When talking about Census Records, the records that are generally being referred to–an enumeration of all the people in a household – are known as population schedules.
Did you know there are also nonpopulation schedules? Additional schedules were used to identify and quantify resources and needs. These schedules are called Non-Population schedules. Agriculture, mortality, and social statistics schedules are available for the census years of 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880. Manufacturing schedules are available for 1820, 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880. They are arranged by state, then by county, and then by political subdivision (township, city, etc.)[1]
Nonpopulation schedules can add details to what you already know about your ancestors. Here is what I learned about one of my ancestors, John L. Miller, who resided in Sewickley Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania and was enumerated in the 1870 agricultural schedule:[2]
Name: John L. Miller
Acres of Land:
- 100 Acres improved.
- 30 Acres wooded.
Present Cash Value:
- Value of farm: $12,000.
- Value of farm implements $100.
Total amount of wages paid during the year, including board: $150
Livestock as of June 1, 1870
- 9 horses. 8 Milk Cows.
- 3 other cattle. 14 sheep.
- 10 swine.
- Value of additional livestock $1000.
Produce during the year ending June 1, 1870
- 500 bushels of winter wheat.
- 1200 bushels of Indian Corn.
- 430 bushels of oats.
- 40 bushels of Irish potatoes.
- 50 bushels of orchard produce.
- 350 pounds of butter.
- 20 tons of hay.
- 16 bushels of clover.
- 100 gallons of molasses.
Value of animals slaughtered or sold $300.
Estimated value of all farm production, including betterments and additions to stock $1970.
A National Archives article about nonpopulation schedules states, “These schedules can add “flesh” to the bones of ancestors and provide information about the communities in which they lived.”[3] When combined with general histories that describe farm life in that time period, this Agriculture Schedule makes it easier to imagine what the day-to-day life of John L. Miller and his family might have been like.
To learn more about nonpopulation
schedules, read
the National Archives article here.
[1] United States National Archives, “Nonpopulation Census Records,” https://www.archives.gov/research/census/nonpopulation, accessed 18 April 2019.
[2] “1870 U.S. Census, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, agriculture schedule, Sewickley Township, p. 1 (penned), line 26, John L. Miller; digital image, FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.com : accessed 9 April 2019); citing NARA microfilm publication T1138, roll 30.
[3] “Nonpopulation Census Records,” National Archives. (https://www.archives.gov/research/census/nonpopulation : accessed 18 April 2019).
