In a message dated 10/10/00 12:04:34 AM Central Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: > I sent a message to the McElroy message board regarding the 1790 Census. > Do you know how accurate this is? > > I am stuck on getting info on my grgrgrandfather: John McElroy who was born > in Georgia in 1807 and died in Miss in 1876. > > If the census is accurate, then I can start from those 6 men and work > forward instead of backwards. I believe once I can link my John to one on > the 1790 census, I can go further back. > > Pls advise soonest, > Thanks > > > BTW, you are doing an excellent job maintaining this board. > Thanks > It depends on which state of the 1790 Census you are looking for or at. Most of the 1790 Census was destroyed during the war of 1812. Those still available are: Connecticut, Maine (then part of Massachusetts), Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina and Vermont. The schedules for Deleware, Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, Tennessee and Virginia were burned during the War of 1812. However, most of these have substitutes that have been compiled from old tax lists, voter lists, land records and various other means. My experience with the recreated GA Census is that it seems to be fairly accurate. But who knows how complete? However, to answer your question as to how accurate they are is difficult to answer. Since the Enumerator was paid extremely small wages, it really didn't make sense for him/her to travel long distances in uncharted country trying to find someone that might no longer be there. For those that are listed, the accuracy is debatable. But that is true of any Census. You have no way of knowing who was providing the information, nor how much that person knew. I gave my family's information in 1950. I wasn't even 10 years old, but was the only one in the house when the enumerator came by. Now how accurate do you think that information is? While I rely heavily on the Census in my research, I always do my best to find primary sources or additional secondary sources to back up that information. Even comparing one Census data with another Census year's data on the same person can make you crazy. My Grandfather Dixon was supposed to have been born in both VA and OH in 1854 - very difficult. My Grandmother's brother is variously said to have been born in both TN and TX. All you can do is gather all the available information and add it up. Then constantly continue to research and keep an open mind. I just found that the couple that I thought were my gggrandparents were not - mine were in another county the same year. The census in the county in which I later found them listed included their oldest son on the Census. The other couple were very likely relatives of his, but I have yet to tie them in. Without the willingness to constantly accept new material and weigh it, in light of other material, we can be searching up a dead end alley. I hope I have answered your question on the 1790 Census. Good luck in your research. Maryann Dixon Moseby Proud Rootsweb Sponsor M*c*E*l*r*o*y & W*a*k*e*f*i*e*l*d & A*r*n*o*l*d Listkeeper [email protected] for Surname lists