I'm answering my own question - from genealogy.about.com: Definition: When the U.S. census was taken for the years 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1885, 1890 and 1900, the enumerators were asked to collect information on all persons who had died during the 12 months preceding the census. This information is included on a mortality schedule. Census day was declared to be June 1st of the census year, therefore the enumerator (census taker) was to ask questions about people who had died between June 1st of the previous year and May 31st of the current year. Information on these special schedules includes the name of the deceased, age, sex, color, birthplace, month of death, occupation, disease or cause of death and number of days ill. The 1880 mortality schedule also included questions about the place where the disease was contracted and the number of years the deceased had lived in the area. The 1890 and 1900 mortality schedules have, unfortunately, been destroyed. Mike & Donna OBrien wrote: > I have a similar thing with my Thompson line. It's hard to know what really happend; we only know the children were orphans by 1850. Good luck! > > Donna > > "Thomas, Carole" <[email protected]> wrote: > Thank you. Am sure they probably died at home, rumor has it they died > of the flu before 1870 and the whole family died except my ggrandmother > who was bout a 1 1/2 years old. They were probably very poor, as I know > only rumors about their making salt in Alabama and being on a riverboat > store type boat selling goods on the Tennessee River and that some > relative owned the boat by name of Avery. > > -----Original Message----- > From: Mike & Donna OBrien [mailto:[email protected]] > Sent: Friday, September 23, 2005 1:01 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: RE: [TNMARION] MARION COUNTY, TENNESSEE MORTALITY SCHEDULE > 1850-1880 > > Carole: > > I'm not sure how complete that list is. If people died at home, they > may not be on there. I'm guessing anyone attended by a doctor or anyone > that died in Chattanooga will be there. > > Donna > > "Thomas, Carole" wrote: > Thank you so much for this. I guess it proves I will have to look > elsewhere for my Mortons, there are none listed. Thank you for moving me > forward. > > -----Original Message----- > From: Mike & Donna OBrien [mailto:[email protected]] > Sent: Friday, September 23, 2005 11:58 AM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [TNMARION] MARION COUNTY, TENNESSEE MORTALITY SCHEDULE > 1850-1880 > > I hope so! I know I was really excited when I saw it was finally > available. > > Donna > > macbetty wrote: > Donna has helped us out again --- Here's the link to our newest page. > http://www.rootsweb.com/~tnmario2/mortality.html > Thank you Donna I am sure this is going to be a very useful page for all > of us. > Betty > > ==== TNMARION Mailing List ==== > *********************************************************************** > PLEASE NOTE: This list is for queries and replies, comments, requests > for help, and other genealogical related information that is of interest > to researchers having a connection or a possible connection to Marion > County, Tennessee. There is no soliciting or advertising of any item or > service for sale allowed. > Betty McBee - list administrator-- [email protected] . > Marion County Web Site: http://www.rootsweb.com/~tnmario2/ > *********************************************************************** > > ============================== > View and search Historical Newspapers. Read about your ancestors, find > marriage announcements and more. Learn more: > http://www.ancestry.com/s13969/rd.ashx > > ==== TNMARION Mailing List ==== > *********************************************************************** > PLEASE NOTE: This list is for queries and replies, comments, requests > for help, and other genealogical related information that is of interest > to researchers having a connection or a possible connection to Marion > County, Tennessee. There is no soliciting or advertising of any item or > service for sale allowed. > Betty McBee - list administrator-- [email protected] . > Marion County Web Site: http://www.rootsweb.com/~tnmario2/ > *********************************************************************** > > ============================== > Search the US Census Collection. Over 140 million records added in the > last 12 months. Largest online collection in the world. Learn more: > http://www.ancestry.com/s13965/rd.ashx > > ==== TNMARION Mailing List ==== > *********************************************************************** > PLEASE NOTE: This list is for queries and replies, comments, requests > for help, and other genealogical related information that is of interest > to researchers having a connection or a possible connection to Marion > County, Tennessee. There is no soliciting or advertising of any item or > service for sale allowed. > Betty McBee - list administrator-- [email protected] . > Marion County Web Site: http://www.rootsweb.com/~tnmario2/ > *********************************************************************** > > ============================== > Search Family and Local Histories for stories about your family and the > areas they lived. Over 85 million names added in the last 12 months. > Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13966/rd.ashx > > ==== TNMARION Mailing List ==== > *********************************************************************** > PLEASE NOTE: This list is for queries and replies, comments, requests > for help, and other genealogical related information that is of > interest to researchers having a connection or a possible connection > to Marion County, Tennessee. There is no soliciting or advertising of > any item or service for sale allowed. > Betty McBee - list administrator-- [email protected] . > Marion County Web Site: http://www.rootsweb.com/~tnmario2/ > *********************************************************************** > > ============================== > View and search Historical Newspapers. Read about your ancestors, find > marriage announcements and more. Learn more: > http://www.ancestry.com/s13969/rd.ashx > > ==== TNMARION Mailing List ==== > *********************************************************************** > PLEASE NOTE: This list is for queries and replies, comments, > requests for help, and other genealogical related information > that is of interest to researchers having a connection or a > possible connection to Marion County, Tennessee. There is no > soliciting or advertising of any item or service for sale allowed. > Betty McBee - list administrator-- [email protected] . > Marion County Web Site: http://www.rootsweb.com/~tnmario2/ > *********************************************************************** > > ============================== > Find your ancestors in the Birth, Marriage and Death Records. > New content added every business day. Learn more: > http://www.ancestry.com/s13964/rd.ashx > > ==== TNMARION Mailing List ==== > *********************************************************************** > PLEASE NOTE: This list is for queries and replies, comments, > requests for help, and other genealogical related information > that is of interest to researchers having a connection or a > possible connection to Marion County, Tennessee. There is no > soliciting or advertising of any item or service for sale allowed. > Betty McBee - list administrator-- [email protected] . > Marion County Web Site: http://www.rootsweb.com/~tnmario2/ > *********************************************************************** > > ============================== > Search the US Census Collection. Over 140 million records added in the > last 12 months. Largest online collection in the world. Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13965/rd.ashx