The 1840 census represents the last of the federal censuses that focus on the heads of households only. Like all of the censuses before it, the 1840 was still under the jurisdiction of the U.S. marshals.
The 1840 census began on June 1, 1840, and the enumerators had 18 months to complete their count. This means that the last enumeration day was Dec. 31, 1841. But no matter what day the enumerator arrived at the home during those 18 months, the information recorded was to reflect the composition of the household on June 1, 1840. Two copies of the 1840 census were to be made by the enumerators – one to be deposited with the state’s U.S. District Court and one to be sent to Washington, D.C.
The 1840 age breakdowns for white males and females, free colored persons, and slaves is the same as on the 1830 census. Age categories for free white persons (both male and female) were: “under 5 years, of 5 and under 10, of 10 and under 15, of 15 and under 20, of 20 and under 30, of 30 and under 40, of 40 and under 50,” etc., continuing in 10-year increments for adults all the way up to “of 100 and upward.” For free colored persons and slaves, both male and female, the age categories were “under 10 years, of 10 and under 24, of 24 and under 36, of 36 and under 55, of 55 and under 100, and of 100 and upwards.” (Please note in my column on the 1830 census that ran on March 22, these age categories for free colored persons and slaves were incorrectly reported).
One of the additions on the 1840 census schedules was to record the name and age of any Revolutionary War pensioner still living. “Pensioners” included actual war veterans or their widows. Anyone lucky enough to discover a pensioner’s name on the census should then check out the 2,670-roll microfilm series M804 at the National Archives and Records Administration titled “Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Application Files.”
Another change on the 1840 census was the addition of an “idiot or insane” category for both “white and colored” persons. Remember that these words were medical terms back then. “Idiot” referred to one whom we would now call mentally handicapped or developmentally disabled; “insane” referred to one who was mentally ill, such as a person with schizophrenia. These categories were added to the deaf, dumb, and blind categories that were introduced in 1830. The census asked for the numbers of those in institutional care only (“at public charge”). There was no line on the 1840 census schedule to record the number of mentally ill and handicapped persons who were living at home with their families.
A third addition to the 1840 census was the addition of seven occupational categories: the number of persons in each household engaged in mining, agriculture, commerce, manufacture or trade, navigation of the ocean, navigation of canals, lakes, or rivers, and learned professional engineers.
And the final addition to the 1840 census schedules included several questions pertaining to the schooling of the household members: university or college (number of students), academies and grammar schools (number of scholars), primary and common schools (number of scholars at public charge), and number of white persons over 20 in each family who cannot read and write.
The 1840 census can be found on microfilm series M704 (580 rolls). The schedules for all states survive except for Pike Co., Mississippi, and Clarendon District, South Carolina.
History
Genealogy: Census of 1840 brought changes to the practice
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GENEALOGY: Columnist seeks info on families from Dana
Perhaps someone out there can help me with something I’ve been working on for quite a few years
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Early Terre Haute theater includes Billy Emerson
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HISTORICAL TREASURE: Radiant heating — a hot idea
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LOOKING BACK: 1987: Record-breaking temps hit Vigo
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star.
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BRUCE’S HISTORY LESSON: Emperor Constantine changes the world
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GENEALOGY: Library archives contain tons of information
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Historic efforts to open Center Street from Cherry to Swan
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LOOKING BACK: 2002 — Valley drenched in wettest spring in 107 years
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star. -
HISTORICAL TREASURE: Some history wreathed in hair
From the unfortunate occurrence of Prince Albert’s death in 1861 came the social mores of proper mourning practices and accoutrements witnessed and endorsed by the admirers of Queen Victoria in her reign-long state of grieving.
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LOOKING BACK: 1987: League of Women Voters reorganizes
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star.
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HISTORICAL TREASURE: Here comes the bride
The newest major exhibit at the Historical Museum, which opens Tuesday, showcases wedding gowns worn by Vigo County residents.
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Downtown changes featured in early 1927
During March and April of 1927 – about 85 years ago – the owners of interests in four major downtown Terre Haute theaters were negotiating to transfer their interests to representatives of Paramount Studios.
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GENEALOGY: Genealogy isn’t for the easily embarrassed
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BRUCE’S HISTORY LESSONS: The long, lost, last — the 27th —Amendment
Our very last constitutional amendment — the 27th Amendment — was ratified this week (May 7) in 1992 when Michigan became the 38th state to approve it.
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BRUCE’S HISTORY LESSONS: The Haymarket Square Massacre
One unhappy byproduct of the Industrial Age was the growing discontent of its industrial workers, who constantly agitated for better pay and more humane working conditions.
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LOOKING BACK: 1962: Stands packed as Wiley takes county track title
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and the Tribune-Star.
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Death of Terre Haute jeweler gains national headlines
Terre Haute sought national publicity in 1910 through “Boosterism,” lauding the city’s significant advancements during the decade ending Dec. 31, 1909.
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GENEALOGY: Cemetery Committee to conduct restoration workshop
The Wabash Valley Genealogy Society’s Cemetery Committee will conduct an all-day cemetery restoration workshop on Saturday at the Smith Cemetery near Youngstown, Honey Creek Township, Vigo County, Ind.
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HISTORICAL TREASURE: Harmonious history
In 1923, a group of singers calling themselves the Harmony Four entertained regularly over the radio and at civic and various club events.
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BRUCE’S HISTORY LESSONS: Cleveland observes Lincoln’s funeral
The death of America’s greatest president, Abraham Lincoln, resulted in an outpouring of national mourning, the apex of which came in late April of 1865 when a specially outfitted train carried his body on a thirteen-day, 1,700-mile, eleven-city funeral procession from Washington, D.C., to his home and final resting place in Springfield, Ill.
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GENEALOGY: Many people can trace ancestry to Titanic
This month marks the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, which occurred on April 14-15, 1912.
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LOOKING BACK: 1987: ISU bowling team at nationals again
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star.
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Sullivan County mine explosion kills 8 in 1878
Shortly after 4 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 21, 1878, an enormous explosion rocked the Handford Brothers mine about one-half mile north of the Evansville & Terre Haute Railroad depot in Sullivan County.
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HISTORICAL TREASURE: A common feature, but memorable
As an absolute architecture nerd, I tend to look at buildings noticing the odd ball things such as door hinges and door locks in addition to admiring the overall building.
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BRUCE'S HISTORY LESSONS: MLK’s letter written from a jail cell in Birmingham
This week (April 16) in 1963 Martin Luther King Jr. sat in a jail cell in Birmingham, Ala., having been arrested for violating a trumped-up court order that prohibited him and his followers from conducting various protest activities, most of which you can read about in the First Amendment.
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LOOKING BACK: 1962: Swope celebrates 20th anniversary
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star.
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: 1955 Babe Ruth League championship team to be feted
Currently in his 25th year as a college baseball coach, Rick Heller is in the midst of his third winning season at Indiana State and has embraced the university and the community.
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GENEALOGY: Long-awaited 1940 census is now available for the public
The long-awaited release of the 1940 census took place on April 2.
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HISTORICAL TREASURE: Memories baked from scratch
On my Historical Treasure hunt, I was drawn to a pasteboard barrel 28 inches high and 18.5 inches across with the words “Calumet Baking Powder Bakes Best, Received Highest Award” on one side and “Calumet Baking Powder Always Pleases, Try It” on the other.
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BRUCE'S HISTORY LESSON: Thomas Jefferson's flights of fancy
Thomas Jefferson, born this week (April 13) in 1743, is — deservedly so — in the pantheon of American heroes.
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GENEALOGY: Columnist seeks info on families from Dana
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