United States Census (Slave Schedule), 1860 - FamilySearch Historical Records

United States

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 1860. This was the second 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 M653 Eighth Census of the United States, 1860 in Record Group 29 Records of the Bureau of the Census. Slave schedules for 1860 exist for the following:

Alabama, rolls 27-36 Arkansas, roll 53-54 Delaware, roll 100 District of Columbia, roll 105, Georgetown and City of Washington Florida, roll 110 Georgia, rolls 142-153 Kentucky, rolls 401-406 Louisiana, rolls 427-431 Maryland, rolls 484-485 Mississippi, rolls 595-604 Missouri, rolls 661-664 North Carolina, rolls 920-927 South Carolina, rolls 1229-1238 Tennessee, rolls 1281-1286 Texas, rolls 1309-1314 Utah Territory Virginia, rolls 1386-1397 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).

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

How Do I Search This Collection?
To begin your search it is helpful to know:
 * The name of the slave owner
 * The age of the slave
 * The state where the slave may have lived

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.

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

 * 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
 * Research Tips and Strategies

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.