Michigan Mortality Schedules - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
The collection consists of an index and images of mortality schedules from Michigan. Mortality schedules only include individuals who died in the year preceding the federal census. Mortality schedules exist for the census years 1850, 1860, and 1880.

Census enumerators requested information from the head of household about deaths that had occurred in the year prior to the census. In 1918 to 1919, the Bureau of the Census distributed the original schedules to states or to the National Library of the Daughters of the American Revolution when states were not interested. Mortality schedules list those deceased during the year prior to the census. This is a small percentage of the total population. At the time of the 1870 census, it was surmised that as many as one-third of all deaths were not reported. For instance, when a family was scattered by the death of the head of household, there was no one left to report it. In 1880 a supplemental report from attending physicians added 60,000 additional names to the schedules. In the absence of vital registration in many states, mortality schedules provided nationwide death statistics for one year of each decade, 1850–1880. According to the official statistical report for 1870, this was done to assess the death rate for age-groups, sex, race, nationality, and occupation and to “deduc[e] the effect of the various conditions of life upon the duration of life.” Census mortality schedules are usually accurate, but this accuracy depended on the knowledge of the informant and the care of the census enumerator.

Related Family History Library Holdings

 * Ethel W. Williams and E. Gray Williams.Michigan mortality record for year ending June 1, 1850. typescript images
 * Michigan, non-population census schedules, 1850-1880. Includes agriculture, industry, social statistics and mortality schedules

What Can These Records Tell Me?
Information in the records may vary by year but they usually contain the following:
 * Name, age, gender, and color of deceased
 * Free person or slave
 * Whether married or widowed
 * Birthplace (state, territory, or country)
 * Month in which death occurred
 * Occupation (profession or trade)
 * Cause of death
 * If parents were foreign born (1870 Census only)
 * Length of residence in the United States (1880 Census only)
 * Father’s and mother’s birthplace (1880 Census only)

Sample Images

 * NARA Sample 1850 and 1860 Federal Mortality Schedule
 * NARA Sample 1870 Federal Mortality Schedule
 * NARA Sample 1880 Federal Mortality Schedule

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of your ancestor
 * The place where your ancestor 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.

What Do I Do Next?
Mortality schedules are a national level file of state-by-state death registers. Using the death information, you can search for obituaries, mortuary records, cemeteries, and probate records, all of which may provide additional genealogical information. Mortality schedules also list ages and birthplaces for a time period when births were not reported.

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

 * Use this information found in the mortality schedule to look for the family in census records
 * Use this information found in the mortality schedule to look for the family in church records
 * Use this information found in the mortality schedule to look for the family land records
 * Use this information found in the mortality schedule to look for the family military records
 * Use this information found in the mortality schedule to look for the family in additional county records

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

 * Look for variant spellings of the names. You should also look for nicknames and abbreviated names.
 * Look for an index. There are often indexes at the beginning of each volume. Local genealogical and historical societies often have indexes to local records.
 * Search the indexes and records of nearby counties.
 * 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.
 * There is also the possibility that the individual was missed in the mortality schedule.

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the state of Michigan.
 * Michigan Guided Research
 * Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research

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.