Looking for the deaths of 19th century ancestors in America?
Check the U.S. Census Mortality Schedule, one of the non-population schedules.
In 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880, enumerators asked about people who died in the 12 months before Census Day (which at that time was June 1st).
Not all of these schedules still exist for every state. Where they exist, some mortality schedules are in state archives and state libraries. Many are available via Ancestry and Family Search. Just as one example, it's easy to browse or search the 1850 Mortality Schedules for many states at Family Search and at Ancestry.
Above, the 1880 Mortality Schedule for Fairfield county, Ohio, where the very first line has my husband's ancestor, Abel Everitt. He was a farmer, born in Pennsylvania, father born in New Jersey and mother born in ... Ireland (no county named, alas). I found out his month of death (April, 1880), cause of death (apoplexy), and even more details from this page.
Knowing the place and date, I soon located the ancestor's burial place and from there, I was able to add a few more names to the family tree.
Dara asks whether Mortality Schedules are usually indexed. I've found most are . . . but still I may browse if I haven't found an ancestor who I suspect should be there. Unfortunately even if an ancestor did die in the 12 months prior to Census Day that person may not always be listed on the Mortality Schedule.
Marian, can I conclude the Mortality Schedules are not usually indexed on FS and Ancestry so?
ReplyDeleteI updated my post to say that schedules are usually indexed but if ancestor "should" be there and doesn't appear where and when expected, I browse and sometimes get lucky! TY for reading and commenting.
DeleteI've never been lucky enough to come across anyone in these schedules, but will definitely bear them in mind going forward. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI was shocked to find my 4X great grandfather Thomas Adams in the 1860 Calais, Maine mortality schedule. He had always lived in the West Isles of Canada and was the son of a Loyalist. However, after wife Sarah died (after the 1851 Canadian census), he apparently went to live with my 3X great grandfather, his son Daniel, during his last years.
ReplyDeleteIncredible find! Glad you were able to locate him in the mortality schedule and add to your knowledge of his life and death. TY for reading and commenting.
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