Maryland Census

Federal Censuses
Population Schedules. Many federal census records are found at the Family History Library, the National Archives, and other federal and state archives. The United States Research Outline provides additional information about these records.

The Family History Library has copies of the existing U.S. federal censuses of Maryland for 1790, 1800, 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930. The original 1790 schedules for Allegany, Calvert, and Somerset counties are missing. The 1800 census is missing the original schedules for Baltimore County outside of Baltimore City. The 1830 census lacks the original schedules for Montgomery, Prince Georges, Queen Annes, St. Marys, and Somerset counties. The 1890 population schedules were destroyed in a fire in 1921.

Statewide indexes are available for the 1790, 1800, 1820, 1830, 1840, and 1850 federal censuses. The 1860 index only includes areas outside Baltimore City, Maryland. Soundex (phonetic) indexes on microfilm exist for part of the 1880 census and all of the 1900 and 1920 censuses. The 1910 census index lists only heads-of-house and strays born in Poland.

County-wide indexes sometimes help you locate names overlooked in statewide indexes. Some county-wide indexes are listed in the Place Search of the Family History Library Catalog under MARYLAND, [COUNTY] - CENSUS.

When you cannot find an index or if the person you are looking for is not listed in the index, look for the name in the census anyway. Before you can search the actual census, however, you will need to know where the person was living. 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 (see the "Directories" section of this outline). 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. (FHL 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. (FHL 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:

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. (FHL book 973 X2bu 1910; fiche 6101340.) This work lists all Maryland towns (or wards), their 1910 census enumeration district numbers, and their FHL film numbers. The work contains special instructions and information for Baltimore, including the FHL 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 FHL 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 FHL 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. Mortality schedules exist for the years 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880. 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-?]. (FHL book 975.2 X28d; fiche 6117599) This work is indexed.

Riley, Janet Wilson. Eastern Shore Mortality Schedule, 1870.Silver Spring, Maryland: Family Line Publications, 1985. (FHL 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. (FHL book 975.2 A1 No. 196) The Eastern Shore area includes nine counties: Caroline, Cecil, Dorcester, Kent, Queen Annes, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, and Worcester.

Slave Schedules. Slave schedules for 1850 and 1860 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 census slave schedules, see:

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. (FHL book 975.2 X22d 1890).

Colonial and State Censuses
A colonial census was taken in 1776 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. (FHL book 975.2 X2p 1776; film 928227 item 2).

In 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. (FHL 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.

A list of adult males was also made in 1778 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. (FHL book 975.2 X2p 1778; film 908123 item 3.) The parish or hundred is sometimes given.

Maryland did not take state censuses, but the Baltimore City Archives has an 1868 police census for some city wards of Baltimore on one microfilm.

Web Sites
The internet census indexes and images (1790-1930) are available to view through several sites. Some of these sites will require a subscription fee or a local public library card. Most of these sites can be accessed at the Family History Library and some of the Family History Centers. These sites are:

Ancestry Ancestry.com (a subscription site) has the Federal Census Schedules and images for 1790-1930, Mortality Schedules for 1850-1880, and Slave Schedules for 1850-1860. It is available at the Family History Library and some Family History Centers.

Census-online (www.census-online.com/links) Census-online.com is another site that has links to many census transcriptions. Some links may require a subscription fee.

Cyndi’s List(www.cyndislist.com/md.htm#Records) Cyndi’s List is a starting point that will lead you to links for different censuses. Some sites may be free and others will require a subscription.

FamilySearch http://www.familysearch.org FamilySearch.org has indexes and transcriptions from the 1880 U.S. census. Each entry includes the Family History Library film number, the U.S. National Archives film number, and a page number.

Genealogy.com (www.genealogy.com/ifftop.html) Genealogy.com has available an index of names. You will have to log on to see a list of names and what records are available. A subscription fee is required to see the detailed information.

HeritageQuest (HeritageQuestOnline.com at the FHL) HeritageQuest has the Federal Census Schedules and images for 1790-1820, 1860-1920 (some years list only heads of household but the images show the entire family), and a partial 1930 Census. Heritage Quest can also be accessed from many of the local public or university libraries with a library card.

USGenWeb (www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/cen_img.htm) USGenWeb has a Census Project where contributors have transcribed various censuses. These records can be viewed for free.

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