Mortality Schedules extracted from Federal and State Census Records

Exploring Census Mortality Schedules: A Vital Resource for Research

This webpage explores the significance of U.S. Census Mortality Schedules as a historical and genealogical resource. Mortality Schedules were collected as part of the decennial U.S. censuses between 1850 and 1880, and during some state censuses in 1885.

What are mortality schedules?

These special schedules list individuals who died in the 12 months preceding the official census date (typically June 1st of the census year), according to the U.S. Census Bureau. They were designed to gather information about public health and mortality trends in the United States, particularly as many states didn't keep civil death records during this period.

What years are Mortality Schedules available for?

Mortality schedules are available for the federal census years of 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880. In the state census, mortality schedules were generally recorded for the years of 1855, 1865, and 1875. They are arranged by state, then by county, and then by political subdivision (township, city, etc.). These schedules can add "flesh" to the bones of ancestors and provide information about the communities in which they lived. These schedules may be the only record of death for some individuals, as many states did not require recording of deaths until the late nineteenth century.

Information found in mortality schedules

Mortality schedules record deaths in the year preceding the taking of the census. For example, the 1860 mortality schedules include persons who died between June 1, 1859 and May 31, 1860. For each person, the following information is listed: name, age, sex, marital status if married or widowed, state or country of birth, month of death, occupation, cause of death, and the length of the final illness.

What questions were asked on the United States federal census mortality schedules?

Why are mortality schedules important?

Mortality schedules are a valuable resource for several reasons:

Filling gaps in death records: In many states, civil death registration was not mandatory until the late 1800s or early 1900s. Mortality schedules may be the only existing record of an ancestor's death and supporting details during this time period.
Genealogical research: They can help researchers trace family lineages, particularly for enslaved ancestors whose deaths might not be documented elsewhere.
Public health and demographic studies: The data collected in these schedules provides insights into mortality patterns, causes of death, and the health status of communities in the past.
Clues for further research: Information found in mortality schedules can lead researchers to other sources, such as obituaries, cemetery records, or probate records.

Using mortality schedules

Mortality schedules are generally organized by year, then by county.
Searches can be done using the name of the deceased, but it's important to consider variations in spelling and potential omissions.
Researchers may also choose to browse the schedules for a particular county or locality to get a better overview of the available records.

Where to find original copies of mortality schedules

The National Archives and various state archives or historical societies may also hold original copies or microfilmed versions of these schedules.

Limitations

It's important to be aware of the limitations when using mortality schedules:

Incompleteness: Not all deaths were recorded, and some data may be missing or inaccurate.
Transcription and indexing errors: Spelling errors and incomplete information can hinder searching.
Focus on deaths within the year prior to the census only.

Despite these limitations, census mortality schedules remain an invaluable tool for researchers and genealogists seeking to understand the lives and deaths of individuals in the 19th-century United States.

Free Mortality Schedules Online

Death Records extracted from Federal and State Census Records Mortality Schedules.