. (i.e. age 10-14, or born 1825/1830)
- Free White Females 15 and under 20. (i.e. age 15-19, or born 1820/1825)
- Free White Females 20 and under 30. (i.e. age 20-29, or born 1810/1820)
- Free White Females 30 and under 40. (i.e. age 30-39, or born 1800/1810)
- Free White Females 40 and under 50. (i.e. age 40-49, or born 1790/1800)
- Free White Females 50 and under 60. (i.e. age 50-59, or born 1780/1790)
- Free White Females 60 and under 70. (i.e. age 60-69, or born 1770/1780)
- Free White Females 70 and under 80. (i.e. age 70-79, or born 1760/1770)
- Free White Females 80 and under 90. (i.e. age 80-89, or born 1750/1760)
- Free White Females 90 and under 100. (i.e. age 90-99, or born 1740/1750)
- Free White Females 100 and upwards. (i.e. age 100 and older, or born before 1740)
- Free Colored Males Under 10. (i.e. age 0-9, or born 1830/1840)
- Free Colored Males 10 and under 24. (i.e. age 10-23, or born 1815/1830)
- Free Colored Males 24 and under 36. (i.e. age 24-35, or born 1803/1815)
- Free Colored Males 36 and under 55. (i.e. age 36-54, or born 1784/1803)
- Free Colored Males 55 and under 100. (i.e. age 55-99, or born 1740/1784)
- Free Colored Males 100 and upwards. (i.e. age 100 and older, or born before 1740)
- Free Colored Females Under 10. (i.e. age 0-9, or born 1830/1840)
- Free Colored Females 10 and under 24. (i.e. age 10-23, or born 1815/1830)
- Free Colored Females 24 and under 36. (i.e. age 24-35, or born 1803/1815)
- Free Colored Females 36 and under 55. (i.e. age 36-54, or born 1784/1803)
- Free Colored Females 55 and under 100. (i.e. age 55-99, or born 1740/1784)
- Free Colored Females 100 and upwards. (i.e. age 100 and older, or born before 1740)
- Note: Free Persons of Color (a.k.a. "FPC) were not considered "White" (in the census takers opinion, anyway). See my pages on Race Codes for more about these "Free Persons of Color". Normally, these are not Indians (Native Americans), as they were not supposed to be listed at all on the census. However, they could be those of mixed Indian heritage.
- Male Slaves Under 10. (i.e. age 0-9, or born 1830/1840)
- Male Slaves 10 and under 24. (i.e. age 10-23, or born 1815/1830)
- Male Slaves 24 and under 36. (i.e. age 24-35, or born 1803/1815)
- Male Slaves 36 and under 55. (i.e. age 36-54, or born 1784/1803)
- Male Slaves 55 and under 100. (i.e. age 55-99, or born 1740/1784)
- Male Slaves 100 and upwards. (i.e. age 100 and older, or born before 1740)
- Female Slaves Under 10. (i.e. age 0-9, or born 1830/1840)
- Female Slaves 10 and under 24. (i.e. age 10-23, or born 1815/1830)
- Female Slaves 24 and under 36. (i.e. age 24-35, or born 1803/1815)
- Female Slaves 36 and under 55. (i.e. age 36-54, or born 1784/1803)
- Female Slaves 55 and under 100. (i.e. age 55-99, or born 1740/1784)
- Female Slaves 100 and upwards. (i.e. age 100 and older, or born before 1740)
- Total. This is the total number of people in the household, all free whites, all slaves, and all free colored.
- Number of Persons in each family employed in Mining.
- Number of Persons in each family employed in Agriculture.
- Number of Persons in each family employed in Commerce.
- Number of Persons in each family employed in Manufactures and Trades.
- Number of Persons in each family employed in Navigations of the ocean.
- Number of Persons in each family employed in Navigations of canals, lakes and rivers.
- Number of Persons in each family employed in Learned professions and engineers.
- Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services, included in the forgoing: Names. The name of the Pensioner.
- Ages. The age of the pension (as of 1 June 1840).
- White Persons Deaf and Dumb Under 14.
- White Persons Deaf and Dumb 14 and up but under 25.
- White Persons Deaf and Dumb 25 and upwards.
- White Persons who are Blind.
- White Persons who are Insane and idiots at public charge.
- White Persons who are Insane and idiots at private charge.
- Colored Persons who are Deaf and Dumb.
- Colored Persons who are Blind.
- Colored Persons who are Insane and Idiots at private charge.
- Colored Persons who are Insane and Idiots at public charge.
- Universities or Colleges. Anyone who has attended.
- Number of Students.
- Academies and Grammar Schools.
- No. of Scholars.
- Primary and Common Schools
- No. of Scholars.
- No. of Scholars at Public charges.
Original Census records are available on Microfilm at the National Archives, LDS Family History Centers and numerous Libraries.
Digitized Census images are available online from Ancestry.com and Genealogy.com for a subscription fee. They are also available for purchase on CD from Heritage Quest and other companies. You can also find some census images online for free.
Published, transcribed versions of the census are available for some years and locations in book form, and some are available online.
If you don’t have access to the census records you need, keep in mind that I do Census Research for hire at a reasonable rate. Click for more information.
Helpful Links:
Census Links - Links to Online Census data
Census Online - Links to Online Census data
Heritage Quest - They have all the census records on CD (original census images)
USGenWeb Census Project - also includes Census Images as well as transcriptions
Last Updated January 11, 2008
