Hoping someone can help me with the 1818 and 1820 state (territorial) censuses. Did they include "persons of color"? Here is what I found on Ancestry.com, but it is not clear if the entry came from the 1818 or the 1820 state (territorial) census: The entry lists a James Dabbs as head of household with one free white male over 21, eleven free white individuals and twelve free people of color. The 1820 Federal census lists James Dabbs, but no information on persons of color. Can anyone shed some light on this? Thanks. Judy Griffin, Wisconsin

There's an explanation of the 1818 State Census at accessgenealogy. They did have listings for free persons of color and another for slaves. I didn't find a James Dabbs in the Madison County listing. The 1820 Federal Census abstracts can be downloaded at Genealogy.com from their "How-to" section. The second page has the listings for free persons of color, etc. Do you have access to the actual census image? James Dabbs is shown to have 9 young boys, 2 young girls, one adult male, one adult female. The first 11 columns are for free whites, the 12th column is Foreigners not naturalized (nothing entered for James Dabbs) and the next column with the number "5" is for "People in Agriculture." It shows no persons of color, free or slave for James Dabbs. There was also an 1820 State Census but I've never seen any of it. Some info available at the Illinois Archives site. "Each county return includes name of county and for each household name of head of household and numbers of free white males twenty-one years of age and older, other white inhabitants, slaves and servants, and free Negroes and mulattoes. Returns are included for 18 or 19 counties existing at that time: (It then lists the counties, including Madison. Only Edwards is missing.) Sounds like the listing you have might be the 1820 State Census but that doesn't really make sense if the Federal Census doesn't match. Looks like to me they just messed up in the interpretation. One free white male and eleven free white individuals equals twelve PEOPLE and that does match the 1820 Federal census. I think someone messed up and added 12 free persons of color who didn't exist. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Judy" <judygriffin@tds.net> To: <ILMADISO-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, February 08, 2005 6:50 PM Subject: [ILMADISO-L] 1818, 1820 Madison Co. State Census > Hoping someone can help me with the 1818 and 1820 state (territorial) > censuses. Did they include "persons of color"? > > Here is what I found on Ancestry.com, but it is not clear if the entry came > from the 1818 or the 1820 state (territorial) census: > > The entry lists a James Dabbs as head of household with one free white male > over 21, eleven free white individuals and twelve free people of color. > > The 1820 Federal census lists James Dabbs, but no information on persons of > color. > > Can anyone shed some light on this? Thanks. > > Judy Griffin, Wisconsin > > > > > > ==== ILMADISO Mailing List ==== > To post a message so everyone on ILMADISO-L or ILMADISO-D receives it, send the message to: > ILMADISO-L@rootsweb.com > It will then be sent on to everyone in both ILMADISO-L or ILMADISO-D. > >

Thanks to those who responded to my question on the 1818/1820 state and federal censuses. I suspect that the entry on Ancestry.com for James Dabbs is in error. Judy, in Wisconsin