"THE CENSUS DAY," by William Dollarhide If you are a genealogist, you are an avid user of the federal censuses, 1790-1930. But even experienced census users may not know about some of the obscure aspects of the censuses. Here's one of them. It's called the "census day." Beginning with the 1790 federal census--and continuing with every census thereafter--each enabling law authorized by Congress specified a "census day" for gathering the census information from every household in America. From 1790 to 1820 the census day was the first Monday in August. The census day was NOT the day the enumerator arrived at a household; it was the day for which all the statistics of the census were collected. The actual instructions given to all the U.S. Marshals right before the 1820 census explains: "All the questions refer to the day when the enumeration is to commence, the first Monday in August next. Your assistants will thereby understand that they are to insert in their returns all the persons belonging to the family on the first Monday in August, even those who may be deceased at the time when they take the account; and, on the other hand, that they will not include in it infants born after that day." Similar instructions have been given for every census since 1790, but with different census days. The table below shows the census day for each census, 1790-1930, and the time allowed to take the census: Census Year / Census Day / Time Allowed 1790 / 2 August / 9 months 1800 / 4 August / 9 months 1810 / 6 August / 10 months 1820 / 7 August / 13 months 1830 / 1 June / 12 months 1840 / 1 June / 18 months 1850 / 1 June / 5 months 1860 / 1 June / 5 months 1870/ 1 June / 5 months 1880 / 1 June/ 1 month 1890 / 1 June / 1 month 1900 / 1 June / 1 month 1910 / 15 April / 1 month 1920 / 1 January / 1 month 1930 / 1 April / 1 month 1820 & 1830 Census Day Differences: On the above table, note that the census day changed from the first Monday in August in 1820 to the first day of June in 1830. If one is researching families appearing in the 1820 and 1830 censuses, looking at these families again may be important. Since the census days for 1820 and 1830 are not exactly 10 years apart, the two-month difference may reveal some surprising results. For example, if a person were born between 1 June 1820 and 7 August 1820, that child would appear in the 1820 census in the "under 10" age category. But in 1830, that same person would appear in the "of 5 and under 10" rather than the "of 10 and under 15" age category, since the person had not yet turned 10. The age category for anyone born between 1 June and 7 August in any year would be affected by this reporting change between 1820 and 1830. Comparing the 1820 age categories for a person appearing 10 years later and not in the "correct" age category may actually give a clue to a person's date of birth within a two-month period. Time Allowed to Take a Census: On the table above, note the time allowed to take each census. All of the states complied with this provision, except South Carolina in 1790. South Carolina could not complete its 1790 enumeration in nine months. The U.S. Marshal complained that he was having great difficulty finding people to take the job because of resistance to the census being taken. A Charleston jury met to decide the fate of six persons who had "refused to render an account of persons in their households as required by the census act." A South Carolina census taker was brought on trial for neglect of duty. He did not complete the census in his district. These and other problems led to South Carolina being granted an extension and the census returns were dated 5 February 1792, a full 18 months after the census day. Differing Census Days: In a couple of cases, there have been census days assigned to certain states that were different from the rest of the U.S. for that year. When Vermont entered the Union as the 14th state in 1791, the 1790 census was already underway. Vermont's 1790 census was taken with a census day of the first Monday in April 1791, with five months allowed to take the census there. Utah, which became a territory in September 1851, had its 1850 census taken with a census day of 1 April 1851. But the dates on the Utah census pages are mostly in October 1851. Thus, the 1851 census enumerators probably asked Utahans questions like, "Six months ago, back on April 1st, who was the head of this household?" Census Day Versus Enumeration Date: Genealogists should record two dates when copying information from the censuses: the census day and the enumeration date. No matter how many months it took for an enumerator to reach a house, he was supposed to gather the information as if time had stopped on the census day. Every person whose regular abode was in a particular household on the census day was to be enumerated, even if a person was away at the time of the enumeration. Understanding the impact of the census day versus the enumeration date may explain why certain people appear in a census listing, even though you have other evidence to show the person died before the household was enumerated. If a person was alive on the census day, that person was to be included--even if it took some time for the enumerator to get around to that house to take the census. The person could have been dead for several months. Or, you may wonder why that youngest child in a family was not listed in a census. If a child were born after the census day, that child was not to be included--even if the census taker had visited the house and was aware of a playful little toddler crawling around in front of him. Now, some of you will want to go back to all of those census lists you have copied down and confirm the date of enumeration AND the census day. Any missing people? Any extra people? Good census hunting! 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The Family History Library is in the process of making their own census index which will be free to the public. I'm sure Ancestry didn't like that idea. Anyone who is interested should visit http://www.familysearchindexing.org/en/index.jsp . David Pitts

But we must remember that none of the censuses were taken with the precision that this article seems to presume. There were many variables that caused variances in the census records. Just some of them to remember: 1. Not all the census takers followed directions correctly. 2. Not all the reporting family members understood the questions correctly. 3. Not everyone answered the questions correctly. 4. On occasion some information might even come from neighbors. 5. Many other factors influenced the data. -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of [email protected] Sent: Tuesday, June 19, 2007 5:44 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [TXWISE] FYI (from another list) CENSUS INFORMATION "THE CENSUS DAY," by William Dollarhide No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.472 / Virus Database: 269.9.0/853 - Release Date: 6/18/2007 3:02 PM

There are so many stories some of the Miami, Bluejacket, Vinita area.... and lots of Missouri Pioneers... a great read and a good way to get a picture of the area and the times *One of the most valuable research tools for the state has just been posted on the web:* *Western History, Indian-Pioneer Collection, searchable, scanned images* http://digital.libraries.ou.edu/whc/pioneer/ =================================================================== Interview with Luther H. Sharp Kiowa, Oklahoma Charline M. Culbertson, Field Worker June 24, 1937 LIVE IN INDIAN TERRITORY My family and I moved to Chickasaw Nation in 1899. We located at what was called the Byrd's mill which was a gin, flour and sawmill owned by Frank Byrd, a half-breed Chickasaw Indian. We had no particular reason for coming to this certain point only that we left Missouri on account of sickness as we were living in a very undesirable place for our health. I was born in Dent County, Missouri, being reared and married there. Or Interview with Jake Simmons As given to L. W. Wilson, Indian Pioneer History Wilson, L. W. Research worker This interview covers all the information known to Jake Simmons, which includes his personal activities and of that revealed to him by his parents and grandparents. His good wife, Rose Simmons, assisted him as far as possible in substantiating exact locations, dates, etc. Mr. Simmons states that he was born at Boggy Depot on the fort Washita River near Fort Washita in the month of September, 1865, and that he is now near 72 years of age. His wife Rose Jefferson-Simmons is now 79 years of age and was born in the Red River country of the Indian Territory. .... some of the topics he talked of. Migration before the Civil War Need of Government for the settler The white settlers had troubles all their own. Some could not make a living on the places and had to give it up; others would send some member of their family back home from where they came to work and get a grub stake for those here in the t e r r i t o r y . Division of Oklahoma Territory Cherokee strip opening in 1893