Census Records,--- What they can tell You or Not!
Today I realized that we have not discussed Census Records in quite some time.
This topic was hot in a Facebook chat room regarding research. As a long time
researcher the lack of knowledge many showed with comments was rather startling
to me. Also the lack of what it can tell you and what it probably can not tell you.
Having an ancestor that thought his status in life was a farmer, did not surprise me.
What left me mind boggled was to learn what this person did in his life time. He
obviously farmed out of necessity but he designed and created buildings and bridges
that were thought not possible. I saw one of the bridges in 1993.
He build the first known free standing staircase for his Grandaughter? I have the picture
and the newspaper article. Alas it fell not long before I made it to Pennsylvania.
The papers said the bridge was needed but the access was not feasible to do. He and two sons and others built it to everyones delight.
Farming was his necessity to feed his family and help the community but his knowledge
was in building or designing a building or bridge. Having seen one Church he helped
build. It was a sturdy building and impressed me since having helped build a barn with
my Dad. Yes, these tools were around then, some a different design than today but
still there to make the building square, level, matching etc. There by becoming solid in
nature.
So after several census's mentioned him only as farmer when I got to meet distant cousins
and read many of the letters I knew a different man.
Newspaper articles and Church Bulletin's, family saved letters changed my knowledge.
I can tell you the Census did not tell you what he did or who he was.
Here is a link to some census material that is on line.
http://www.census-online.com/links/NY/
Do not read just one or two reports follow from time of the birth to the death.
Sometimes the following census will let you know if the family left after death.
Reach out to Newspapers, Church Bulletins and papers, distant cousins closet full of
ancient letters, articles. Libraries, Historical Societies, Genealogical Societies and I love to
use the local Chamber of Commerce in each area of research and that local Library.
Many of us are mired in despair at about the 4th and 5th generation back, look for those
distant cousins. Visit the region, tour the backgrounds get a taste of the lay of the land.
Reach across the empty ground to find the common ground. Your Ancestors.
Do not believe everything you read in a Census. Some did their job well.
Others instead of the walk over the hill or down the lane would ask the neighbor to give
answers on their neighbors. Some times it was children that answered some times it
was accurate and believe it or not some times it was erroneous.
When possible compare with a State Census. School Census where they were held
some times helps. Tax lists at times can also fill in the blanks.
The more you do for yourself, the more easily it is to retain and refer back to.
Learn the history of the region is my number one key. Then Census Records, School
information when can be found, Church data, & Town Council Minutes are priceless.
ALSO SHARE YOUR DATA WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY, YOUR
DISTANT OR CLOSE. YOU MAY BE VERY SURPRISED AND SO MAY THEY BE
ALSO.
I LIKE TO USE: USGENWEB.ORG, LIBRARY RECORDS, ARCHIVE RECORDS,
MYHERITAGE.COM, FAMILY SEARCH ( BUT BE CAREFUL THERE),
WORLDGENWEB.ORG. SOCIETIES DATA, AND FAMILIES ARE REALLY
NUMBER ONE.
Finding there are places we used long ago that are still out there so remember the
different search engines too. Also Ancestry.com has much data.
Susan C Jones Pentico
aka SusiCP@cox.net or SusiCP1@gmail.com
All rights reserved. Ask and You May Receive.
