United States Census, Slave Schedule, 1850 - FamilySearch Historical Records

United States

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United States Census (Slave Schedule), 1850 CID1420440 {{{CID2}}} {{{CID3}}} {{{CID4}}} {{{CID5}}} {{{CID6}}} {{{CID7}}} {{{CID8}}} {{{CID9}}}
This article describes a collection of records at FamilySearch.org.
United States
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Record Description
Record Type	Slave Schedules
Record Group	RG 29: Records of the Bureau of the Census
Collection years	1850
Microfilm Publication	M432. Seventh Census of the United States, 1850.
Arrangement	Arrange alphabetically by state, and by county or parish.
National Archives Identifier	598246
FamilySearch Resources
United States Guided Research
United States Record Finder
United States Research Tips and Strategies
African American Slavery and Bondage
United States Census Slave Schedules
African American Genealogy
Quick Guide to African American Records
Getting Started With African American Research
Researching African American Genealogy
African American Introduction
Related Websites
NARA 1850 Federal Census Slave Form
NARA Nonpopulation Census Records
United States Census Online
Federal Records that Help Identify Former Slaves and Slave Owners
Archive
National Archives and Records Administration

What is in This Collection?

The collection consists of an index and images of slave schedules listing slave owners and only age and gender of the slaves in 1850. This was the first time that slave information was captured as a separate schedule. Census enumerators created slave schedules at the same time as population schedules. The slave schedules were microfilmed along with the population schedules are and part of NARA microfilm publication M432 Seventh Census of the United States, 1850 in Record Group 29 Records of the Bureau of the Census.Slave schedules for 1850 exist for the following:

• Alabama, rolls 17-24
• Arkansas, roll 32
• Delaware, roll 55
• District of Columbia, roll 57
• Florida, roll 60
• Georgia, rolls 88-96
• Kentucky, rolls 223-228
• Louisiana, rolls 242-247
• Maryland, rolls 300-302
• Mississippi, rolls 383-390
• Missouri, rolls 422-424
• North Carolina, rolls 650-656
• South Carolina, rolls 861-868
• Tennessee, rolls 902-907
• Texas, rolls 917--918
• Utah Territory
• Virginia, rolls 983-993

Slave schedules are not available for other states.

While nearly one-third of Southern families owned slaves, the number of slave owners named in the slave schedules is 1.7 percent of the total population (in 1860). Depending on the state, slaves numbered less than one to nearly 50 percent of the population (12.5 percent of the total population in 1860).

Image Visibility

Whenever possible FamilySearch makes images and indexes available for all users. However, rights to view these data are limited by contract and subject to change. Because of this there may be limitations on where and how images and indexes are available or who can see them. Please be aware some collections consist only of partial information indexed from the records and do not contain any images. For additional information about image restrictions see Restrictions for Viewing Images in FamilySearch Historical Record Collections.

To Browse This Collection

You can browse through images in this collection using the waypoints on the Collection Browse Page for United States Census (Slave Schedule), 1850.

What Can These Records Tell Me?

The following information may be found in these records:

• Name of slave owner
• Number of slaves owned
• Age, gender, and color of slave
• If slave is a fugitive, from what state
• Has slave been emancipated
• Very few schedules list the names of the slaves

Collection Content

Sample Image

• 

  1850 Slave Schedule Mississippi

How Do I Search This Collection?

Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:

• The name of the slave owner
• The age of the slave
• The state where the slave may have lived

Search the Index

Search by name on the Collection Details Page.

1. Fill in the search boxes in the Search Collection section with the information you know
2. Click Search to show possible matches

View the Images

View images in this collection by visiting the Collection Browse Page:

1. Select State
2. Select County
3. Select Township or other division of county to view the images

How Do I Analyze the Results?

Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

What Do I Do Next?

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

• Add any new information to your records
• Use slave schedules to identify the slave holdings of owners
• Use the slave schedules with other sources to identify individuals and families who were slaves

I Can't Find the Person I'm Looking For, What Now?

• Look for variant spellings of the names. You should also look for alias names, nicknames and abbreviated names
• Try alternative search methods such as only filling in the surname search box (or the given name search box) on the landing page leaving the other box empty and then click on search. This should return a list of everyone with that particular name. You could then browse the list for individuals that may be your ancestor

Research Helps

The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the United States.

• United States Guided Research
• United States Record Finder
• United States Research Tips and Strategies

Other FamilySearch Collections

These collections may have additional materials to help you with your research.

FamilySearch Catalog

• Celestine G. Koger, The 1850 slave inhabitants schedule of Accomack County, Virginia Bowie, Maryland : Heritage Books, Inc., c1995 FHL 975.516 X2k 1850
• Patricia B. Duncan, 1850 Fairfax County & Loudoun County, Virginia, slave schedule Westminster, Maryland : Willow Bend Books : Heritage Books, c2003 FHL FHL 975.52 X2d 1850
• Patricia B. Duncan, 1850 Fauquier County, Virginia, slave schedule Westminster, Maryland : Willow Bend Books : Heritage Books, c2003 FHL 975.5275 X2d 1850

FamilySearch Historical Records

• United States Census (Slave Schedule), 1860
• 1850 Census
• 1850 Mortality Schedules

Known Issues

Click here for a list of known issues with this collection.

Citing This Collection

Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.

Collection Citation: The citation for this collection can be found on the Collection Details Page in the section Citing this Collection.

Record Citation: When looking at a record, the citation can be viewed by clicking the drop-down arrow next to Document Information.

Image Citation: When looking at an image, the citation is found on the Information tab at the bottom left of the screen.

National Archives and Records Administration in Washington, D.C.