Illinois Mortality Schedules - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
The collection consists of an index and images to mortality schedules from Illinois from 1850 to 1880. Mortality schedules exist for the census year 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880 for deaths in the year leading up to the census. Census enumerators requested information from the head of household about deaths that had occurred from June 1st to May 31st of the previous year. 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 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.


 * DGS 7283672 Roll 58: 1850 Mortality: Adams-Woodford Counties;1860 Mortality: Adams-Knox (part) Counties
 * DGS 7283673 Roll 59: 1860 Mortality: Knox-Woodford Cos.; also 1870 Mortality: Kenall-Ogle (part) Counties
 * DGS 7283674 Roll 60: 1870 Mortality: Ogle (part)-Woodford Counties
 * DGS 7282686 Roll 61: 1880 Mortality: Coles-Cook Counties
 * DGS 7282687 Roll 62: 1880 Mortality: Crawford-Livingston (part) Counties
 * DGS 7282688 Roll 63: 1880 Mortality: Livingston (part)-Sangamon (part) Counties
 * DGS 7282689 Roll 64: 1880 Mortality: Sangamon (part)-Woodford Counties

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:


 * 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
The remarks field on some images may provide additional information regarding a person's death particularly on the 1880 census images.

 Sample Forms 
 * 1850 and 1860 Mortality
 * 1870 Mortailty
 * 1880 Mortality

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

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.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?
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
 * Search census records for the family
 * Use this information to look for other records that may provide information about the individual, parents, and siblings

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

 * Try different spellings of your ancestor’s name
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names
 * If your ancestor does not have a common name, collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you find possible relatives
 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching records of a nearby town or county

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the state of Illinois.
 * Illinois Guided Research
 * Illinois Record Finder
 * 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.