General Points to Note 1. 1790 census - earliest one taken. Only heads of families named, parts missing. 2. 1800, 1810, 1820 - parts missing. Use tax lists to fill in. 3. 1840 census - shows Revolutionary War pensioners and ages 4. 1850 census - first census naming everyone living in family, and the place of birth. 5. 1870 census - shows details of parentage - if of foreign birth 6. 1880 census - first showing relationship; birthplace all parents, soundex made. 7. 1890 census - 99% destroyed by fire. Use Veterans Schedules to fill in. 8. 1930 and since (confidential) 9. May be State census years between Federal censuses. 10. Mortality schedules: 1850, 1860, 1870 & 1880 census.