function DbInfoTitle() { document.write('U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules, 1850-1880') } function DbInfoHasGroupSearchPage() { return false; } function DbInfoGroupSearchPage() { document.write(''); } function DbInfoHasMiniDescription() { return true; } function DbInfoMiniDescription() { document.write('This database is an index to the Mortality Schedules of the United States Federal Censuses for 1850-1880. Each of the U.S. Federal Censuses from 1850-1880 included a mortality schedule enumerating the individuals who had died in the year previous to the census year. In addition, each individual is linked to the census image on which they appear.'); } function DbInfoHasDescription() { return true; } function DbInfoDescription() { document.write('

Part of the U.S. Federal Censuses from 1850-1880 included a mortality schedule enumerating the individuals who had died in the previous year. Because each of the censuses from 1850-1880 began on June 1, “previous year” refers to the 12 months preceding June 1, or June 1 (of the previous year) to May 31 (of the census year).

This database contains an index to individuals enumerated in these mortality schedules. In addition, each individual is linked to the census image on which they appear. Not all information that is recorded on the actual census is included in the index. Therefore, it is important that you view the image on which your ancestor is recorded to obtain all possible information about him/her.

In addition to the Federal Mortality Schedules, this database also includes Mortality Schedules from two State Censuses – Colorado and Florida – from 1885.

Questions asked in the mortality schedules:

  • Deceased\'s name
  • Sex
  • Age
  • Color (White, black, mulatto)
  • Whether widowed
  • Place of birth (state, territory, or country)
  • Month in which the death occurred
  • Profession, occupation, or trade
  • Disease or cause of death
  • Number of days ill
  • Parents\' birthplaces (added in 1870)
  • Place where disease was contracted and how long the deceased was a resident of the area (added in 1880)

    Why mortality schedules are useful:

    Mortality schedules are essentially nationwide, state-by-state death registers that predate the recording of vital statistics in most states. While deaths are under-reported, the mortality schedules remain an invaluable source of information.

    Mortality schedules are useful for tracing and documenting genetic symptoms and diseases and verifying and documenting Africa American, Chinese, and Native American ancestry, although African Americans are often included, especially if they were slaves.

    By using these schedules to document death dates and family members, it is possible to follow up with focused searches in obituaries, mortuary records, cemeteries, and probate records. They can also provide clues to migration points and supplement information in population schedules.

    Some of the above information taken from Loretto Dennis Szucs, "Research in Census Records" In The Source: A Guidebook of American Genealogy, ed. Loretto Dennis Szucs and Sandra Hargreaves Luebking (Salt Lake City: Ancestry, 1997).

    Which states are included?

    The following table shows for which states and years mortality schedules exist. Those in bold are ones that Ancestry.com has or will soon post online. The remaining states will be posted as Ancestry.com can acquire the data.

    1850186018701880
    AlabamaAlabamaAlabamaAlabama
     Arizona (in part as part
    of New Mexico Territory)    		Arizona (Territory)Arizona (Territory)
    ArkansasArkansasArkansasArkansas
    CaliforniaCaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia
      Colorado (Territory)Colorado
    ConnecticutConnecticutConnecticutConnecticut
    DelawareDelawareDelawareDelaware
    District of ColumbiaDistrict of ColumbiaDistrict of ColumbiaDistrict of Columbia
    FloridaFloridaFloridaFlorida
    GeorgiaGeorgiaGeorgiaGeorgia
      Idaho (Territory)Idaho (Territory)
    IllinoisIllinoisIllinoisIllinois
    IndianaIndianaIndianaIndiana
    IowaIowaIowaIowa
     Kansas (Territory)KansasKansas
    KentuckyKentuckyKentuckyKentucky
    LouisianaLouisianaLouisianaLouisiana
    MaineMaineMaineMaine
    MarylandMarylandMarylandMaryland
    MassachusettsMassachusettsMassachusettsMassachusetts
    MichiganMichiganMichiganMichigan
    Minnesota (Territory)MinnesotaMinnesotaMinnesota
    MississippiMississippiMississippiMississippi
    MissouriMissouriMissouriMissouri
      Montana (Territory)Montana (Territory)
     Nebraska (Territory)NebraskaNebraska
    Nevada (as part
    of Utah Territory)    		Nevada as part
    of Utah Territory)    		NevadaNevada
    New HampshireNew HampshireNew HampshireNew Hampshire
    New JerseyNew JerseyNew JerseyNew Jersey
    New Mexico (Territory)New Mexico (Territory)New Mexico (Territory) 
    New YorkNew YorkNew YorkNew York
    North CarolinaNorth CarolinaNorth CarolinaNorth Carolina
     North DakotaNorth DakotaNorth Dakota
    Ohio (counties
    H-W only)    		OhioOhio
    (Seneca County only)    		Ohio (Adams to
    Geaugan counties only)
    Oregon (Territory)OregonOregonOregon
    PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvania
    Rhode IslandRhode IslandRhode IslandRhode Island
    South CarolinaSouth CarolinaSouth CarolinaSouth Carolina
     South DakotaSouth DakotaSouth Dakota
    TennesseeTennessee Tennessee
    TexasTexasTexasTexas
    Utah (Territory)Utah (Territory)Utah (Territory)Utah (Territory)
    VermontVermontVermontVermont
    VirginiaVirginiaVirginiaVirginia
    Washington (as part
    of Oregon Territory)    		Washington (Territory)Washington (Territory)Washington (Territory)
    West Virginia (as part
    of Virginia)    		West Virginia (as part
    of Virginia)    		West VirginiaWest Virginia
    WisconsinWisconsinWisconsinWisconsin
      Wyoming (Territory)Wyoming (Territory)

