Published: September 29, 2007 07:22 pm         

Genealogy: Mortality schedule makes its debut in the federal census of 1850

TERRE HAUTE — One of the “firsts” initiated with the 1850 federal census was the creation of a distinctive questionnaire called the mortality schedule. This was a special “nonpopulation” census inventory that looked at the details surrounding all the deaths that had taken place in the district during the twelve months immediately preceding the census. Since the census began on June 1, 1850, the mortality schedule was to record all deaths from June 1, 1849 to May 31, 1850.

The mortality schedule recorded the decedent’s name, age, gender, color, birth place, free or slave status, married or widowed status, occupation, month of death, cause of death, number of days ill, and physician’s name. The mortality schedule was also used with the next three censuses–1860, 1870, and 1880. In 1870, the birthplace of the parents was added to the list of information collected. In 1880, the place where the illness was contracted and the length of residence in the district was added. Mortality schedules provided the government with information on diseases, epidemics, and mortality rates.

There are several reasons why searching the mortality schedules can be a gold mine for the genealogist. One is that these schedules predate the collection of death records and so can serve as a death record for an individual. The month and year of the death would be recorded, but not the exact day. Another reason to search the mortality schedules is to find infants or children who were born after the previous census and who died before the current census. Often, the listing of a deceased child on a mortality schedule is the only evidence of his or her existence. In addition, finding a person’s death on a mortality schedule can be the first step to locating an obituary, a mortuary or funeral record, a cemetery record, or a will or deed in probate.

Remember that the information contained in mortality schedules is only as good as the people giving the information or doing the recording. Just as in other census records, people who actually died in the 12-month time period could be omitted from the schedule if the family didn’t mention the death or the census taker didn’t ask. The Source estimates that deaths are grossly under-reported on these schedules, perhaps only amounting to 13 percent of all deaths.

For an index to the mortality schedules, check Federal Mortality Census Schedules, 1850-1880 (formerly in the custody of the Daughters of the American Revolution), and Related Indexes, contained on 30 microfilmed rolls, series T655, available through the National Archives. An index to the Indiana and Illinois 1850 schedules and the Indiana 1860 schedule can also be found on Ancestry.com.

Microfilmed copies of the 1850-1880 mortality schedules for Indiana can be found in the Indiana State Library, located at 140 N. Senate Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46204, phone 317-232-3675. Also available in book form in the Genealogy Division.

Mortality Schedules for Illinois can be found on rolls 57 and 58 of microfilm series T1133, available through the National Archives. There is also a Web site devoted to the 1850 Illinois mortality schedule, located at www.iltrails.org/1850_Illinois_State_Mortality_

Schedule.html. Information there is posted by county. Typically, the names are not listed in alphabetical order.

For more information, check out the National Archives Web site on nonpopulation census information at www.archives.gov/genealogy/

census/nonpopulation.

Next week will continue with more information on nonpopulation census schedules.