The 1800 census was the United States’ second federal census. The 1800 U.S. census form (also known as a population schedule) was the first in the U.S. to add age brackets for white females. There were no age bracket columns for free persons of color or enslaved persons until the 1820 U.S. census.
Read on to learn more about the 1800 census form, how to read and download it, and how to find 1800 census records.
Hand-written Forms for the 1800 Census
The 1800 U.S. census was not provided to the states on pre-printed forms and was not standardized. Instead, each judicial district had the liberty to create its own hand-written form. Because of this, censuses for 1800 will look different from region to region but should answer the same questions.
The role of enumeration fell to the U.S. Marshals and their assistants. A marshal of each judicial district hired assistant marshals to enumerate the local population. Additionally, the marshal and his assistants were required to prepare 2 copies of the census for their area when the enumeration was completed. These 2 copies were hung in prominent places in the area for the public to review for accuracy.
1800 U.S. Federal Census Questions
Every household was asked the following questions:
- Name of head-of-household
- Number of free White males in these categories:
- under 10 years of age
- of 10 years, but under 16 years
- of 16 years, but under 26 years
- of 26 years, but under 45 years
- 45 years and upward
- Number of free White females in these categories:
- under 10 years of age
- of 10 years, but under 16 years
- of 16 years, but under 26 years
- of 26 years, but under 45 years
- 45 years and upward
- Number of all other free persons (these would be Free People of Color)
- Number of slaves
How to read the 1800 U.S. Census
Some of the digital images of the 1800 U.S. census online at FamilySearch show the heads-of-household names in alphabetical order. That is an indication you are looking at 1 of the 2 copies made by the marshal and his assistants. When there was a copy made, errors and omissions could have crept in. In some cases, only the copy was digitized.
How to Deal with Missing or Hard-to-Read Headings
When researching the 1800 U.S. census, you might find the column headings appear only on the first page of the digitized census images or haven’t been digitized at all. To help you remember which column is which, you can use a “cheat sheet.” This pdf form of the 1800 U.S. census form from the National Archives is easy to download:
Finding Names in the 1800 U.S. Census
In the early U.S. federal censuses, only the names of the head-of-household were recorded. Other individuals in the family were marked as a number or tick mark in the appropriate race, gender, and age columns.
In the example below, Elisha Bingham of Concord, Essex, Vermont has the following persons in his home:
- 1 White male under 10 years of age
- 3 White males under 16 years of age
- 1 White male between 26 and 45 years of age
- 1 White female between 26 and 45 years of age
Relationships were also not recorded on early federal censuses. It is easy to assume the oldest male and female were husband and wife or the children were all the children of Elisha. That is not a safe assumption. Savvy family researchers should find additional evidence and records to support the relationships of these persons.
Available Census Schedules for 1800
The 1800 U.S. census is still in existence for the following states and territories:
- New Hampshire
- Massachusetts
- Maine
- Connecticut
- Vermont
- Rhode Island
- New York
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- Delaware
- Maryland
- District of Columbia
- Virginia
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Northwest Territory (some)
- Indiana Territory
Missing census schedules include Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, the Mississippi Territory, and large portions of the Northwest Territory.
How to Find 1800 Census Records
Where do you think your ancestors were living in 1800? FamilySearch has 1800 census records available to search for free. Learn more about the lives of your United States ancestors and find them in the 1800 U.S. census today!
If you can't find someone in the census or don't have a name to search, don't give up! See the sections below on census substitutes and using the FamilySearch shared tree to see what others already know.
Census Substitutes
Early U.S. census records seem lacking in genealogical information, but they can hold important information and clues. Remember, you can use other record sets such as:
- tax rolls
- voting registrations
- land records
- probate
- city directories
These records can help you place your ancestor in a specific area in the 1800s.
