California, Pre-Statehood Census Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

United States California

What is in the Collection?
This collection includes census records for California from 1796-1798 for the following missions and presidios:

What Can this Collection Tell Me?
Census records usually include the following information:
 * The names, ages and relations of all household members
 * The date of the event
 * The residence at the time of the event

How Do I Search the Collection?
When searching, it is helpful to know at least one of the following: Fill in the requested information in the initial search page. This search will return a list of possible matches. Compare the information in the list to what you already know about your ancestor to determine if it is the correct family or person. You may need to compare several persons in the list before you find your ancestor. Search by Name by visiting the [insert the URL Collection Page:] View images in this collection by visiting the Browse Page:] (Hyperlink to browse) To search this collection you will need to follow this series of links: ⇒ Select "Browse Image" on the initial search page ⇒ Select the "Locality" ⇒ Select the "Year Range," which will take you to the images:
 * Your ancestor's name
 * Residence
 * Age or birth date
 * An estimated event year
 * Names of family members

What Do I Do Next?
Whenever possible, view the original records to verify the information and to find additional information that might not be reported. These pieces of information can lead you to additional records and family members.

I Found Who I was Looking for, What Now?

 * Use the age in the record to find approximate birth years for each family record.
 * Use the information in each record to find other records such as birth, death, marriage, and land records for each family member.
 * Search for family members in later censuses to find their spouses and children.
 * Repeat this process for each new family member that you find.
 * Church Records often were kept years before government records were required and are a good source for finding ancestors before 1900.

I Can’t Find Who I’m Looking for, What Now?

 * Try viewing the original record to see if there were errors in the transcription of the name, age, residence, etc. Remember that there may be more than one person in the records with the same name.
 * Collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you identify possible relations that can be verified by records.
 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching records of a nearby locality in an area search.
 * Standard spelling of names typically did not exist during the periods our ancestors lived in. Try variations of your ancestor’s name while searching the index or browsing through images.
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names. Try searching for these names as well.
 * Search the indexes and records of California, United States Genealogy.
 * Search in the California Archives and Libraries.

Citing this Collection
Citing your sources makes it easy for others to find and evaluate the records you used. When you copy information from a record, list where you found that information. Here you can find citations already created for the entire collection and for each individual record or image.