R E S E A R C H   G U I D A N C E

Maryland
Research Outline
   

Table of Contents
Records Of The Family History Library
Family History Library Catalog
Archives And Libraries
Bible Records
Biography
Cemeteries
Census
Church Records
Court Records
Directories
Emigration And Immigration
Gazetteers
Genealogy
History
Land And Property
Maps
Military Records
Minorities
Native Races
Naturalization And Citizenship
Newspapers
Periodicals
Probate Records
Public Records
Societies
Taxation
Vital Records
For Further Reading
Comments And Suggestions

CENSUSLook this term up in the glossary.



Federal CensusesLook this term up in the glossary.

Population SchedulesLook this term up in the glossary.. Many federal census records are found at the Family History Library, the National Archives, and other federal and state archives. The United States Research Outline (30972) provides additional information about these records.

The Family History Library has copies of the existing U.S. federal censuses of Maryland for 1790, 1800, 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920. The original 1790 schedules for Allegany, Calvert, and Somerset counties are missing. The 1800 census is missing the original schedules for Baltimore County outside of Baltimore City. The 1830 census lacks the original schedules for Montgomery, Prince Georges, Queen Annes, St. Marys, and Somerset counties. The 1890 population schedules were destroyed in a fire in 1921.

Statewide indexesLook this term up in the glossary. are available for the 1790, 1800, 1820, 1830, 1840, and 1850 federal censuses. The 1860 index only includes areas outside Baltimore City. SoundexLook this term up in the glossary. (phonetic) indexes on microfilm exist for part of the 1880 census and all of the 1900 and 1920 censuses. The 1910 census index lists only heads-of-house and strays born in Poland.

Countywide indexesLook this term up in the glossary. sometimes help you locate names overlooked in statewide indexesLook this term up in the glossary.. Some countywide indexes are listed in the Locality Search of the Family History Library Catalog under MARYLAND, [COUNTY] - CENSUS.

When you cannot find an index or if the person you are looking for is not listed in the index, look for the name in the census anyway. Before you can search the actual census, however, you will need to know where the person was living. If the person lived in a large city, you can find an address in a city directory Look this term up in the glossary.for the same year that the census was taken (see the “Directories” section of this outline). Then look for that address on the original census schedules.

The following reference tools can help you determine which census schedule microfilm and ward or enumeration district to search for specific addresses:

Kirkham, E. Kay. A Handy Guide to Record-Searching in the Larger Cities of the United States. Logan, Utah: Everton, 1974. (FHL book 973 D27kc; fiche 6010059-60; computer number 55656.) This work includes ward maps and street indexes for Baltimore for the years 1850-1855 and 1860.

Brown, Mary Ross. An Illustrated Genealogy of the Counties of Maryland and the District of Columbia as a Guide to Locating Records . . . Baltimore: French-Bray Printing Co., 1967. (FHL book 975.2 E7b; computer number 246616.) This has maps showing Baltimore City ward boundaries in 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880.

Census Descriptions of Geographic Subdivisions and Enumerations Districts. The United States Census Offices has prepared the following descriptions:

1880

FHL 1402861; computer number 299426

1900

FHL 1303022; computer number 117685

1910

FHL 1374004; computer number 176643

1920

FHL 1842708; computer number 687949

Buckway, G. Eileen. U.S. 1910 Federal Census: Unindexed States: A Guide to Finding Census Enumeration Districts for Unindexed Cities, Towns, and Villages. Salt Lake City: Family History Library, 1992. (FHL book 973 X2bu 1910; fiche 6101340; computer number 678265.) This work lists all Maryland towns (or wards), their 1910 census enumeration district numbers, and their FHL film numbers. The work contains special instructions and information for Baltimore, including the FHL film numbers of city directories.

United States. Bureau of the Census. Cross Index to Selected City Streets and Enumeration Districts, 1910 Census. Washington, D.C.: National Archives, [1984]. (On 51 FHL fiche beginning with 6331481; computer number 258163.) This reference lists street addresses of Baltimore on fiche numbers two through four and lists corresponding census enumeration districts.

Mortality SchedulesLook this term up in the glossary.. Mortality schedules exist for the years 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880. The schedules and indexes are available at the Maryland State Archives. The Family History Library has microfilm copies of and the following published mortality schedules:

Dryden, Ruth T. (Ruth Jean Tamm), 1923–. State of Maryland Mortality Schedules, 1850 & 1860. San Diego: Dryden, [198-?]. (FHL book 975.2 X28d; fiche 6117599; computer number 432163.) This work is indexed.