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    Help preserve historical records for generations to come. Join the Ancestry World Archives Project, a collaborative effort involving thousands of people around the world keying digital records to make them free for everyone. Anyone can join, and you decide how much time you’ll contribute - as little as 15 minutes helps. Learn more.

    '); } function DbInfoHasSourceInfo() { return true; } function DbInfoSourceInfo() { document.write('
    Ancestry.com. U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules, 1850-1880 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2008. A portion of this collection was indexed by Ancestry World Archives Project contributors. Original data:
    State Citation
    United States. Federal Mortality Census Schedules, 1850-1880 (formerly in the custody of the Daughters of the American Revolution), and Related Indexes, 1850-1880. T655, 30 rolls. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C.
    ArkansasUnited States. Eighth census of the United States, 1860, Arkansas, mortality and Tenth census of the United States, 1880, Arkansas, mortality [microform] F410.C46 1850a, 1860a, 1870a, 1880a. University of Arkansas Libraries, Fayetteville, Arkansas
    ColoradoUnited States. Schedules of the Colorado State Census, 1885. Schedule 5, Mortality. M158, 8 rolls. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.
    FloridaUnited States. Schedules of the Florida State Census of 1885. Schedule 5, Mortality. M845, 13 rolls. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.
    IllinoisUnited States. Nonpopulation Census Schedules for Illinois, 1850-1880. T1133, rolls 58-64. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C.
    IowaUnited States. Nonpopulation Census Schedules for Iowa, 1850-1880. T1156, rolls 54-62. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C.
    KansasUnited States. Non-population Census Schedules for Kansas, 1850-1880. T1130, rolls 1, 3, and 42-44. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C.
    MassachusettsUnited States. Nonpopulation Census Schedules for Massachusetts, 1850-1880. T1204, rolls 9-10, 17, 22-23, and 37-40. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C.
    MichiganUnited States. Nonpopulation Census Schedules for Michigan, 1850: Mortality Schedules (in the custody of the State Library of Michigan) 1850. T1163, 1 roll. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C.
    MichiganUnited States. Nonpopulation Census Schedules for Michigan, 1850-1880 (in the custody of the Michigan State Archives), 1850-1880. T1164, rolls 15, 26-27, and 74-77. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C.
    MontanaUnited States. Nonpopulation Census Schedules for Montana, 1870 and 1880. M1806, 1 roll. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.
    NebraskaUnited States. Nonpopulation Census Schedules for Nebraska, 1860-1880. T1128, rolls 2-3 and 14-15. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C.
    New HampshireUnited States. Mortality Schedules, 1850-1880. M # 231.01 – M # 231.13. New Hampshire Archives and Records Management, Concord, New Hampshire.
    New JerseyUnited States. Nonpopulation Census Schedules for New Jersey, 1850-1880: Mortality. M1810, 4 rolls. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C.
    OhioUnited States. Nonpopulation Census Schedules for Ohio, 1850-1880. T1159, rolls 14-15, 29-30, and 102-104. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C.
    North CarolinaUnited States. Nonpopulation Census Schedules for North Carolina, 1850-1880: Mortality and Manufacturing. M1805, rolls 1-5. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C.
    PennsylvaniaUnited States. Non-Population Census Schedules for Pennsylvania, 1850-1880: Mortality. M1838, 11 rolls. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C.
    South CarolinaUnited States. Mortality Schedules, 1850-1880. South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Columbia, South Carolina
    TexasUnited States. Nonpopulation Census Schedules for Texas, 1850-1880. T1134, rolls 53 and 55-60. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C.
    Utah and VermontUnited States. Nonpopulation Census Schedules for Utah Territory and Vermont, 1870: Mortality. M1807, 1 roll. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.
    VirginiaUnited States. Nonpopulation Census Schedules for Virginia, 1850-1880. T1132, rolls 1, 10, and 18-19. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C.
    VirginiaUnited States. Eighth Census of the United States for the Northern District of Halifax County, Virginia, 1860: Schedules of Free Inhabitants, Slave Inhabitants, Mortality, Agriculture, Industry, and Social Statistics, 1860. M1808, 1 roll. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.
    WashingtonUnited States. Non-population Census Schedules for Washington Territory, 1860-1880. A1154, roll 3. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.
    WisconsinUnited States. United States Census Schedules for Wisconsin. Series 1675-1677, 4 rolls. Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin.
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