Maryland Census

Portal:United States Census &gt;Maryland

Why use census?
Censuses are the basic records for genealogist. The records give the places where your ancestors live, dates and places of birth, family members, and places where the family lived. You can also locate neighbors names. You may learn about immigration information.

Now, many censuses are indexes and images are located on computers. This is the easiest way to locate your ancestors.

What Records Exists
There are two main types of records for Maryland, colonial census and federal census. For other records used for locating individuals at other times you will want to use Directories and Tax Records.

These are the population schedules which lists either the head of the house or the whole family. There are other schedules listed under special census.

Colonial Censuses
1776--A colonial census was taken for most counties. For some counties it gives the name, age, and race of each family member. The 1776 census has been indexed and published in:


 * Carothers, Bettie Stirling. 1776 Census of Maryland. Lutherville, Maryland: B.S. Carothers, 1976. (Family History Library book 975.2 X2p 1776; film 928227 item 2).

1778--Nearly every male 18 years of age and older (except for Friends and others who objected for religious reasons) took an oath of fidelity to the state. A list of these men has been published in:


 * Carothers, Bettie Stirling. Maryland Oaths of Fidelity. Two Volumes. Lutherville, Maryland: B.S. Carothers, 1971. (Family History Library book 975.2 P4c, 1971; film 908753 items 6-7; fiche 6051446.) Names are listed alphabetically within counties.

The "Oath of Fidelity Index" at the Maryland Historical Society is a card index of the 14,000 men who signed the oath. The Family History Library does not have a copy of this index.

1778--A list of adult males was also made to determine who had not taken the oath of fidelity. The few surviving records are indexed in:


 * Carothers, Bettie Stirling. 1778 Census of Maryland. [Chesterfield, Missouri.]: B.S. Carothers, 1975. (Family History Library book 975.2 X2p 1778; film 908123 item 3.) The parish or hundred is sometimes given.

Federal Census
The first federal census was taken in 1790. The census has been taken every ten years and the census has been made public through 1930.

1790–1930 The Family History Library has copies of the existing U.S. federal censuses of Maryland.

1790--The original schedules for Allegany, Calvert, and Somerset counties are missing.

1800--The census is missing the original schedules for Baltimore County outside of Baltimore City.

1830--The census lacks the original schedules for Montgomery, Prince Georges, Queen Annes, St. Marys, and Somerset counties.

1890--The population schedules were destroyed in a fire in 1921.

Indexes
1790-1800, 1820-1850--Statewide indexes are available.

1860--The index only includes areas outside Baltimore City, Maryland.

1880, 1900, 1920-- Soundex (phonetic) indexes on microfilm exist.

1910-- The census index lists only heads-of-house and strays born in Poland.

If the person lived in a large city, you can find an address in a city directory for the same year that the census was taken. Then look for that address on the original census schedules.

The following reference tools can help you determine which census schedule microfilm and ward or enumeration district to search for specific addresses:


 * Kirkham, E. Kay. A Handy Guide to Record-Searching in the Larger Cities of the United States. Logan, Utah: Everton, 1974. (Family History Library book 973 D27kc; fiche 6010059-60.) This work includes ward maps and street indexes for Baltimore for the years 1850-1855 and 1860.


 * Brown, Mary Ross. An Illustrated Genealogy of the Counties of Maryland and the District of Columbia as a Guide to Locating Records . . . Baltimore, Maryland: French-Bray Printing Co., 1967. (Family History Library book 975.2 E7b.) This has maps showing Baltimore City ward boundaries in 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880.

Census Descriptions of Geographic Subdivisions and Enumerations Districts. The United States Census Offices has prepared the following descriptions:

1880--Family History Library film 1402861                         1900--Family History Library film 1303022                          1910--Family History Library film 1374004                          1920--Family History Library film 1842708                          1930--Family History Library film 2261284


 * Buckway, G. Eileen. U.S. 1910 Federal Census: Unindexed States: A Guide to Finding Census Enumeration Districts for Unindexed Cities, Towns, and Villages. Salt Lake City, Utah: Family History Library, 1992. (Family History Library book 973 X2bu 1910; fiche 6101340.) This work lists all Maryland towns (or wards), their 1910 census enumeration district numbers, and their Family History Library film numbers. The work contains special instructions and information for Baltimore, including the Family History Library film numbers of city directories.
 * United States. Bureau of the Census. Cross Index to Selected City Streets and Enumeration Districts, 1910 Census. Washington, D.C.: National Archives, [1984]. (On 51 Family History Library fiche beginning with 6331481.) This reference lists street addresses of Baltimore on fiche numbers two through four and lists corresponding census enumeration districts.

Another index that may be helpful in locating individuals is:


 * Jackson, Ronald Vern. AIS Microfiche Indexes of U.S. Census and Other Records. Bountiful, Utah: Accelerated Indexing Systems International, 1984. (No Family History Library fiche number but available at many Family History Centers.) In this work, the Maryland censuses for 1790, 1800, and 1810 censuses are combined on Search 1. The 1820, 1830, 1840, and 1850 censuses have separate searches.

Mortality Schedules
1850-1880--Mortality schedules exist. The schedules and indexes are available at the Maryland State Archives.

The Family History Library has microfilm copies of and the following published mortality schedules:


 * Dryden, Ruth T. (Ruth Jean Tamm), 1923–. State of Maryland Mortality Schedules, 1850 &amp; 1860. San Diego, California: Dryden, [198-?]. (Family History Library book 975.2 X28d; fiche 6117599)
 * Riley, Janet Wilson.Eastern Shore Mortality Schedule, 1870.Silver Spring, Maryland: Family Line Publications, 1985. (Family History Library book 975.21 X28r.) The Eastern shore area includes nine counties: Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Annes, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, and Worcester.


 * Riley, Janet Wilson. Mortality Schedule of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, 1880. Silver Spring, Maryland: Family Line Publications, 1986. (Family History Library book 975.2 A1 No. 196) The Eastern Shore area includes nine counties: Caroline, Cecil, Dorcester, Kent, Queen Annes, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, and Worcester.

Police Census
1868--The Baltimore City Archives has a police census for some city wards of Baltimore on one microfilm.

Slave Schedules
1850-1860-- Slave schedules list the name of the owner, the numbers of slaves owned, whether the slaves were male or female, and the slaves' age ranges. They do not list the slaves by name. The slave schedules are not indexed.

For slave schedules see:

1850--Family History Library film 443531-33                       1860--Family History Library film 803484-85

Veterans Schedules
The Family History Library has the Maryland 1890 Civil War Union veterans schedule and index. The index is:


 * Dilts, Bryan Lee. 1890 Maryland Census Index of Civil War Veterans or Their Widows. Salt Lake City, Utah: Index Publishing, 1985. (Family History Library book 975.2 X22d 1890).

Web Sites
Ancestry: http://www.ancestry.com

Heritage Quest Online: http://www.heritagequestonline.com

Census Online: http://www.census-online.com/links/MD/

Genealogy Today: http://dir.genealogytoday.com/usa/md/census.html

Access Genealogy: http://www.accessgenealogy.com/census/maryland.htm