Riley, Janet Wilson. Eastern Shore Mortality Schedule, 1870. Silver Spring, Md.: Family Line Publications, 1985. (FHL book 975.21 K28r; computer number 432165.) The Eastern shore area includes nine counties: Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Annes, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, and Worcester.

Riley, Janet Wilson. Mortality Schedule of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, 1880. Silver Spring, Md.: Family Line Publications, 1986. (FHL book 975.2 A1 No 196; computer number 674061.) The Eastern Shore area includes nine counties: Caroline, Cecil, Dorcester, Kent, Queen Annes, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, and Worcester.

Slave SchedulesLook this term up in the glossary.. Slave schedules for 1850 and 1860 list the name of the owner, the numbers of slaves owned, whether the slaves were male or female, and the slaves' age ranges. They do not list the slaves by name. The slave schedules are not indexed.

For census slave schedules, see:

1850

(FHL films 443531-33; computer number 754223)

1860

(FHL films 803484-85; computer number 733523)

Veterans SchedulesLook this term up in the glossary.. The Family History Library has the Maryland 1890 Civil War Union veterans schedule and index. The index is:

Dilts, Bryan Lee. 1890 Maryland Census Index of Civil War Veterans or Their Widows. Salt Lake City: Index Publishing, 1985. (FHL book 975.2 X22d 1890; computer number 356670.)

Master IndexesLook this term up in the glossary.. Some of the indexes mentioned above are combined into one master index of several census years, states, and census types:

Family Tree Maker™: Version 4.0. [Novato, Cal.]: Brøderbund Software, 1997. (FHL compact disc no. 9 1997 index; computer number 775509; not available at Family History Centers.) This contains a single, composite index to the Maryland federal censuses for 1790 to 1860.

FamilyFinder™ Index and Viewer: Version 3.0 [Novato, Calif.]: Brøderbund Software, 1995. (FHL compact disc no. 9 1995 index; computer number 775509. Not available at Family History Centers. FamilyFinder and Family Tree Maker are trademarks of Brøderbund Software, Inc.) A master index to Maryland 1790 to 1860 federal censuses, 1850 and 1860 slave schedules, and 1850 and 1860 mortality schedules.

The FamilyFinder Index includes the following Jackson indexes:

Jackson, Ronald Vern. AIS Microfiche Indexes of U.S. Census and Other Records. Bountiful, Utah: Accelerated Indexing Systems International, 1984. (No FHL fiche number but available at many Family History Centers.) In this work, the Maryland censuses for 1790, 1800, and 1810 censuses are combined on Search 1. The 1820, 1830, 1840, and 1850 censuses have separate searches.


ColonialLook this term up in the glossary. and StateLook this term up in the glossary. Censuses

A colonial census was taken in 1776 for most counties. For some counties it gives the name, age, and race of each family member. The 1776 census has been indexed and published in:

Carothers, Bettie Stirling. 1776 Census of Maryland. Lutherville, Md.: B.S. Carothers, 1976. (FHL book 975.2 X2p 1776; film 928227 item 2; computer number 263367.)

In 1778 nearly every male 18 years of age and older (except for Friends and others who objected for religious reasons) took an oath of fidelity to the state. A list of these men has been published in:

Carothers, Bettie Stirling. Maryland Oaths of Fidelity. 2 vols. Lutherville, Md.: B.S. Carothers, 1971. (FHL book 975.2 P4c; film 908753 items 6-7; fiche 6051446; computer number 39772.) Names are listed alphabetically within counties.

The “Oath of Fidelity Index” at the Maryland Historical Society is a card index of the 14,000 men who signed the oath. The Family History Library does not have a copy of this index.

A list of adult males was also made in 1778 to determine who had not taken the oath of fidelity. The few surviving records are indexed in:

Carothers, Bettie Stirling. 1778 Census of Maryland. [Chesterfield, Mo.]: B.S. Carothers, 1975. (FHL book 975.2 X2p 1778; film 908123 item 3; computer number 263929.) The parish or hundred is sometimes given.

Maryland did not take state censuses, but the Baltimore City Archives has an 1868 police census for some city wards of Baltimore on one microfilm.

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