A good look at the 1820 U.S. Census

The 1820 U.S. Census was the fourth census taken since the ratification of the U.S. Constitution. This census has similarities to the three previous census. Once again the census primarily recorded the head of household, followed by a count of the members of the household. The U.S. Marshalls and their assistants also used whatever paper they could find because pre-printed forms were not provided.

Questions for the 1820 U.S. Census

The questions asked on the 1820 U.S. Census were similar to the previous census, but a bit more specific. The age groupings were broken down a bit more for each of the categories, including for males slaves, female slaves, and free people of color. This was also the first census to count foreigners that were not naturalized. These additional categories created many more columns on the forms, so it can be a bit trickier to figure without a guide. Because the Marshalls used whatever paper they could find, the majority of forms do not have labels on the columns. The forms were numbered later with a stamp.

One thing to pay attention to are the age groupings. If you look closely, some of the age groupings would result in a double count. For example free white males aged 16-18 would have also been included in the free white males 16-26 years. So when analyzing a family, do not assume there are additional children when looking in the 16-18 years column.

The 1820 U.S. census also included a count of certain occupations. These occupations included persons engaged in agriculture, persons engaged in commerce, and persons engaged in manufacture.

  • Name of head of family
  • Number of free white males under 10 years of age
  • Number of free white males of 10 and under 16 years of age
  • Number of free white males between 16 and 18 years of age
  • Number of free white males of 16 and under 26 years of age
  • Number of free white males of 26 and under 45 years of age
  • Number of free white males 45 years old and upwards
  • Number of free white females under 10 years of age
  • Number of free white females of 10 and under 16 years of age
  • Number of free white females of 16 and under 26 years of age
  • Number of free white females of 26 and under 45 years of age
  • Number of free white females 45 years old and upwards
  • Number of foreigners not naturalized
  • Number of male slaves under 14 years of age
  • Number of male slaves of 14 and under 26 years of age
  • Number of male slaves of 26 and under 45 years of age
  • Number of male slaves 45 years old and upwards
  • Number of female slaves under 14 years of age
  • Number of female slaves of 14 and under 26 years of age
  • Number of female slaves of 26 and under 45 years of age
  • Number of female slaves 45 years old and upwards
  • Number of male free coloured persons under 14 years of age
  • Number of male free coloured persons of 14 and under 26 years of age
  • Number of male free coloured persons of 26 and under 45 years of age
  • Number of male free coloured persons 45 years old and upwards
  • Number of female free coloured persons under 14 years of age
  • Number of female free coloured persons of 14 and under 26 years of age
  • Number of female free coloured persons of 26 and under 45 years of age
  • Number of female free coloured persons 45 years old and upwards
  • Number of all other persons, except Indians not taxed

Missing Records

At the completion of the enumeration, the Marshalls totaled up the counts and forwarded the numbers to the Secretary of State. The enumeration sheets were then deposited at the district court for each location for safekeeping. Eventually, the sheets were sent to Washington D.C., and bound into books. As in previous years, some of those records were lost.

There are records missing for parts of Georgia, Indiana, Tennessee, Maine, New Jersey, North Carolina, Arkansas Territory, and Missouri Territory. The National Archives has a complete list of what is missing. It would be safe to assume there could be additional missing sheets for the surviving states because of poor storage and transportation.

Census Statistics

The 1820 U.S. census included six new states: Louisiana, Alabama, Indiana, Mississippi, Maine, and Illinois. The country was clearly growing and the total population increased to 9,638,453. The population grew about 33% since the last census. The most populous state was once again New York and the least populous was a new state, Illinois.

A look at Luri Brockway

Luri Brockway was born October 1773 in Burlington, Hartford, Connecticut. He married Susannah Marks 4 March 1801 in Burlington, Hartford, Connecticut. Luri and Susannah had 4 girls and 3 boys. Luri was living in Burlington during the 1820 census. He would have been about 47 years old.

The 1820 U.S. Census with Luri Brockway

The 1820 U.S. census reports:

  • White males 10-16 years = 2
  • White males 16-26 years = 1
  • White male 45 years and up = 1
  • White females under 10 years = 3
  • White females 16-26 years = 1
  • White females 26-45 years = 1
  • White female 45 years and up = 1
  • Male slave under 14 years = 1

Using the birth years of the family as shown on Luri Brockway’s FamilySearch page, we can try to identify who may be in the household.

  • White males 10-16 years = 2
    • Perez b. 1807
    • Marcus b. 1809
  • White males 16-26 years = 1
    • Denison b. 1804
  • White male 45 years and up = 1
    • Luri Brockway b. 1773
  • White females under 10 years = 3
    • Mary Goodyear b. 1811
    • Levia b. 1813
    • Phebe Susan b. 1816
  • White females 16-26 years = 1
    • Urania S b. 1802
  • White females 26-45 years = 1
    • Susannah b. 1776
  • White female 45 years and up = 1
    • Unknown female
  • Male slave under 14 years = 1
    • Unknown enslaved person

Looking carefully at the census, we can account for each of Luri and Susannah’s children that are shown on Luri’s detail page on FamilySearch. Once again there are two possible mysteries. The identity of the white female over 45 years old is unknown. By taking a quick look at extended family, it does not appear likely that this person is Luri’s mother or Susannah’s mother.

Also, this is the first Brockway, that I have seen, to have had a slave. It would be worth looking through the court records and newspapers for Burlington to see if the enslaved person can be named.

Connecticut is generally assumed to be an abolition state. However, slavery was practiced and did exist in Connecticut. Connecticut had more enslaved Africans than any other New England state by the American Revolution. A law was passed in 1784 for gradual abolition. Looking at the 1820 U. S. census, it is pretty clear that many individuals had slaves.

,

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *